Staff Analyst - Skid Row Action Plan Technical Assistance Team Mental Health at Public Health Foundation Enterprises, In in Los Angeles, California

Job Description:

Salary: $6806.73-$9820.80 Monthly

SUMMARY

Housing for Health (HFH) is a program office within Community Programs, a division under the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS). HFH was created and put into implementation in support of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative recommendations in response to and in support of the County’s effort to address and combat homelessness in the communities residing within Los Angeles County. Our organization follows a hybrid work structure where employees work both remotely and from the office, as needed.   

In June 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed HFH to collaborate with several other county departments, the CEO Homeless Initiative, and the City of Los Angeles to develop the Skid Row Action Plan (SRAP) - an intentional, and targeted plan aimed at addressing the crisis of homelessness on Skid Row which has been exacerbated over time due to decades of institutional racism. The SRAP includes several strategies to address homelessness in this area, including technical assistance and capacity building, interim housing opportunities, and coordination of placement of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) into housing.

Persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) often have limited ability to successfully access and/or maintain residency in interim housing due to complex medical, mental health, substance use, and environmental issues that impair their ability to engage in their activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Interim housing and service providers in Skid Row have varied knowledge, skills, and capacity to support the complex needs of PEH. As a result, PEH often stay unsheltered, exit shelters prematurely, or are pushed to licensed facilities due to inadequate supports in interim housing. Social workers are experts on the complex psychosocial problems of homeless and formerly homeless individuals including but not limited to functional status, untreated or under- treated mental health and/or substance abuse conditions.

The Staff Analyst mental health support specialist assigned to the SRAP Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Team will participate in off-site and in-person training, technical assistance, tools, and quality assurance activities to improve the capacity of interim housing and service providers in Skid Row to implement harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and trauma informed care. As part of a multidisciplinary technical assistance team, the staff analyst will build capacity to support client tenancy in interim housing placements, prevent unnecessary higher level of care placements, assist onsite staff with identifying appropriate permanent housing options, and crisis navigation as it relates to mental health, substance use, self-care, health maintenance, activity engagement, and other functional and behavioral problems. The ideal candidate will be organized, self-directed, systems-oriented, have knowledge of mainstream services for people experiencing homelessness, and flexible to meet the changing needs and demands of the program.

The Staff Analyst assigned to this role be a part of a dynamic team of analyst and administrative staff charged with implementation of several strategies of the SRAP. They will develop work plans as it pertains to the provision of technical assistance to interim housing providers and housing for residents of Skid Row. They will work collaboratively with other HFH senior leadership staff to establish, track, and assess progress on project deliverables. Ideal candidates will be organized, have knowledge of the landscape of homeless service providers, and experience providing supervision of multi-faceted teams, and be flexible to meet the changing needs and demands of the project.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and delivers trainings focused on helping non-clinical providers identify and support residents who have challenges and behavioral issues impacting functioning related to mental health and/or substance use issues


• Provides ongoing training implementation support to providers via educational outreach visits, consultation, shadowing opportunities, modeling and developing site-specific protocols, techniques, and tools as needed


• Conducts meetings and case conference calls to provide individualized interactive problem-solving support targeting provider and/or residents’ needs


• Performs facility-oriented evaluations to improve the physical and social environmental impact on client functioning as part of ongoing quality assurance efforts


• Responds to requests for consultation and brief intervention around functional decline related to mental health and/or substance use, behavioral challenges, and higher level of care cases


• Participates in processes related to the planning, implementing and evaluating of the team’s technical assistance activities


• Develops collaborative relationships with housing and service providers to co-learn, co-design, and tailor sustainable, responsive, site-specific assistance for change


• Explores revisions to providers’ professional roles, clinical team, and relay of clinical data to providers to improve the delivery of care


• Contributes to the development of interim housing policies and practices that are trauma-informed, harm reductive, and tailored to Skid Row Residents


• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Four or more years of highly complex administrative or supervising experience in the health, housing, social services, or related sectors.

 

Education/Experience

A master’s degree in social work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education AND two years of clinical social work experience or direct care experience with clients experiencing homelessness.

 

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances

• 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 process with the County of Los Angeles.

LICENSE:

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

• OR


• An MSW and two years of direct care experience with clients experiencing homelessness

 

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• 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.


• Experience providing mental health and/or substance use therapy services to PEH and/or persons with homeless histories in community-based and/or primary care setting

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Stand: Frequently

Walk: Frequently

Sit: Frequently

Reach Outward: Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder: Occasionally

Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: Occasionally

Lift / Carry: Occasionally - Up to 15 lbs

Push/Pull: Occasionally - Up to 15 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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