Clinical Support Specialist

DESC; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Medical insurance (no employee premium

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

ORCA card subsidy

Paid Time Off (34 days per year)

Retirement plan

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

DESC is a social services organization focused on homelessness, operating shelter and housing programs with integrated behavioral health services in Seattle. The Clinical Support Specialist works under supervision to provide and coordinate clinical services for tenants, including case management and mental health support.

The role collaborates with an integrated care team, maintains documentation, and uses trauma‑informed approaches to support lease compliance and tenant well‑being.

Qualifications

• Current AAC license in Washington state or ability to obtain soon after hire.
• Clinical experience working with homeless adults with chronic conditions.
• Knowledge of local homeless, mental health, and chemical dependency service systems.
• Ability to communicate and work with diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to handle tenants with challenging behavior and crises.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate tenant engagement with culturally relevant strategies to build trust and access services.
• Develop and update an Integrated Service Plan (ISP) with tenants and staff.
• Coordinate elements of case management with DESC staff and outside providers.
• Support tenants in maintaining safe housing and passing inspections.
• Directly provide case management services not covered by other providers.
• Document tenant interactions and track progress per agency guidelines.
• Meet contractual service and documentation obligations relevant to the project.
• Use trauma‑informed strategies to intervene in crises and enforce leases.

Skills

AAC license

Clinical experience

Homeless services knowledge

Diversity communication

Crisis handling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work/psychology or related

1 year relevant experience or equivalent

Tools

Computers

Job description

Description

Days Off: Sunday, Monday

Shift: Day(9:00am-5:30pm)

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare1199NW.

About DESC:

Recognized nationally as aninnovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused onmeeting the needs ofpeople experiencing long-term homelessness andliving with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion,treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates fiveshelter/emergency housing programs,19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

JOB DEFINITION:

The Clinical Support Specialist works under the direction of the CSS Supervisor or Project Manager, and collaboratively as part of an integrated care team including other CSSs, Housing Stabilization Specialists, Residential Counselors, clinical case managers, and other outside provider agencies to provide and coordinate clinical services for tenants. This position offers case management and mental health services to tenants as well as coordinating care with other providers as appropriate.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Facilitate engagement of tenants through creative, equitable, culturally relevant, and resourceful strategies that build trust and confidence; publicize service availability.
• Develop and routinely update an Integrated Service Plan (ISP) in collaboration with tenants, case managers, and other staff, outlining goals and strategies to ensure housing success.
• Identify and coordinate those case management elements that will be provided by DESC case managers or case managers from outside provider organizations.
• Support tenants in maintaining safe and healthy unit conditions and passing apartment inspections. This may include hands‑on assistance cleaning apartments, arranging and monitoring caregiver/chore‑worker services, and/or teaching and modeling independent living skills.
• Directly provide case management services not covered by other providers.
• Maintain regular contact with tenants and case managers from DESC and outside provider organizations to monitor progress toward goals identified in the ISP, and to ensure adequate provision of identified services.
• Document interactions with tenants through logs, service notes, EORs, emails, and other methods as appropriate in accordance with agency guidelines.
• Understand and meet the various contractual service and documentation obligations relevant to your project.
• Use trauma‑informed strategies to intervene in crises and assist with building rule enforcement and lease compliance, as necessary.
• Provide education and support for tenants to ensure success as leaseholders.
• Assist tenants in the formation of interest groups or therapeutic support groups; facilitate when appropriate.
• Organize outings and activities to improve tenant skills in activities of daily living and to increase the level of meaningful activity in their lives.
• Work with tenants and other staff to identify needs for additional services, groups, and activities. Work with staff, outside service providers, and community resources to initiate and facilitate these services and activities.
• Provide individual culturally relevant counseling and information and referral services to tenants as needed.
• Facilitate community meetings.
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to perform all major and assigned duties and responsibilities with or without accommodations.
• Current Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) license in Washington State, or equivalent, or ability to obtain an AAC license soon after hire.
• Clinical experience working with homeless adults disabled by chronic alcoholism, mental illness, and drug use.
• Knowledge of local homeless, mental health, and chemical dependency service systems.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Commitment to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across agency programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Relevant Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science, OR
2. A combination of 1 year* of relevant paid work experience and demonstration of the ability to perform required job duties

*Internal applicants in direct, client facing positions can substitute 6 months of experience in lieu of 1 year

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years’ experience working with homeless adults disabled by chronic alcoholism, mental illness, and/or drug use.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and insurable driving record.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The 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 will be required to sit, communicate with other employees, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on thebasis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply