Clinical Support Specialists

DESC is now recruiting for Clinical Support Specialists to join our supportive housing team.

To DESC, providing housing first is just the beginning. Supportive Housing projects need to provide much more than a building with services. The design of the facility, staffing patterns, program values and ways of interacting with residents all combine to create a program that helps people succeed over the long term.

Most DESC housing residents live with challenges that would seem overwhelming or insurmountable to the average person: mental illness, drug and alcohol addictions, HIV, physical or developmental disabilities, and extreme poverty. In most cases, they are not affected by just one of these conditions, but are multiply disabled and have long histories of homelessness or frequent failures in other low-income housing settings. Based in a harm reduction approach, the Clinical Support Specialist (CSS) works with residents, providing outreach, engagement, intensive case management, crisis intervention, and treatment planning. The CSS works with the Project Manager, Residential Counselors, on-site case manager, and outside provider agencies to coordinate engagement and provision of services for DESC residents.

QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

• Relevant Bachelor's degree in a social or behavioral science required; MSW or other relevant master's degree preferred.
• Ability to meet state requirements for registration as a counselor.
• Experience working with relevant populations including homeless, formerly homeless or economically disadvantaged adults disabled by mental illness or substance abuse.
• Basic understanding of homelessness and various characteristics of homeless adult population including knowledge of local homeless, mental health, and chemical dependency service systems.

Detailed job announcements and salary ranges for each position are available athttp:www.desc.org/jobs.html

How to apply

• Submit a cover letter detailing your reasons for applying for this position, along with a resume, tohr@desc.org.
• Email attachments will not be accepted unless they are in a format readable by MS Word or Adobe Reader. Attachments in formats such as .wps or .jpeg will not be accepted.
• You may also mail your cover letter and resume to: DESC, ATTN: Human Resources, 515 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, or fax to (206) 515-1501.