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

FLSA: Non-Exempt Supervisor: Program Supervisor

Pay Scale: $31.82-$35.00/hour Revised Date: 9/1/24

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

Interim Housing is a county-funded Department of Health Service (DHS) Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) program for individuals declared incompetent to stand trial. Instead of receiving services in a state hospital or locked facility, individuals are diverted to receive community based competency restoration. The Interim Housing program provides intensive, wraparound behavioral health services at 4 transitional housing sites. 

The Position

The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) provides direct clinical care to clients living at the interim housing site(s). The LVN is a member of the program treatment team and is responsible for coordinating care with a multidisciplinary team. This position reports to the Interim Housing Program Supervisor. An effective LVN is able to support clients with taking medications as prescribed and engaging in other health promoting behaviors. 

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 indicated. Link clients to needed physical health services. Accompany clients to physical health appointments 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. Participate in internal med room audit procedures. 
• Maintain and submit billing records per program guidelines. 
• Complete medication administration data entry into DHS/ODR system per program guidelines.
• Complete health insurance eligibility checks for all clients 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

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

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

The employee will be based in a project based housing site and will need to perform job duties throughout the building as well as in the Project 180 office and in field settings. 

Physical Requirements  

The employee is expected to move about the project based housing site throughout the day, which may involve  walking, standing, and climbing stairs, or using a mobility device, or similar. The employee is expected to drive, carry a maximum of 20 lbs, listen, and speak in order to complete job requirements. 

Mental Requirements 

The employee must be able to do any/all of the following: perform complex and varied tasks such as synthesizing information and making decisions without immediate supervision; handle routine distractions, interruptions, noise, and uncontrollable changes in priorities/work schedules; interact professionally and diplomatically in high-stress situations; create and follow plans; meet deadlines.