Downtown Emergency Service Center

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing.. DESC's Mobile Crisis Team Crisis Outreach Specialists are mobilized to respond quickly to requests for crisis intervention from police, fire, medics, DMHP's, and the Crisis Clinic in order to connect individuals in a mental health or substance use crisis to more therapeutic treatment options, other than jail or the emergency room.. Familiar with King County crisis response system, other relevant community resources, and methods of access.. Licensed Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in State of Washington, preferred.. Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons; understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement; have the potential to acquire the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills of an effective crisis worker; and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues.

outreach specialist

Job Type Full-time Description Shift: Day (7:00am - 5:30pm) Days Off: Friday, Saturday, Sunday Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan About DESC: DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness. As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 2,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness. JOB DEFINITION: Join the team at the front lines of crisis diversion. DESC's Mobile Crisis Team Crisis Outreach Specialists are mobilized to respond quickly to requests for crisis intervention from police, fire, medics, DMHP's, and the Crisis Clinic in order to connect individuals in a mental health or substance use crisis to more therapeutic treatment options, other than jail or the emergency room. We are working to stop the trend of criminalizing mental illness, and make sure individuals in mental health crisis get the help they need. The team works throughout King County in a wide variety of community settings and in all types of weather. Benefits offered include very generous paid time off starting at 34 days for the first two years of employment and 100% employer paid medical & dental insurance. MCT Crisis Outreach Specialists also have an on-the-job opportunity to receive clinical supervision towards full social work licensure. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: <ul><li>In response to and cooperation with first responders and other referents (such as police, fire, medics), perform timely outreach services to individuals needing crisis intervention services, assessment, referral and linkage to needed services.</li><li>As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, provide multi-axial assessments, chemical dependency assessments, crisis intervention, stabilization and meaningful engagement for adults referred to MCT; in the field and at times at the Crisis Diversion Facility.</li><li>Establish and implement a plan to successfully engage clients in relevant services and other resources.</li><li>As needed, provide follow-up services aimed at establishing linkage to services for program participants.</li><li>Complete all data collection and documentation required of the MCT Project and DESC.</li><li>Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with programs providing services for the population served.</li><li>Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.</li><li>Comply with the all agency policies and procedures, and relevant titles of the Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington.</li><li>Advocate for clients' access to community resources and services, ensuring that clients' needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.</li><li>Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients on caseload.</li><li>Participate in verbal de-escalation and supportive restraints in emergent situations and be able and willing to assist other staff as needed to maintain a safe, secure environment.</li><li>Provide building security as needed.</li><li>Maintain strong connections to Jackson Place neighborhood and assure full compliance with procedures and protocols aimed at maintaining the safety and security of the neighborhood.</li><li>Other duties as assigned.</li></ul> PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, drive, walk, stand, communicate with other employees and vendors, is required to lift and carry items weighing up to 10 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Considerable stress may occur. Employee will be working both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply Requirements MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: <ul><li>Current Washington Department of Health minimum credential as an Agency Affiliated Counselor in good standing.</li><li>Master's degree in a social work, psychology or other relevant behavioral science or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health, from an accredited college or university.</li><li>Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check</li><li>Experience and skills in working with mentally ill individuals who are difficult to engage and may resist services.</li><li>Familiar with Recovery Principles, Crisis Intervention and Stabilization, Integrated Treatment of Co-occurring Disorders, Intensive Case Management, Illness Management, Trauma-Informed Treatment, and relevant Evidenced based/Emerging best practices</li><li>Knowledge of Harm Reduction strategies.</li><li>Strong working knowledge of DSM IV (and its successor).</li><li>Be able to assess situations quickly and respond appropriately to any type of mental health and/or chemical dependency crisis to ensure the physical and psychological safety of clients.</li><li>Be willing to seek to understand each client's unique circumstances and personal preferences and goals and incorporate them into the crisis response to help the client regain a sense of control.</li><li>Assist clients in accessing internal resources to reinforce the client's ability to resolve crisis on their own.</li><li>Assist clients in identifying unmet needs that may be causing them to have recurrent crisis.</li><li>Have a strong understanding of recovery and resilience, the value of client partnerships and client choice, and the balance between protection from harm and personal dignity.</li><li>Possess strong communication and writing skills.</li><li>Valid Washington state driver's license and insurable driving record.</li><li>Able and willing to provide community outreach anywhere in King County from which a referral may originate.</li><li>Familiar with King County crisis response system, other relevant community resources, and methods of access.</li><li>Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.</li><li>Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.</li><li>Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for program participants.</li></ul> PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: <ul><li>Licensed Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in State of Washington, preferred.</li><li>Bilingual in Spanish/English (fluent), preferred.</li><li>Bi-cultural background/experience and/or qualify as an Ethnic Minority, DD, or Geriatric Mental Health Specialist (per WAC 388-865-0150 definition), preferred.</li><li>Two years of experience providing crisis intervention services within the mental health and/or chemical dependency field, preferred.</li><li>Meet criteria as a Chemical Dependency Professional.</li><li>Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons; understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement; have the potential to acquire the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills of an effective crisis worker; and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.</li><li>The MCT Case Manager will have the minimum qualification of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in counseling (per WAC 206-809 and 388-877); will work under the supervision of, and will have 24-hour access to a supervising Mental Health Professional.</li></ul> Salary Description $76,147.44 - $84,084 annually

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