Clinical Social Worker

Organizational Background: My Friend’s Place is a nonprofit organization in Hollywood with a mission “to assist and inspire homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives.” We recognize the experience of youth homelessness as a social, racial and economic justice issue. We are resolute in our commitment to uplift all youth experiencing homelessness while rigorously, continuously, and concretely aligning our trauma-informed service delivery and organizational framework with guiding principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.Our crisis resource drop-in center provides emergency, health, mental health, creative arts, case management, and education & employment services to nearly 1000 youth and young adults experiencing homelessness annually. We have been at the forefront of addressing youth homelessness in Los Angeles for 36 years. Our comprehensive, multi-disciplinary program model is innovative and replicated in drop-in centers locally and nationally. We are a data lead agency committed to continuous learning and development.

Job Summary: Working from a trauma informed, strengths based, and harm reduction approach and in alignment with Coordinated Entry System (CES), the Clinical Social Worker will address urgent basic needs and psychosocial issues facing youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. The ultimate goal of all intervention is to partner with young people in order to resolve their experience of homelessness. This full-time, exempt position will be managed by the Housing and Wellness Manager and ACSW supervision is provided by the Associate Director of Programs who is an LCSW.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIESHousing Case Management:Carry an individual case load of 30 youth who are engaged in short and long term case management and have varying needs, patterns of drop-in utilization, and degrees of clinical complexityMeet with case managed youth with appropriate urgency, intensity, and frequency to set and achieve goals and maintain and improve health and wellbeingComplete the Next Step Tool (NST) required assessment for Coordinated Entry System (CES) and continue to advocate and track case managed youth within CES ensuring that appropriate opportunities for housing are made availableCreate task related goals with youth to ensure that they are “match ready” for housing and motivate to completionProvide intensive case management and coordination of services and supports to each case managed youth within and outside of CESProvide ongoing resource linkage, risk assessment, safety planning, skills coaching, sobriety contracting, solution-focused and brief therapyDevelop and implement care plans and safety plans that are sensitive to cultural, social and mental health needs encouraging positive help-seeking, coping, and other social-emotional skill buildingDetermine what services and supports are needed to assist with immediate, short-term, and long-term stabilization and ensure linkage using a trauma informed youth development modelCoordinate, facilitate, and transport youth to housing related appointmentsHelp youth identify and engage natural and community supports promoting permanent connectionsCrisis InterventionProvide crisis intervention, including suicide, homicide, and child abuse assessments using tenants of Psychological First AidDevelop crisis plans utilizing the strengths of the youth and available community resources to resolve the immediate crisis and facilitate follow up interventionsProvide assessment and diagnosis as needed to ensure carePerform other duties as assigned, including responding to an emergency/tragedy event

Safe Haven Milieu InterventionCreate and actively promote a comfortable, welcoming and healing environment where every young person is treated with dignity and respect and community is promotedEmploy a customer service orientation in anticipating and responding to needs and requestsSupport Safe Haven Team in the supervision of all youth and the promotion of positive attachment and prosocial behaviorPartner with Safe Haven Coordinators and Safe Haven Counselors to lead on responding to youth who are dysregulated and provide de-escalation and problem solving opportunities, including conflict mediation, so that youth can remain safely in Safe Haven community

General Social Work DutiesCenter youth care and adhere to the NASW Code of EthicsFulfill all mandated reporting requirements, in consultation with clinical supervisorReport all critical incidents and risk assessments immediately, consult with clinical supervisor, and adhere to all other program policies and proceduresDocument all case management/crisis activities in performance management tool within 48 hoursProvide referrals requested from community members and other service providersExplore and cultivate possible referral resources as neededMaintain working knowledge of current trends and development in issues related to young adult mental health, trauma informed care, and homelessness/housingWork with management and administrative staff in program evaluation and development

Group Facilitation:Plan, create content, recruit, and facilitate wellness, life skills, and housing preparation/retention groups Maintain records on group content, activity and participation

Multi-disciplinary Meeting Participation:Participate in clinical supervision. Come prepared to discuss case conceptualization, goal planning and progress, concern for transference and countertransference, and places of feeling stuck in the therapeutic process. Participate in daily and weekly cross-domain meetings meant to enhance team attunement and multidisciplinary teamwork as well as agency-wide trainingsPartner with the Development Team to create content for agency communicationParticipate in agency fundraising events and other community efforts to educate about youth homelessness

Experience, Education, & QualificationsMaster degree in social work with a minimum of one year of professional experience working with youth experiencing homelessness or high-risk youthRequired: ACSW registrant in California or LCSW in good standing with the Board of Behavioral Sciences Commitment to agency values including JEDI (justice, equity, diversity & inclusion)Ability to work and share critically and self-criticallyDemonstrable commitment to self-awareness and one’s own healing and wellbeing as key to working responsibly and effectively with others and contributing to a healthy and equitable work environmentMust have the ability and interest to work professionally with youth with severe trauma histories and appreciate that the behavioral expression of pain can include challenging, even hostile, behaviorsSolid understanding of adolescent/young adult development and the impact of trauma on high-risk behavior including substance useDemonstrable commitment to developing trauma-focused counseling and advocacy skillsAbility to thrive in a multidisciplinary team approach appreciating that service decisions and interventions are made in collaboration with the teamAbility to take initiative, provide leadership combined with openness and patience in a learning environmentAbility to think critically and problem-solve while completing assessments and developing both case and safety plansStrong organizational skills with an attention to details, timelines, and follow throughAbility to balance autonomy, responsibility, and collaboration Open-mindedness and ability to work with diverse groupsArticulate a positive vision for the mission of My Friend’s PlaceAvailability for evening crisis coverage as requiredAble to concentrate and be productive in a shared office settingCalifornia driver’s license, automobile insurance and reliable transportationBilingual (Spanish and English) preferred.

Requirements, Terms and BenefitsFull-time non-exempt status position, occasional weekend and evening hours will be necessary. Benefits include medical and dental insurance, vacation and sick leave, and 403b retirement planThe 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 frequently required to sit, stand, walk, bend, lift and carry objects weighing 25+lbs, and driveJob requires frequent verbal and written communication. Computer, telephone, copier, and fax use are requiredACSW supervision provided by qualified LCSW supervisorMust submit to and successfully pass a criminal history background checkMust provide CA DMV Record and have access to adequate transportation and is insurable by the agency’s insuranceTO APPLY, please email resume, cover letter and salary requirements to: Katie Power, LCSW, Associate Director of Programs kpower@myfriendsplace.org

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: My Friend’s Place is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, criminal history in accordance with the law, or any other legally protected characteristics. Everyone is encouraged to apply for available employment to ensure our staff reflects the diversity of the young people served by My Friend’s Place.