Homeless Outreach Mental Health Practitioner - Peer Specialist

The Homeless Outreach Mental Health Practitioner – Peer Specialist provide professional quality program services to the persons the PATH outreach team serves. This position is intended to expand the capacity of RADIAS Health Outreach services, partnering with other team members to provide in-person outreach services to individuals/couples in shelters and those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Ramsey County. Emphasis is placed on working with persons who are unsheltered and have a mental health and co-occurring diagnosis; directly providing the services necessary to assist individuals in achieving their goals and obtaining housing.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide PATH services (outreach, screening, case management, re-engagement) to PATH eligible/enrolled clients, assume primary responsibilities for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating, and revising recovery/housing goals and plans in collaboration with the PATH client.

• Maintain an active caseload of 15-20 clients.

• Provide individualized peer support to PATH individuals served
• Promote recovery goals, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, and development of natural support for persons served
• Support individuals served with maintenance of skills learned from other services.

• Work within a multidisciplinary team consisting of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Professional, and Mental Health Practitioners.
• Identify candidates for the Section 811 and PHOP subsidy programs, complete the application process, and start the referral process to HSS. Once a client is approved, engage in coordinated outreach efforts with RADIAS Health Section 811 team members and/or the RADIAS Health Housing Navigation Team to the client to begin the transition of services.

• Target outreach efforts to individuals experiencing homelessness with high acuity and complex needs
• Ensure voices of individuals with lived experience of homelessness is integrated into PATH program planning and outreach efforts by conducting Satisfaction Surveys to PATH enrolled clients.
• Provide daily community outreach and engage with people living in places not meant for human habitation as well as in shelter settings and community drop-in locations.
• Engage in coordinated outreach efforts with RADIAS Health outreach staff and other community outreach providers; these may occur during early morning hours or in the evening.
• Coordinate cases with other county or community agencies including Intake, Mental Health Case Management, Adult Protection, Income Maintenance, Crisis Center, and community hospitals.
• Develop appropriate care plans with enrolled clients.
• Assist individuals get their daily living needs met.
• Initial assessment to determine the presence of mental illness, chemical dependency, or behavioral problems.
• Monitor clients who may decline active services who represent a potential danger to themselves or others to ensure referral for emergency psychiatric or other crisis intervention services as needed.
• Coordinate service provisions with other service providers to ensure smooth, prompt, consistent, and quality delivery of services to clients.
• Refer urgent cases where there is risk of harm to self or others to the appropriate hospital emergency room and community crisis teams.
• Provide information and referral, intervention strategies, and assistance in de-escalating the crisis, if there is no imminent risk of harm to self or others.
• Assess the need for hospitalization, crisis residence, or Detox services.
• Provide Client Advocacy and Information and Referrals to clients and agencies to ensure the protection of civil rights and welfare of clients.
• Refer cases to Adult Protection and Child Protection where there is evidence of neglect and/or abuse of Vulnerable Adults and/or children.
• Assist clients in obtaining needed legal and/or advocacy services.

• File all legally required reports with Vulnerable Adults, the Ombudsman and Child Protection.
• Provide education to clients regarding the symptoms, course, and treatment of their illness.
• Participate in regular case consult meetings.
• Attend required staff meetings and training as scheduled.
• Must be able to transport clients in the community.
• Complete all paperwork, reports, and charting contemporaneously and in an organized manner.
• Maintain a pattern of regular work hours.
• Participate actively in ongoing professional growth and development; maintain appropriate professional behavior and participate in appropriate supervision.
• Allow for flexibility in hours worked.

• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• At least 4,000 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of services to persons with mental illness.

• Experience supporting persons experiencing homelessness or lived experience

• Current and valid driver’s license with current and valid auto insurance – clean driving record
• Meet the requirements of a Level II Certified Peer Specialist but will not need to be certified upon hire.  

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences or related fields; and

• Experience providing outreach services to persons experiencing homelessness and knowledge of services/resources in Ramsey County.

Benefits

• 4 weeks PTO first year of employment
• Casual dress code
• 12 holidays
• Medical (complementary access to NICE healthcare, a free primary care), dental, vision, life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement and Loan Repayment
• Reimbursement for professional licensure fees
• Routine supervision from a Mental Health Professional, with access to licensure supervision opportunities
• 403b retirement plan with an employer percentage match
• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Bereavement and paid parental leave
• Wellness program to support employee overall health and well-being
• Mileage reimbursement
• And more!

RADIAS Health is proud to be a LGBTQIA+, anti-racist, all-inclusive, and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other protected class status.