Mental Health Clinician - Community Support Programs

The Bridge’s mission is to change lives, by offering help, hope, and opportunity to the most vulnerable in our community. We offer a comprehensive range of evidence-based rehabilitative services, including mental health and substance abuse treatment, housing, vocational training and job placement, healthcare, education, and creative arts therapies.

Essential Position Functions:

• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to provide services consistent with the program model; participate in daily team meetings to review and plan client services; provide the expected number of services to clients each month, 80% of which are in the community; complete required documentation in a timely and high-quality manner; work collaboratively with clients, their families, and community partners to assist clients in achieving their treatment and recovery goals
• Coordinate client care through close involvement with hospitals, substance use treatment facilities, etc.; provide 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services on rotating basis; complete immediate needs assessments, comprehensive psychosocial assessments, individualized service plans, and crisis/relapse prevention plans; conduct specialized clinical assessments of violence risk, suicide risk, substance use, trauma, and criminogenic needs; conduct other required assessments with clients, such as Child and Adult Integrated Reporting System (CAIRS) reports, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) reports
• Use evidence-based treatments in the areas of mental health and substance abuse to address client needs (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care); provide services to assist clients with needs such as family support, housing, entitlements, employment, education, vocational interests, community integration, and connection to physical health care; provide services to assist clients with needs such as legal advocacy, navigating the criminal justice system, coordination with legal agencies.
• Work collaboratively to identify available housing and to support participants through the process. Tasks may include completing HRA 2010e, applying for housing, prepping for interviews, following up with housing providers, and assistance with moving in (day of move) obtaining housing supplies, and learning the neighborhood.
• Persistent and assertive outreach and engagement using strength-based approaches.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Licensed master’s degree or higher in social work, mental health counseling, nursing, or psychology. Experience working with homeless and/or precariously housed populations is preferred but not required
• Must have or be eligible to have NY State ID (non-driver or driver's license).
• Knowledge and experience of electronic health records (specifically AWARDS by Footholds) preferred.
• Spanish speaking is highly desirable.
• Experience working with homeless and/or precariously housed populations is preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of homeless resources, NYC shelter systems, and MTA transit systems is a plus.
• Knowledge of counseling principles and methods for mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to recipients/residents, families, and staff.
• Knowledge of techniques for identifying, assessing, and preventing potentially violent behavior, including crisis management and de-escalation techniques.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement, and modify treatment intervention to meet the needs of individual recipients.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
• Individuals with lived experience in the areas of mental health, substance use, or criminal justice are encouraged to apply.

The Bridge Inc. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer