Mental Health Outreach Specialist

Who We Are

Pacific Clinics is California's largest community-based nonprofit provider of behavioral and mental health services and support. Our team of more than 2,000 employees speak 22 languages and are dedicated to offering hope and unlocking the full potential of individuals and families through culturally responsive, trauma-informed, research-based services for individuals and families from birth to older adults.

Who We Serve

Pacific Clinics serves children, transitional age youth, families, adults, and older adults. We offer a full range of mental and behavioral health services, foster care and social services, housing, continuing adult education and early childhood education programs to Medi-Cal eligible individuals and families throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Stockton, Tulare and Ventura Counties.

What We Offer

• Pay Range: $20.56 - $22.70 per hour. Compensation may vary based on skills, experience, education, and location.

• We Offer Medical, Dental & Vision benefits, retirement options, Flex Spending, EAP, and more!

• Employee engagement and advocacy opportunities to advance our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion agenda across our Agency and throughout the communities we serve.

About our Program:

Homeless Outreach

Population served: Adults and Older Adults

Scheduled Hours per Day: Monday

• Friday 8:30am

• 5:00pm

Position Summary

The Mental Health Outreach Specialist is responsible for outreach and engagement activities for people who are experiencing homelessness and have mental health disorders. Outreach Specialist will engage individuals living on the streets and will provide case management, housing navigation and benefit establishment services. Outreach Specialist will provide frequent follow-up with individuals served and provide regular communication on outcomes obtained.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strength-based outreach to encourage people who have mental health disorders and are experiencing homelessness to engage in available services including benefits, mental health, medical and substance use disorder services, and housing programs.

• Develop rapport and maintain effective and positive working relationships with clients through frequent visits.

• Assess client needs and characteristics; identify short-term and long-term needs, provide resources and referrals based on the client needs.

• Drive agency-provided or personal vehicles and transport clients to facilitate linkages and placements as necessary.

• Attend collaborative meetings with referring parties to discuss outcomes and address barriers encountered.

• Document all services per funding and compliance requirements including maintaining log of daily activities.

• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with various public and private service agencies, community groups, and the faith-based community to obtain services for clients.

• Research community resources that benefit clients and enhance services provided.

• Process applications or registration forms for services.

• Gather and document various types of data to better understand client needs and assess client eligibility for community resources; enter data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the Coordinated Entry System (CES).

• Attend community meetings, project updates, and case management meetings as needed.

• Attend and participate in staff meetings and trainings.

• Model Pacific Clinics' approach, mission and core values in all communication and correspondence.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of community resources and public assistance benefits for at-risk populations

• Principles and techniques of interviewing and paraprofessional counseling.

• Networking approaches to identify client relevant support services.

• Principles and practices of effective communication and conflict resolution.

• Basic techniques of record keeping.

• Safe driving principles and practices.

• Excellent computer skills and ability to work in Windows environment and with an Electronic Health Record.

CORE ABILITIES:

• Develop relationships and promote efficient and effective communication within the Agency and other external partners

• Communicate effectively with persons displaying psychological and substance-induced behaviors such as depression, anger and confusion.

• Communicate orally and sufficiently to secure information from clients, convey information on services available and to make referrals to services needed.

• Work independently, be flexible, adapt, and manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.

• Work effectively with a wide variety of people and populations by consistently exercising tact, good judgment, and a proactive, problem-solving focused style.

• Deescalate and resolve conflict effectively.

• Excellent professional boundaries

• Operate a computer; document and record information electronically and in written format; maintain reports, logs and files; write clean and concise reports.

• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.

• Establish, maintain and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience / Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Three years of applicable work experience providing case management or counseling service with individuals with mental health disorders and/or persons experiencing homelessness.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Having lived experience with the process of recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, either as a consumer of these services or as the parent or family member of the consumer

Physical Requirements

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 is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and