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Form of workJob Description
Job Title: Emergency Shelter Case Manager
Department: Emergency Shelter Services
Reports To: Emergency Shelter Program Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Approved By: Rex Brien, Vice President of Programs
Approved Date: June 2023
SAMMinistries’ Emergency Shelter Case Manager will provide case management and crisis intervention services to single adults and couples who are currently experiencing homelessness and enrolled into the SAMMinistries’ Emergency Shelter Program. The Emergency Shelter Case Manager will assess the needs of guests and arrange, coordinate and advocate for delivery and access to a wide array of programs and services designed to meet the individual client’s needs. Case management services will be offered using a collaborative, client-driven approach to ensure guests are connected to the services and supports necessary for them to accomplish increased opportunity for self-sufficiency. The Emergency Shelter Case Manager will engage with guests in a manner that encourages and fosters building a strong relationship with guests based on respectful encounters, openness, listening skills, non-judgmental attitudes, and advocacy.
Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities
- Complete intake and orientation with new shelter guests.
- Conduct assessments needed to enroll guests into the Coordinated Entry System for homeless services.
- Upon initial enrollment, conduct a review of immediate guest needs and connect them to appropriate resources to meet those needs.
- Conduct Bio-Psycho-Social assessment of guests within 10 days of program enrollment and create individualized service plans and plan interventions that will enhance client functioning, increase coping and client motivation, encourage life skills, and ultimately lead to a permanent housing exit SAMM shelter.
- Conduct weekly case management meetings with shelter guests on their caseload for ongoing assessment, evaluation, and transition planning.
- Review service plans regularly and provide guests with the information, resources, and encouragement necessary to complete these plans.
- Communicate assessments, interventions, progress, and ongoing client contact through timely, thorough record keeping and verbal communication.
- Advocate for the needs of individual guests as well as for systemic change, whenever needed, for the overall benefit of individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Approach challenging guests with understanding and compassion. Provide follow-up and support to other team members around challenging guests.
- Attend and actively participate in team meetings, demonstrating an ability to prioritize participant needs and provide needed assessments and services in an ethical manner.
- Identify, develop linkages with, and coordinate access to services in the community and ensure active follow-up occurs. Work collaboratively with staff of other community agencies to establish and maintain partnerships that maximize benefits and resources for SAMM Shelter guests.
- Attend any overarching case management sessions with partner agencies as needed.
- Transport SAMMinistries Program participants, as needed. Transportation may occur in a SAMMinistries vehicle but use of personal vehicle for client transportation will sometimes be required.
- Provide crisis intervention for guests, including crises involving mental health, intoxication, potential danger of participants harming themselves or others, and assessing for danger in situations involving the threat of violence, to include domestic violence, against shelter guests or staff.
- Complete necessary documentation and tracking of activities, in accordance with all agency and grantor requirements.
- Understand and maintain client confidentiality and record-keeping, in accordance with HUD, SAMMinistries, and HIPAA privacy practices.
- Adhere to strict boundaries and professional ethics in the care of others.
- Maintain accurate and timely client documentation into HMIS and other pertinent paperwork/reports
- Be available to provide crisis intervention after regular business hours.
- Perform other duties, as assigned.
Mandatory requirements:
- Employment eligibility verification
- Reliable transportation, valid Texas driver’s license and auto insurances
- Successful completion of background screening
- This position requires on-site face to face contact with clients and program staff.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None
Education and/or Experience
- Bachelor's degree in social work or related field.
- Minimum two years of experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, preferred, or a minimum of two years’ experience working with vulnerable populations in a closely related field.
- Must understand and use approaches and models that are aligned with SAMMinistries existing programmatic offerings including, but not limited to, Housing First, Client Centered Care and Trauma Informed Care.
- Experience with principles and approaches of Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, and de-escalation techniques.
- Must expand and improve case management skills through formal training, reading and on-the-job experience.
- Must be able to prioritize multiple job responsibilities to produce a high volume of work in a short period of time.
- Must communicate orally and in writing in a professional, clear, and accurate manner.
- Must possess excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work with project participants, agency staff, and community partners, productively.
Language Skills
Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as addition, subtraction, division and percentages.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Valid Driver's License. Successful completion certification in CPR/First Aid/AED, Trauma Informed Care,
Harm Reduction and Housing First will be required within sixty days of hire. Additional Training in:
Motivational Interviewing, Time Management, HMIS Training.
Work Environment
This position will function to a large degree in a residential program environment. As a part of normal duties, this position will be in regular contact with an at-risk population where errant behavior and disease risk may be present. Appropriate safety consideration will be required to avoid illness or injury. The employee must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to many types of situations, including crisis situations and potentially hostile situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Sometimes work may become stressful when working under pressure. May be required to work flexible hours to include evenings and weekends.
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 is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, talk, hear, reach above and below shoulders; use hand and finger dexterity, keyboarding and making and receiving telephone calls. The employee may be required on occasion to lift and or carry up to 50 lbs.
EEO
SAMMinistries provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, SAMMinistries complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the organization has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
