Job Type

Description

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift: Office Day

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

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:

Support Advocacy Growth and Employment (SAGE) is DESC's outpatient behavioral health program. The Intake Coordinator will assume primary responsibility for receiving all referrals to the SAGE Team and performing timely eligibility screening, scheduling and coordination associated with enrollment of a potential clients into SAGE services. Other administrative duties include the tracking and reporting on clients enrolled in the Assisted Outpatient Service Program and its associated outcome measures. This position would also provide occasional psycho-social assessments and diagnostics, develop and implement initial goal planners/treatment plans and provide case management services to some clients until fully transferred to a primary case manager. The Intake Coordinator will assure clients are made aware of their rights and that these rights are protected. All work will be done in close coordination with Clinical Supervisors, administrative support staff, and Director of Clinical Programs. Minority applicants are encouraged to apply. Spanish speaking is a plus.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

REFERRAL COORDINATION:

• Maintain clear instructions and methods by which referrals may be reliably made by other DESC program staff, the legal/justice system, hospitals, other service providers, and potential clients referring themselves.
• Coordinate and collaborate with referents and community partners to schedule intake appointments in a timely manner
• Verify Medicaid status or eligibility as a person not receiving Medicaid to be enrolled in the King County Mental Health Plan.
• Maintain complete and current documentation demonstrating referrals made and the outcome of each
• Maintain clear communication with the SAGE intake specialists, clinical supervisors and nursing team in the scheduling of intake appointments and the triaging of accommodations or additional needs referents or potential clients may have

ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS:

• Document enrollment and discharge of SAGE clients on Less Restrictive Orders (LROs) into the Assisted Outpatient Services Program (AOSP)
• Maintain database of AOSP enrolled clients, including clients whose LRO is being monitored by SAGE but are not currently enrolled
• Track AOSP service delivery and report outcomes to the SAGE team on a weekly basis
• Review, summarize and communicate AOSP service delivery to King County on a monthly basis
• Assist in transferring LRO's to and from the SAGE program 

INTAKE & ASSESSMENT:

• Conduct intake evaluations and psychosocial assessments with consumer participation.
• Develop initial goal planners/treatment and crisis plans compliance with WACs and King County Policy & Procedures. This is to be done in cooperation with the client, as they are able and willing.
• Facilitate linkages to collaborative resources when appropriate.
• Acquire information from client and other sources as psychosocial assessment form indicates.
• Obtain ROIs as needed in order to obtain the fullest possible history of key life domains.
• Identify client strengths, coping strategies and deficits to be incorporated into the treatment plan.
• Review consent to treatment and rights with client; assure client has signed relevant forms.
• If the client so wishes, make a referral to another agency if more appropriate treatment/service is available.
• Provide crisis intervention and risk assessment; tolerate unusual or unpleasant behavior.
• As needed, assist clients and potential clients by providing relevant resource information and direct assistance in obtaining key resources such as food, shelter, financial and Medicaid entitlements, hospitalization, health care, etc.
• Consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Coordinate with other DESC programs making referrals to the SAGE team in order to assure successful transition of consumers to long-term case management.
• Assure linkage to psychiatric services is established.
• Refer to, and coordinate with, DESC chemical dependency program as needed.
• Ensure timely documentation of all services provided

OTHER:

• Participate in psychiatric consultations, clinical supervisions, program meetings, and in-service trainings of mental health program staff; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences.
• Conduct work in compliance with documentation requirements of relevant Federal, State and King County regulations and procedures.
• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical and administrative records; participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Provide specialty services as qualified.
• Attend outside meetings as directed by clinical supervisor or clinical director.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Eligible for a Licensed AAC credential or any other superseding credential that meets RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional whose scope of practice includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses
• Master's degree in social work, psychology or other relevant behavioral science or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health.
• One year of work experience in provision of treatment and/or intake work with adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients and other staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Bicultural background/experience and/or Qualified Minority Mental Health Specialist designation

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 for long periods of time, walk when completing rounds several times a day, move quickly during de-escalations, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, and lift and carry items weighing up to 25 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.

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.

Salary Description