Psychiatric Social Worker II

SUMMARY

The Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) within the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services is seeking a skilled and experienced Psychiatric Social Worker II to join its ODR Navigation Team. The ODR Navigation Team provides crisis support, coordination, and clinical expertise to community providers serving individuals with histories of homelessness, severe and persistent mental illness, and justice involvement. This position plays a critical role in supporting ODR clients who are diverted from Los Angeles County jails into community-based services. The Navigation Team receives client referrals from the ODR programs and takes a proactive approach to stabilizing clients at risk of mental health decompensation. If necessary, the team may assess for and support the mental health hospitalization of clients meeting criteria for a mental health hold.

The PSW II will work collaboratively with contracted community agencies to prevent crisis, stabilize clients during periods of acute risk, ensure continuity of care, and help individuals progress toward long-term stability and permanent supportive housing.

Currently, ODR has a hybrid work schedule with a combination of workdays in the office, in the field and remote. This may change at discretion of DHS.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Crisis Response & Clinical Intervention

• Provide real-time and ongoing clinical consultation and crisis support to community providers working with ODR clients.
• Assess and write 5150 applications, when appropriate.
• Conduct in-person, field-based clinical crisis assessments for clients at risk of psychiatric destabilization, harm to self or others, grave disability, or loss of housing or services.
• Utilize clinical de-escalation strategies, harm reduction, and trauma-informed approaches to stabilize clients experiencing acute symptoms.
• Engage in field-based clinical interventions as needed, including coordinating or directly facilitating involuntary or voluntary psychiatric hospitalizations. One form of intervention, as appropriate, may include a team-based hands-on approach to assisting a client onto a gurney as part of an involuntary hospitalization.
• Consult on complex cases with an interdisciplinary team, recommend clinical interventions, and ensure clients receive the appropriate level of care based on acuity.
• Coordinate with hospitals, law enforcement, and partner agencies to support safe and effective crisis response and transitions of care.
• Assist with client transport during crisis situations when clinically appropriate, following DHS and program safety protocols.
• Conduct psychosocial and acute risk assessments, diagnostic evaluations, and crisis evaluations in accordance with County and DHS standards.
• Gather clinical client background information including hospitalizations, county episodes, incarcerations, and collateral contact reports.
• Identify gaps in service delivery, patterns of crisis episodes, and systemic barriers impacting client stability.
• Document assessments, interventions, and outcomes in required systems with thoroughness, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Provide clinically sound recommendations regarding hospitalization, treatment adjustments, and supportive interventions.

Care Coordination & Program Support

• Collaborate closely with intensive case management service (ICMS) providers, full-service partnership (FSP) DMH teams, hospitals, law enforcement, and housing partners to ensure quality clinical care support.
• Serve as a resource for program partners, ensuring timely access to clinical consultation and support.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams including case managers, clinicians, psychiatrists, law enforcement, and community agencies.
• Act as a liaison between the ODR Navigation Team and external partners to promote coordinated crisis response, service integration and identify system-level barriers.
• Support providers in developing crisis prevention plans, safety plans, and strategies to maintain client engagement in treatment.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing crisis response, provider capacity, and client outcomes.
• Assist in developing training materials, clinical guidance, and best-practice protocols for community partners.
• Provide in-person or remote training to community-based providers.
• Participates in performance/quality improvement (PI/QI) activities and contributes to policy development as needed.
• Shares knowledge and effective practices with other Navigation Team members.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently LPS Certified, or willingness to become LPS certified within 90 days of hire, with support from ODR.
• Clinical social work in community mental health, homeless services, or healthcare strongly preferred.
• Experience/expertise in assessing and managing clients with dysfunctional SUD.
• Experience/expertise in assessing and managing clients with severe persistent mental illness.
• Experience/expertise in trauma-informed care and harm reduction principles.
• Familiarity with DMH, DPH and community mental health, substance use, housing/homelessness programs and resources.

Education/Experience

• A Master's Degree in Social Work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education followed by two years of clinical social work experience

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances

• An active and valid license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
• The required license MUST be current and unrestricted; conditional, provisional, probationary, or a restricted license will not be accepted
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Successful clearing through the Live Scan and Health Clearance processes with the County of Los Angeles

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Proficient skill set in using an array of Microsoft Office Suite software programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Adobe Reader, One Note, Outlook, Publisher, Teams, Outlook, etc.
• Able to multi-task and set workload priorities for time sensitive projects/tasks.
• Ability to problem solve and make recommendations to processes, policies, etc.
• Able to communicate with all levels of personnel, e.g., written, verbal, in a professional and concise/clear manner; ability to work within a project team and/or independently.
• Able to work in a very diverse environment and with diverse individuals.
• Ability to be flexible in meeting changing work tasks and timelines; must be dependable and reliable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stand: Frequently

Walk: Frequently

Sit: Frequently

Handling: Occasionally

Reach Outward: Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder: Occasionally

Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: Occasionally

Lift / Carry: Occasionally - Up to 35 lbs

Push/Pull: Occasionally - Up to 35 lbs

See: Constantly

Taste/ Smell: Not Applicable

Not Applicable = Not required for essential functions

Occasionally = (0 - 2 hrs/day)

Frequently = (2 - 5 hrs/day)

Constantly = (5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

General Office Setting, Indoors Temperature Controlled

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer), AIDS or HIV, genetic information or characteristics, veteran status or military service.