Mental Health Specialist - Safe Haven

Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, rapid re-housing and eviction prevention services, employment and training, supportive housing, and legal benefits assistance for low-income, homeless and at-risk veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Swords to Plowshares promotes and protects the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state and national entities. Learn more about the work of Swords to Plowshares, and ways in which you can help, by visiting our website at: https://www.swords-to-plowshares.org/ .

Job Title

Mental Health Specialist

Schedule

Monday -Friday

8 AM – 4 PM

Employment Type

Full-time, Exempt

Summary

Safe Haven is a harm reduction transitional housing program, serving homeless veterans seeking permanent housing. We provide each veteran in the program with their own room and a variety of services. In addition to this Mental Health Specialist position, program participants also have access to our Housing Placement Specialist, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Peer Specialist, and Program Manager, plus program monitor staff on each shift, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Swords to Plowshares manages the Safe Haven program in a former SRO hotel in the San Francisco Tenderloin neighborhood since 2014 . Safe Haven is a VA funded project, and ours is one of less than 30 of its kind nationally.

The Mental Health Specialist implements mental health and substance abuse services to a caseload of 19 veterans currently experiencing homelessness. The Mental Health Specialist provides short-term individual counseling, group counseling, case management, intake and assessment, advocacy and referrals. This full-time, exempt position is also the main program contact during scheduled shift hours if and when the Program Manager is not present. Supervision hours available toward clinical licensure for ASW’s, AMFT’s and A PCC’s.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide clinical case management and short-term individual therapy utilizing a harm reduction approach
• Provide substance abuse counseling services for veterans who request them

• Provide crisis counseling and risk assessment
• Conduct groups weekly
• Provide community-based support, including transporting veterans in a company van, when appropriate
• Meet all contractual and programmatic goals and outcomes
• Collaborate and coordinate treatment with various VA providers

• Complete all required program documentation, including intakes, progress notes, group notes, psychosocial assessment, monthly treatment plans, data for in-house reports, correspondence, etc. within the assigned timeframe.
• Assist with residential program-related responsibilities, such a as meal preparation, conducting wellness checks, answering the door and phones, and medication reminders
• Attend required meetings and trainings
• Other duties as assigned by management
  

Requirements

Education

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology or counseling .
• Clinical License preferred but not required.
  

Experience

• Two (2) years of experience providing direct mental health services to persons experiencing homeless, substance abuse and mental health diagnosis
• Experience providing services within a harm reduction and motivational interviewing framework to persons actively using substances
  

Qualifications

• Knowledge and application of the DSM V
• Experience providing individual and group psychotherapy to persons with mental health, concurrent substance abuse and medical conditions
• Ability to walk up and down stairs and sitting for long periods of time
• Must be able to perform all functions of the position within what would be consider reasonable accommodation
• Valid California Driver’s license, clean driving record
• Ability to pass Food Handler’s Course upon hire
• Must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of personalities and be comfortable working with an at-risk client population, including embracing the agency’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative
  

Skills

• Working understanding of the needs of persons experiencing homelessness with an emphasis on mental health, especially trauma and readjustment issues
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and quality assurance
• Good listening skills
• Ability to be a team player and be a role model for clients and staff
• Computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
  

Salary & Benefits

Note: The section generally states the following unless part-time or otherwise not applicable:

Compensation is based on a competitive public interest salary scale. Swords to Plowshares offers a generous benefits package including the following benefits:

• Excellent medical and dental packages
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• 17 vacation days in the first year

• 12 holidays every year
• Wellness program