Community Counselor III (Housing Outreach)

Job Overview

Location: Garlington Center in NE Portland.
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Program: Housing Outreach

The Counselor III, Community plays a critical role within Cascadia, ensuring timely and effective behavioral health assessments and service planning, individual and group interventions and, developing case presentations for the team. This position provides and coordinates a wide range of supportive and therapeutic mental health services for individuals who experience severe mental illnesses and addiction issues. 

This position must understand, appreciate, and respect the differences within our Cascadia community.   As such, it is expected that this position promotes integrated care, our vision of trauma-informed and person-first approaches and helps create a work environment of acceptance.

Essential Duties

This position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.  Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. 

General

·       Complete timely and implement comprehensive behavioral health assessments for new and ongoing clients.

·       Conduct diagnostic evaluations using DSM-5 criteria to inform individualized treatment planning.

·       Complete and implement treatment plans and other clinically indicated assessments, including annual reviews.

·       Engage clients and their support systems in the development of person-centered service plans, incorporating goals that reflect client priorities and address social determinants of health.

·       Assist clients in developing and accessing natural community supports and community services; promote inclusion of family or identified supports in treatment planning.

·       Monitor and revise service plans based on client progress, evolving needs, and interdisciplinary team input.

·       Provide individual and group counseling, including community-based interventions, consistent with service plans.

·       Provide advocacy services to help clients secure benefits, housing, medical, and emergency services, and remove barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing.

·       Promote illness self-management and recovery throughout treatment.

·       Facilitate family/support person sessions and conduct termination sessions as appropriate.

·       Recognize warning signs of crisis and implement prevention and intervention strategies to ensure safety.

·       Offer psychoeducation and link clients and families to external resources as needed.

·       Collaborate with hospitals to support client discharge planning and continuity of care.

·       Partner with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate services that address clients’ health, social, and other needs while minimizing care gaps and preventing duplication.

·       Ensure clients receive comprehensive care by collaborating with medical, psychiatric, housing, and other service providers.

·       Connect clients with appropriate staff or community resources for additional support.

·       Offer clinical guidance and support to team members, promoting collaborative problem-solving and service

quality.

·       Respond to client crises, providing assessments and interventions aimed at de-escalation and stabilization.

Regulatory & Compliance

·       Comply with and implement regulations, policies, and procedures under which the program operates.

·       Assist in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the treatment team with interventions which support a trauma informed environment for residents and staff.  

·       Respect and honor client rights and responsibilities and demonstrate professional boundaries and ethics.

·       Document and maintain clinical records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations, as well as billing requirements. 

·       Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation as required, associated with assessment, treatment, residents’ progress, and other activities.  Complete electronic medical records (EMR) as required using Cascadia software.

·       Demonstrate responsibility for safety of those served.

·       Understand fire regulations and evacuation procedures; participate in regular safety drills with residents in compliance with program policies and procedures.

·       Adhere to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.

·       Complete annual employee training requirements on a timely basis as indicated in the licensing requirements for the facility as well as agency requirements.

·       Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings.

·       Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

Required:

Must have a master’s degree in a behavioral science field from an accredited college or university. Demonstrate the competencies to become credentialed as a QMHP as outlined in the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). Certification must be current and in compliance with the OAR’s. Must meet the requirements to be credentialed as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) through MHACBO.

Experience:

Preferred:

Clinical experience within a safety net organization.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Effective communication and active listening skills.

Demonstrated effective interpersonal and customer service skills.

Philosophy and values consistent with a patient-centered care model.

Ability to work proactively and effectively in a team as well as independently.

Basic Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care (TIC), Motivational Interviewing, and Evidence based practices

Basic Understanding of recovery model, Illness management and strength-based philosophies

Operate computer hardware and software at a level needed to effectively perform job functions.

Other:

Possess a valid driver’s license, one-year driving history, clean driving record, ability to pass Driver Motor Vehicle (DMV) check and complete the Cascadia online Defensive Driving course.

Ability to perform CPR, First Aid, and effectively use AED equipment. CPR/ First Aid certifications are required and must remain current.

Core Competencies

Teamwork:

Contribute to a culture that promotes cooperation, respectful communication, and mutual trust. Collaborate across interdisciplinary teams by working together and sharing ideas, skills, and knowledge to achieve common goals. Foster environment that fuels creativity by combining differing perspectives and experiences to generate innovative solutions.

Ethics, Values, & Integrity:

Maintain a respectful work environment where decisions are transparent and objective. Hold yourself and Cascadia Health accountable for their actions while contributing to a positive organizational culture.

Emotional Awareness:
Understand and manage one’s own emotions while respecting diverse emotional expressions and communication styles of others. This includes recognizing the varied ways emotions can influence thoughts and behaviors and adapting interactions to enhance interpersonal effectiveness and self-awareness.

Culture:

Positively contribute to a work environment that values all individuals. Evaluate social situations to determine what is expected or required to recognize the feelings and intentions of others.

Safety:

Actively contribute to the safety and welfare of the Cascadia community through prevention, education, and awareness. Participate in and promote a work environment that identifies and prevents workplace safety issues.

Working Conditions

Environmental:

This role is centered on direct client and community engagement, it is designed for in-person work and does not include hybrid or remote work options.

Work is performed in one or more of the following: clinical office, acute care settings and community setting including client residences, correctional facilities, shelters, hospitals, public places and other social service sites. Meal periods and breaks are subject to interruption. Universal Precautions and remaining alert to the environment are critical to address the potential for violent behavior, exposure to disease, biohazards, noise, and contaminants.

Mental Demands:

The work assigned is diverse and involves addressing new and unusual circumstances. The work regularly involves a degree of unpredictability and disruption of planned tasks requiring a flexible time management approach. In addition, this position requires exercising sound judgment.

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654 or at peopleandculture@cascadiahealth.org

 
This position is represented by a labor union.

Employees are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all licenses, certifications, registrations, and other credentials required for their position. Required credentials must remain active and in good standing as a condition of employment. Candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with any applicable credentialing requirements, including associated fees and renewal or maintenance obligations, prior to applying.

Benefits

We offer generous benefits for our full-time and part-time employees (20 hours + pro-rated) including:

• Generous Paid Time Off Package - Full-time employees earn 6 weeks of PTO in their first year!
• Medical and Dental Coverage (begins 1st of the month following hire date)
• VSP Vision Discount Plan
• 403(b) Retirement Plan - Eligible after 60 days with immediate 100% vesting and a 1-to-1 company match up to 3% per pay period, plus the opportunity for an additional discretionary contribution (up to 5%) at the end of the fiscal year.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Medical, dependent care, and transportation options)
• Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• Paid Bereavement and Jury Duty Leave
• Length of Service Award
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance
• Student loan forgiveness options

Wellness Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bike to Work Reimbursement

Starting Rate Range in USD ($)