Title:  Licensed Vocational Nurse, Project Based Housing Division: Project 180

FLSA: Non-Exempt Supervisor: Nursing Supervisor

Pay Scale: $31.82-$35.00/hour Revised Date: 3/1/24

The Organization

SSG-Project 180 turns lives around through innovative, wraparound services that keep people out of institutions and in their communities. Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD).

The Program

The Project Based Housing  program is funded by the Department of Health Service (DHS) Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR), the ODR/ICMS program provides intensive wraparound services to the high-need/high-barrier behavioral health population in the LA County jail system. The program provides permanent supportive housing for some of the most underserved or highest utilizers in the county system. Services are delivered through a recovery oriented, harm reduction framework. 

The Position

Under the supervision of the Senior Supervisor, the Project Based Housing the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)  is responsible for delivering high-quality service and client care and coordinating care with a multidisciplinary treatment team, The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) oversees clinical service delivery in Project 180’s ICMS Project Based Housing program, an innovative program that provides on site wrap-around behavioral health treatment to approximately 200 individuals. Services are delivered at 3 unique apartment buildings located in Westlake, South Los Angeles and Willowbrook. The LVN will provide direct clinical care to clients living on site. A successful LVN collaborates with the treatment team in order to improve client adherence to psychiatric medications and access to healthcare. This is an interim position for up to 4 months, with an anticipated end date of Fall 2025. At the conclusion of this position, we will be willing to explore other opportunities within our organization, but cannot guarantee any opportunities.

Essential Functions:

Provide direct clinical care to ensure high-quality service delivery and outcomes:

• Actively engage clients in services through the development of strong rapport, consistent contact and use of motivational interviewing. Provide outreach services as needed, meeting clients “where they are at” (service location, client’s point of view).
• Complete a medical assessment and intake for all new residents and as needed. 
• Manage onsite medication administration  practices that include medication pre-packing in weekly cassette, administering daily medication, and providing intramuscular injections. Actively communicate medication adherence issues to the treatment team. 
• Provide psychoeducation to clients regarding medication  (i.e. purpose of medication, medication orders) and health issues to increase medication adherence and consistent access to care. 
• Ensure clients have access to medications as ordered. Coordinate with pharmacy to obtain medication refills, confirm prescriber orders and problem-solve any issues.
• Ensure clinical service delivery is consistent with legal and ethical standards, consistent with the scope of  a LVN. 
• Maintain LA County LPS designation. Complete clinical risk assessment and facilitate psychiatric hospitalization and/or safety planning, as appropriate.
• Apply racial equity lens to all elements of clinical care. 

Coordinate care with a multidisciplinary treatment team:

• Support the treatment team in triaging client medical issues and escalating access to medical care as appropriate. 
• Actively contributes to planning and execution of clinical interventions in collaboration with the treatment team. Leverage unique skills and abilities of team members in service delivery. 
• Coordinate client clinical care with community health partners such as primary/specialty providers and ODR Nursing as needed.    

Complete administrative duties per program guidelines: 

• Ensure the medication room and medication storage is clean, organized and consistent with program guidelines. Maintain an accurate inventory of medications and ensure that medications are properly disposed of. 
• Maintain and submit billing records per program guidelines. 
• Complete medication administration data entry into DHS/ODR system per program guidelines.

Fulfill baseline Project 180 staff expectations:

• Regular attendance required. Overtime, holiday or weekend work may be required.
• Maintain and uphold Agency mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and principles.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor. 
• Maintain active license and/or registrations as applicable (i.e. BBS, CCAPP)

Skills and Abilities

• Clinical Expertise: Provides clinical care with a focus on high-quality service delivery.
• Empathetic and able to develop strong relationships with clients
• Collaborative: Able to work in diverse teams to solve complex issues 
• Adaptive to changing circumstances and client needs in a dynamic environment
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills, remains calm under pressure. 
• Organized: Strong organization systems and attention to detail
• Communication skills: Clearly conveys information, builds report, and effectively engages with clients.

Minimum Qualifications

• Required: 
  • Active Vocational Nurse license in the state of California
  • Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
  • Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle required. 
    • Ability to transport clients in personal vehicle as needed. 

• Must not be on any type of legal supervision (probation or parole).

• Verification of Employment Eligibility and Background Check
• Basic computer skills
• LPS Designation
  • Staff will obtain within 6 months.

• Preferred: 
  • Mental health or forensic population experience
  • Spanish speaking