Description:
JOB TITLE: Health & Wellness Substance Use Therapist
REPORTS TO: Clinical Supervisor
SCHEDULE: Sunday - Thursday (9:00am-5:30pm)
LOCATION: Venice, CA
STATUS: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, Exempt
CELL PHONE: Monthly reimbursement
DRIVER POSITION: Yes [if yes, please reference driving policy]
ANNUAL SALARY: $64,999 - $74,999 Annually

ABOUT US:

Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is the leading service provider for youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in West Los Angeles. Founded in 2011, our agency offers trauma-informed, low barrier programs that support young people in exiting the streets and achieving stability so that they can thrive, not just survive. Our robust continuum of care includes street outreach, drop-in services, health and wellness programming, case management, education and employment services, and housing programs.
SPY is a unique social impact agency that is committed to overcoming structural barriers to equity, community collaboration, and innovative youth-focused programming. If you have the skills, passion and collaborative spirit, join our growing team of over 100 employees.
SPY strives to attract and develop individuals who reflect a broad spectrum of diversity, including (but by no means limited to) racial, ethnic, gender identity and socioeconomic dimensions. We believe that inclusion of diverse perspectives is essential to achieving long-term, systemic change. We explicitly seek applications from those who self-identify as coming from historically marginalized populations to enrich and elevate our equity-centered approach to problem-solving.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Changes in the environment, such as the office or outdoors
• Physical effort/lifting, such as sedentary- up to 15-20 pounds at times

ABOUT THE ROLE:

A member of the Clinical Team, the Harm Reduction Therapist will support the growth and development
of SPY’s clinical programming by offering individual and group therapy and specialized substance use
services utilizing a harm reduction approach. The therapist will support members in meeting their goals,
improving health and wellness, and building community connections. The ideal candidate will have a
strong commitment to social justice, clinical experience working with transitional age youth, skills in
providing trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and experience working with individuals experiencing
homelessness.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Work collaboratively to develop, innovate, and grow SPY’s clinical services through providing
• holistic substance use and mental health services to promote health and wellness.
• Provide in-person therapeutic services at our drop-in Center (Venice, CA) and housing sites through both individual and group therapy with a specialization in substance use and harm reduction.
• Develop and facilitate programming to build community, expand social support, reduce stigma, support safe use practices, prevent overdose, increase knowledge around substance use, and provide recovery groups.
• Participate in the On-Call Clinician rotation during drop-in hours, completing risk assessments and safety plans when clinically indicated.
• Facilitate and document comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and verification of disability assessments using a person-centered approach.
• Collaborate with members to develop treatment plans designed to meet member identified goals, utilize clinically appropriate trauma-informed interventions, and document progress.
• Build relationships with other providers and serve as a liaison between the clinical department and partnering agencies to assist in building a robust continuum of care for members seeking
• support around substance use and/or mental health.
• Attend relevant community convenings and collaborate with community connections to enhance services.
• Provide clinical case management as needed, including referrals to detox, residential treatment,
• intensive outpatient (IOP) programs and other levels of care.
• Contribute to SPY clinical case conferences.
• Complete clinical documentation, activity tracking, outcome surveys, and reporting in a timely
• fashion.
• Facilitate member accountability meetings and collaborate to develop appropriate support and safety plans utilizing a restorative justice approach.
• Ensure therapeutic services with youth are strengths based, non-judgmental, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and utilize harm reduction.
• Work collaboratively across internal departments and assist with general SPY programming as needed.
• Conduct staff training and presentations to increase knowledge of substance use and appropriate clinical practice.
• Work within established legal and ethical guidelines.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of the program, department, and organization.
  Requirements: