Mental Health Specialist

Mental Health Specialist Operation Dignity - 3.2 Oakland, CA Job Details Full-time $37 an hour 22 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance Life insurance Qualifications Teamwork Data reporting Microsoft Office Driver's License Bachelor's degree Case management Organizational skills Time management Microsoft 365 proficiency Teaching time management skills

Full Job Description Position Summary :

The Mental Health Specialist supports the Homeless Mobile Outreach Program (HMOP) by providing enhanced, behavioral health informed outreach to unsheltered individuals experiencing higher levels of acuity, distress, or complex needs. The role focuses on engagement, de-escalation, stabilization, and coordination with Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist and external service providers to support safe, effective, and respectful interactions in the field. This position is non-clinical and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or licensed clinical services.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling Develop respectful, trust-based relationships with the encampment of residents in the assigned zone of responsibility. o Provide trauma-informed engagement and rapport building with unsheltered individuals experiencing behavioral health related challenges or acute distress with the objective to improve overall mental health through the lens of harm reduction. o Support de-escalation and stabilization during complex or sensitive outreach engagements. Collaborate with Community Engagement Specialists during high-acuity interactions, encampment engagements, postings, closures, and priority outreach activities o Engage in outreach efforts before and during encampment operations, consistent with City protocols and direction. o Assist in maintaining clean and operational outreach vehicles following current cleaning and sanitation protocols. Wear and maintain appropriate protective gear during encampment cleanings and closures. Other duties as assigned. Coordination & Connection to Services Coordinate referrals and warm handoffs to appropriate City, County, and community-based services. Support clients with resource information about emergency shelter or transitional housing options and resources, supporting them from the streets into a healthy and safe housing environment. o Provide clients with comprehensive service referrals, including higher levels of mental health treatment, legal assistance, entitlement benefits, health care, detox programs, substance abuse treatment, and recovery programs. Advocate for clients when necessary. Collaborate with outreach team members to support continuity of engagement. o Participate in case conferencing, problem-solving discussions, and team coordination meetings as needed. o Coordinate client transportation to various sites throughout the city. Documentation & Collaboration Document outreach interactions and engagement outcomes in HMIS and/or other City-approved systems. o Ensure accurate, timely data entry and reporting related to intervention activities Collaborate closely with the Outreach team. 2. Administrative (Communications and Recordkeeping) Provide mental health behavioral services while in the field, at encampments, and in other community areas where unhoused persons live. While many client encounters will be crisis response/short-term. Use Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and other internal data tracking systems as needed, with a focus on data timeliness and accuracy. o Provide written case notes and of interactions conducted and relevant data entry to accordance with program reporting requirements. o Case notes are entered daily to ensure data accuracy and compliance expectations. Develop positive relationships with other service providers across the Bay Area to share best practices and facilitate service referrals. o Participate actively in weekly outreach meetings with the city; coordinated entry meetings and other coordination meetings as needed. Maintain a strict level of client confidentiality (in accordance with HIPAA). Other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Bachelor's Degree preferred, but 5-years of experience working in a nonprofit or social service setting in housing, mental health, trauma-informed environments, shelter or transitional housing, street outreach and community engagement, harm-reduction modalities, particularly serving veterans and/or people experiencing homelessness. Experience providing intensive case management in a mental health setting, such as community mental health service facilities, outpatient clinics, VA and hospital mental health offices, etc. Strong skills in trauma-informed engagement, de-escalation, and field-based Familiarity with motivational interviewing, and the 12-Step addiction recovery model. Experience providing outreach (direct engagement, service referrals, harm reduction supplies, etc.) to homeless individuals. Ability to work collaboratively in street-based and unkempt environments. Familiarity with HMIS, coordinated entry systems preferred, and other data system tracking. Bilingual and culturally responsive experience. Ability to remain calm in crisis situations, think well on one's feet and promote helpful solutions in a volatile and ever-changing street environment. Willingness to be a team player; able to share resources on behalf of each client and effectively contribute to the entire outreach team.

Cultural competency:

able to establish effective professional relationships with culturally and racially diverse staff and clients. Self-motivated, able to take initiative on behalf of the agency and clients. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Be able to use MS Office (Word/Excel) to fulfill our programs' documentation and reporting requirements. Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs. and be on your feet for several hours, must be able to stand and bend for extended periods of time, must be able to walk in uneven terrain, must be able to climb in and out of vehicles and trucks. California Driver's License with clean driving record, able to drive company vehicle/truck. Compliance with State and County Public Health orders on

COVID-19

vaccinations and boosters. Operation Dignity is an

Equal Opportunity Employer Pay:

$37.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): We appreciate your interest in joining our team! Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we're only able to contact candidates whose qualifications best match the requirements of the position. If you meet the qualifications, we will be in touch to discuss next steps. Thank you for your understanding. Employment Relationship Disclosure To help ensure appropriate reporting relationships, please disclose if you have a relative, household member, or close personal relationship with anyone currently employed by the organization. If yes, please provide the employee's name and department: __ __ __ __ __

Work Location:

In person