Clinical Specialist

Boston, MA, United States

SCHEDULE: 40 hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Pays $70 - $75K Annually DOE

This position carries a retention bonus of $5000.00, payable in equal instalments of $1000 at 1 month, $1000 at 6 months, and $3000 at 1 year.

This bonus is only available to new, external hires to Pine Street Inn, including temporary staff who are thereafter converted to permanent employment status. This bonus is not available to Pine Street Inn staff or paid interns or paid co-op students who are seeking a transfer to this role. This bonus is only payable for work actually performed in this role. Employees who leave their position before they have worked all the time required for each bonus installment will not be eligible to collect further payment for their prior position, even if they stay at Pine Street Inn in another position.

LOCATION: 6 Hartford St. Dorchester, MA. However, travel is required to other locations within Greater Boston.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

Pine Street Inn provides comprehensive, intensive clinical support to chronically homeless individuals with histories of substance abuse and mental illness using the Housing First model promoting long-term stability in housing with a mission to end of homelessness in Boston. The Clinical Specialist will provide guidance across the organization to help homeless individuals to overcome barriers and obtain and retain housing or obtain alternative housing placements when necessary. The Clinical Specialist is responsible for arranging/coordinating and providing consultation for an array of services that include: medical; emergency; mental health, financial (representative payee), guardianship, family consultation, skilled nursing and assisted living placements, and navigating court systems to help meet daily needs, optimize stability, and enhance upon their functional abilities despite high risk behavior. In addition, the Clinical Specialist collaborates with leadership in Emergency Shelter and in Housing departments, developing and maintaining positive relationships with partner agencies, stakeholders that contribute to the overall success of the Behavioral Health Department. The Clinical Specialist will need to be a team player, with great organizational, and time management skills, and a communicator/collaborator who can work well with other teams/departments.

REQUIREMENTS:

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

REQUIRED:

Master’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Sociology or a related field

LCSW, LICSW, LMHC or other qualified licensure or the ability to obtain licensure within 1 year of hire

Currently certified in, or have ability to achieve CPR and First Aid certification within 3 months of hire

Advanced training in DBT or current DBT Certification, or ability to obtain advanced training and/or certification in DBT within 1 year of hire.

PREFERRED

Advanced training in hoarding or Current Hoarding Certification, or ability to obtain advanced training within 1 year of hire.

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE :

REQUIRED:

Access to a personal vehicle

At least 5 years’ experience providing services to adults who experience mental illness, substance use disorders and may have symptoms related to traumatic brain injury and/or experiences of trauma

At least 1 year of experience working with homeless populations

Understanding and knowledge of community resources for anyone over 18, navigating the criminal court system, elder services, DMH; substance use treatment centers, knowledge of accessing medical, substance use and mental health services is a must.

Versed/working knowledge of multiple systems – forensic, veterans, mental health, substance use, legal, medical etc

Strong planning and organizational skills, and ability to work well with managers, peers, subordinates and internal and external partners

Strong time management skills, and ability to work independently and manage time independently

Strong computer skills for data gathering, documentation and reporting

Experience coordinating alternative housing placements

Familiarity with management information systems / database programs and Electronic Health Records

Strong commitment to the right of each person with mental health/substance use and medical complex challenges to live in community residences, to work in market jobs, and to have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services of their own choosing

Experience utilizing harm reduction techniques

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Solid understanding of and strong commitment to the Housing First

Solid understanding of and strong commitment to the Harm Reduction

PREFERRED:

Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply, pay differential offered for candidates with fluency in certain essential languages

5 years of clinical experience or equivalent combination of skills and experience in the substance abuse/mental health field

Experience in therapeutic modalities such as motivational interviewing, solution-focused brief therapy, harm reduction, crisis intervention, general supportive counseling

Experience working with chronically homeless individuals in Housing First programs

Experience working with individuals in varied community-based residential settings

Experience in working and collaborating with medical and behavioral health staff in inpatient and respite settings

Experience working in an inpatient/outpatient medical, crisis response setting

Prior experience with guardianship, billing, coordinating medical care, nursing home placements

Demonstrated understanding of complex clinical concepts.

Demonstrated skill in de-escalation, crisis assessment and crisis management

Professional writing and verbal communications skills.

Ability to utilize effective crisis intervention techniques

PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

REQUIRED:

Ability to access different building locations and program sites

Ability to climb several flights of stairs

Ability to lift up to 50 pounds of weight

Ability to sit for long periods of time and use computer, calculator, fax, copier and other office equipment

Flexibility to work or be available according to program demands

MENTAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

REQUIRED:

Highly developed organizational skills, excellent verbal/written communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to communicate professionally both verbally and in writing, including the ability to successfully represent the organization in various forums

Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and crisis management skills

Ability to prioritize and manage different roles and tasks, with attention to deadlines

Ability to multitask and demonstrate flexibility as necessary

Ability to take initiative, plan and work independently

Must have highly developed professional ethics to maintain appropriate boundaries and sets limits fairly and consistently

Contributes to the overall integration and success of the department by being a team player, accepting and offering guidance as appropriate, participating in PSI activities and trainings as requested and promoting organizational integration based on the mission, vision and values

JOB RESULTS:

The Clinical Specialist is responsible for contributing to the following agency outcomes:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Provide on-going clinical support to participants and staff in specialized programs as needed, providing on-going staff support using modalities such as MI, TIC, CBT, hoarding, solution-focused, harm reduction.

Identify clinical challenges present in programs, and offer clinical insight, ideas and advice to support and empower staff in working with clinically vulnerable tenants. As needed, conduct group clinical consultations to discuss clinically challenging situations with particular residents for which they need consultation.

Develop and maintain positive working relationships with referral partners that serve individuals with complex needs as well as other external organizations, governmental agencies and funding entities.

Serve as a content expert and a resource to the entire organization regarding alternative housing placements. Conduct trainings on subjects of interest or concern for staff and tenants. Assist programs/teams in development and implementation of a training curriculum.

Coordinate with program to assess need for appropriate level of care and then apply for Department of Mental Health services and/or work on finding appropriate Nursing Home placements

Navigate probation/incarceration and court system when tenants are involved in these systems etc. Serve as a content expert and a resource Serve as a content expert and a resource

Assist and provide consultations to staff and tenants/clients to applying for benefits such as DTA and SSI/SSDI. Serve as a content expert and a resource in this area.

Work closely with Directors, Associate Directors and Supervisors in Housing, Specialized Housing and Emergency Shelter Department to identify needs of person served and staff skill/knowledge gaps and implement training as needed; attend programmatic and team meetings to integrate and improve collaboration and communication.

Collaborate with the Director to lead a Behavioral Health Division’s strategic planning effort for new initiatives and expansion efforts.

Complete and remain current with all forms of electronic and paper documentation as required for tenant records, data collection and billing.

Prepare and initiate clinical documentation when requested and needed for guardianships, nursing home placements, payees on behalf of PSI etc.

Collaborate with Care Coordination Entities and other providers to ensure access to appropriate medical, clinical, mental health, legal, self-help, and peer modalities during times of crisis, care transitions, other life transitions and changes in health status.

Attend all mandatory trainings and other trainings that will enhance ability to assist tenants in maintaining and enhancing their quality of life.

Uphold the rights of all tenants. Be continually aware of these rights and act in accordance with these rights. Interact with tenants in ways, which establish a climate of respect for human dignity.

Work cooperatively with representatives of all PSI departments, including but not limited to development and external affairs, finance, human resources.

Represent PSI in a professional manner in all contacts with neighbors and representatives of other agencies.

Due to emergency or unforeseen program needs, staff may be temporarily or permanently reassigned to another PSI Housing program at any given time.

Ability to adapt and manage programmatic changes overtime. Ability to supervise direct reports as the program grows, funding permitting.

Perform additional duties as required.

INTERNAL CANDIDATES, IF INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THIS POSITIION, PLEASE SUBMIT A PROMOTION/TRANSFER APPLICATION TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF POSTING.

Pine Street Inn is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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