Youth Outreach Specialist

BJK People's Health Centers provides comprehensive mental health services to children and adults in the northern and central parts of the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis City. A professional mental health staff serves a growing caseload of 2,800 patients, of which greater than ninety-five percent are chronically mentally ill and suffering from major psychiatric disorders. BJK People's Health Centers operates a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center and a Comprehensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center for adults and youth. Many services are provided at schools. Emergency services, including a crisis bed and mobile outreach, are available twenty-four hours per day. A multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, counselors, social workers, educators, and support staff work diligently to carry out the mission of providing comprehensive care to patients and their families.

Position Summary

Under general direction of the Outpatient Clinical Manager (or Designated Supervisor), the Outreach Specialist provides intensive outreach and engagement to adults, usually in crisis response to someone who is experiencing mental health or substance abuse symptoms. The Outreach Specialist works with an ERE Team to assist clients in gaining access to needed psychiatric, medical, alcohol and other drug (AOD), social, residential, and financial, and other services appropriate for the client and their caregiver/s. The Outreach Specialist networks with other community providers and delivers an enhanced safety net for the people served. The Outreach Case Manager works in non-traditional ways, in the community, to meet the needs of a client to improve health and/or well-being for the person.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Completes client assessments to build a client service plan with emphasis on client’s strengths and needs. Works with ERE Team members to ensure the plan is actualized.

· Completes community Outreach, including routine home visits for clients when appropriate. Interact with clients in a non-traditional way to develop rapport to meet them where they are to engage them into the services that best fit their individual needs.

· Contributes to development of a recovery-oriented care plans that address behavioral health, medical, and social barriers for persons served. The plans will focus on linkage to / engagement with ongoing treatment for clients served, addressing issues identified in plan. There will be an emphasis on crisis response and stabilization to engage with ongoing services.

· Builds and maintains an extensive knowledge of community resources and has the ability to match client with eligible resources. Maintains and initiates clear, concise, timely and accurate communication with all referral sources involved in the service provision.

· Gains client access to services with intensive and creative attempts to help clients identify and obtain resources and needed services. This includes a strong role as an advocate for the client.

· Monitors service delivery by maintaining regular contact with client and service providers/programs involved with client.

· Accurately completes required documentation within designated timeframes, including follow up contacts per program guidelines, maintaining contact with clients for increased success.

· Helps the client increase his/her support network outside of the behavioral health service delivery system.

· Participate in weekly ERE Outreach Team meetings to strategize cases, as well as ongoing training opportunities in project procedures, outreach/engagement techniques, and clinical interventions.

· Safeguards Protected Health Information written and electronically and maintains Is responsive to all Corporate Compliance and Quality Assurance procedures, cooperates with utilization review procedures, and follows established procedures, rules and regulations of the clinical records department.

· Displays proficiency in trauma informed care, stages of change, and motivational interviewing.

· The ability to work with persons with multiple challenges (mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, physical challenges, developmental disabilities, etc.).

· Works collaboratively and respectfully with internal agency providers to make the best decision for service provision for the client.

· Works collaboratively and respectfully with external interdisciplinary agency providers to build healthy partnerships and quality care.

· Maintains positive work relationships, demonstrates cooperation with peers and supervisors, and contributes to a team environment.

Education, Training and Experience:

· Bachelor’s Degree in a social services field, Master’s degree preferred (i.e. Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or Psychiatric Nursing), Licensure preferred (or with provisional license or licensure-eligible).

· Minimum of 2 years’ experience providing services to clients with severe emotional disturbance.

· CPR, First Aid, and Medication Administration certifications. Valid driver’s license and insurance.

· Knowledge of the Eastern Region Mental Health Network, community resources, entitlement programs, and the DSM-5.

· Possess a working knowledge and skill proficiency to perform clinical, outreach and case management services. S/he must complete a Case Management orientation.

· Skilled in resolving crises and/or de-escalating clients, staff, community and/or stakeholders.

· Initiates good problem solving skills and uses unconventional thinking and available tools to locate and engage clients into services.

· Demonstrates the ability to think “outside of the box” to eliminate barriers to service, resources, and engagement.