Eligibility Specialist

Title: Eligibility Specialist

Program: Coordinated Entry System (CES) Families

Reports to: FSC Manager

Coordinated Entry System provides comprehensive services designed to address the root cause of poverty and homelessness within SPA 1 of Los Angeles County. Participants may be mentally ill, have intellectual developmental disabilities, substance abuse issues, and chronic medical/physical disabilities, exiting institutions and are homeless.

The Eligibility Specialist will address the families’ immediate needs and work to stabilize their housing crises by connection to crisis housing. As a part of the Family Solutions Center, the Eligibility Specialist supports with screening, triage, crisis intervention, access to crisis housing, and transportation services to homeless families.

Essential Job Functions:

• Triage walk-ins and incoming referrals from other collaborative partners
• Provide in office, mobile, field based outreach to meet and verify homeless
• Conduct standardized screening and triage families imminently at-risk and homeless
• Screens and immediately addresses safety concerns; families with identified safety concerns such as domestic violence will be immediately connected to a domestic violence shelter provider.
• Ensure accuracy and completion of paperwork and declaration forms
• Obtain participant documentation i.e., ID, Social Security cards, birth certificates, income and other eligibility documents.
• Uploads eligibility documents into HMIS
• Divert families to resources of assistance and assist in meditation with family, friends and landlords to keep families from entering the homeless system
• Develop and implement crisis-housing plans and/or alternative housing
• Connects families to immediate supportive services, such as mental health, health, substance abuse, childcare, employment, etc.
• Coordinate with the DPSS Homeless Case Manager for initial eligibility assessment of CalWORKs benefits.
• Collaborate with Co-located Mental Health, Substance Abuse and DPSS staff members
• Work with a diverse and marginalized caseload of participants, experiencing many barriers including homelessness, complex trauma, medical, mental health needs and substance use
• Engage participants in problem solving dialogue to assess for additional resources available within the participant’s own network.
• Interview and evaluate participants to identify social, emotional, and economic factors, which may interfere with attaining stability and optimum health
• Transport/accompany participants in agency or personal vehicle for purpose of Crisis housing, to unit search, viewing, lease signing and to various agencies and healthcare providers in the greater Los Angeles area to increase community support services and community reintegration when needed.
• Assist participant with linkage to community resources for in-home supportive services if necessary
• Provide participants with linkage to benefits establishment, vocational resources and employment to increase income
• Complete regular reassessments to ensure that the participant continues to require assistance
• Develop and maintain complete, accurate, and current files with all required documents and data in agency records and electronic database, HMIS.
• Once eligibility is established, refer participants to the appropriate programs (i.e., Families Crisis Motels, Bridge, TLS and Prevention)
• Provides and logs participant engagement supplies items for participants who are seeking services (i.e., non-perishable food, gift cards, baby items, etc.)
• Creates and prepares pre-enrollment files, including all DPSS documents and consents
• Attempts to locate and connect to new resources within the SPA
• Engage effectively and constructively with the program manager to make program refinements in the best interests of the program
• Provides support to the receptionist when needed
• Act as backup to attend bi-weekly DPSS Referrals call
• Attend bi weekly care coordination meetings to obtain information on new community resources
• Maintain confidentiality of participant files per HIPAA and all applicable guidelines
• Document services provided within 24 hours
• Ensure services to participants are reflective of customer choice and emphasize housing first, harm reduction and trauma-informed care models
• Use effective communication skills such as active and reflective listening to build rapport
• Utilize appropriate motivational interviewing interventions to increase positive outcomes
• Liaise with other providers within the agency, as well as outside to formulate strength-based strategies that focus on housing retention and general wellness
• Participate in staff meetings, individual and group supervision, case conferences and training as required
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures including confidentiality, child abuse reporting, and code of ethics
• Additional tasks, projects and or responsibilities as assigned by Supervisor that are not outlined but which are an important part of the agency’s goals and/or program outcomes

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Clear understanding of the concepts of Housing First, Harm Reduction, Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing and the Coordinated Entry System
• Knowledge of CES permanent housing resources, subsidies, and local and federal programs
• Knowledge of public systems of care for homeless individuals, including mainstream resources
• Knowledge of supportive housing, housing markets, city planning and/or public policy
• Knowledge of federal, state and local Fair Housing Laws
• Knowledge and understanding of policy, systems, and local programs that impact homeless persons and related public funding sources, regulations, requirements, and procedures
• Knowledge of issues facing homeless individuals (e.g. chronic health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse and resources for undocumented individuals)
• Knowledge of best practice models for assisting homeless people with varying degrees of needs/conditions and have a strong understanding of contractual requirements/compliance and applicable performance measures
• Knowledge of resources including legal, medical, housing, educational and social service agencies and other resources in the community
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively to individuals who may be ill, using substances, lack of personal care, in crisis situations and/or potentially hostile situations
• Ability to work with a diverse population and provide culturally competent advocacy
• Ability to deescalate aggressive/agitated individuals
• Must be able to exercise initiative, independent good judgment, flexibility, discretion, and solid decision making
• Must be able to successfully manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, adjust to changing; circumstances, and demonstrate confidence working with diverse stakeholders
• Actively promote positive, nurturing interactions between participants
• Ability to handle common problems without supervisor intervention while knowing when supervisor participation is warranted
• Work effectively under conditions of limited supervision, high stress and rapidly changing situations and circumstances
• Able to take appropriate steps to deal with emergency situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all participants
• Promote cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and objective; collaborate with team members, sharing ideas and differences openly; be receptive to new ideas and adapt to change as necessary
• Considers impact of personal and professional choices. Consistently make decisions in keeping with organizational values and Supervisor’s direction
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to follow through from beginning to end on tasks
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral; must communicate professionally and positively with participants, co-workers, management, community partners, employers, landlords, and other service providers
• Proficient with office communication equipment and machines (telephone, copier, calculator, fax machine, personal computer, laptop, computer printer and scanner).
• Proficient in use of laptop/desktop computer, Microsoft Windows and Office software programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google drive
• Strong time management skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced environment, while exercising sound judgment.
• Strict confidentiality must be observed as it relates to participant information, agency business, program decisions and all other personal information
• Use of a personal vehicle may be required to travel in and around Antelope Valley and/or Los Angeles County and periodically transport participants
• Maintain professional boundaries and work collaboratively with participants, volunteers and staff
• Accountability – be on time for scheduled shifts
• Be able to read and write English
• Bilingual Preferred but not required

Qualifications & Experience:

• High School Graduate or equivalent
• One year experience determining eligibility for a nonprofit setting that services homeless individuals
• One year experience in a case management role in a nonprofit setting that services homeless individuals
• Experience with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• Experience with homeless, vulnerable and/or diverse population

Agency Requirements:

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License
• Reliable Transportation
• Auto insurance
• Clean Driving Record
• Employee will be required to complete a TB test, fingerprinting, drug screen (employment pending on drug screen, background and Motor Vehicle Report review), 72-hour Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault training and CPR/First Aid certification.

Work Conditions & Physical Demands

The following are work conditions that one may encounter in the course of performing their job duties:

• May be in contact with individuals in crisis
• May experience unpleasant sensory demands associated with an individual’s use of alcohol and drugs, and lack of personal care
• May experience crisis situations and potentially hostile situations, must be ready to respond quickly and effectively.

An employee is required to:

Walk and climb stairs; Handle, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; extend both arms above the head and/or reach below the waist; Communicate ideas and information verbally and written word; Be able to move oneself quickly and easily from place to place; Repeat various motions with hands, wrists, fingers; Climb on stools, steps and/or ladders; Be subject to outside environmental conditions, including but not limited to: Rain, heat, wind; lift at least 10 lbs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. If accommodation(s) are required, employee must inform Human Resources by the first week of employment. If an accommodation is not required at the time of employment, but is later required, you must inform Human Resources at the time it is needed.

Benefits

Health

Employee Assistance Plan

Paid Sick

Dental

AFLAC

Paid Vacation

Vision

Cafeteria 125 Plan

Personal Days

Acupuncture/Chiropractic

Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

14 Observed Holidays

Schedule:

Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm (may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends, holidays and/or on call status)

Salary Range:

$19.00 - $21.00 per hour **based on experience

An Equal Opportunity Employer: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• In-person

Work Location: In person