Outreach Specialist

TITLE: Outreach Specialist

REPORTS TO: Program Services Director

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time

DATE PREPARED 12/13/2023

POSITION PURPOSE

The primary purpose of this position is to provide direct client services to assure that unsheltered and other homeless individuals that struggle with substance abuse/opiate addiction, behavioral health, or co-occurring disorders gain access to permanent housing, case management, benefits, and appropriate behavioral health and substance abuse supports. Perform other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Identify eligible individuals and establish consistent client follow-up activities.
2. Assist Director and Outreach Team in establishing and maintaining a professional rapport with community organizations that serve the homeless, mentally ill, those with other substance use disorders, and those with co-occurring disorders of substance abuse and mental illness. Provide education about the Outreach Program/MVHO to consumers, referral agencies and associates.
3. Assist Director and Outreach Team in making regular visits to businesses in Downtown Dayton, emergency shelters, feeding sites, and sleeping sites to meet homeless persons. Identify those who exhibit apparent signs of substance abuse problems/opiate addiction and/or mental health symptoms. Provide assistance in the form of food, clothing, and immediate access to temporary housing. Collect, document, and maintain accurate and timely information and reports about potential and/or enrolled program participants. Complete and provide appropriate case notes and documentation of all meetings/services provided to potential and/or enrolled program participants as instructed by the Director.
4. Assist Director and Outreach Team in linking individuals with mental health and/or substance use to treatment, housing, and other community service providers. Provide program participants with street outreach services, encouragement, support, and assistance in applying for and obtaining treatment services, recovery housing and other benefits. Learn and follow appropriate eligibility procedures for engaging clients in these services/programs.
5. Assist Director and Outreach Team in responding to requests for urgent assistance. Be available to respond on short notice at odd hours to requests for support and assistance from enrolled or potential participants, Downtown Dayton businesses, or local safety personnel.
6. Comply with MVHO’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.
7. Perform other duties as assigned, attend trainings and other personal/professional development opportunities, as assigned and planned with supervisor.
8. Establish and maintain activities and practices that protect program participants’ confidential/protected information.
9. Keep and maintain accurate and up to date client files. This includes data in HMIS and client’s physical file.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

CORE COMPETENCIESFor successful company culture integration, all employees must demonstrate the following competencies;

Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Writes clearly and informatively; Varies writing style to meet needs.

Customer Service – Displays courtesy and sensitivity; Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Meets commitments; promptly responds to customer needs and solicits customer feedback to improve service.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Judgement – Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgement; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

Motivation – Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measure self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Planning/Organization – Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Problem solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in-group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Quality Management – Looks for ways to improve and promote quality. Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action guidelines; Reposts potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

COMPUTER SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

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 regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preference is given to formerly homeless applicants recovering from mental illness/substance disorders. A completed education is preferred but not required in Mental Health technology, Social Work, or addiction services or another related area; some advanced education in at least one of these areas is required. Previous experience required in street outreach, addiction/recovery service, social service, housing service or related area. Familiarity with state and local behavioral health service community required. Employee must be willing work odd and irregular hours. Employee must be capable of working with minimal supervision.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

Valid Ohio driver’s license with less than six points and proof of automobile insurance, adhering to the minimum requirements of Ohio’s Financial Responsibility Act.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Where duties require the incumbent to provide transportation to the clients, possession of a valid operator’s license appropriate to the vehicle to be operated at time of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Must possess and drive a motorized vehicle.The employee must pass a criminal background inquiry and be able to work closely with law enforcement personnel.

Miami Valley Housing Opportunities is an equal opportunity employer and affirmatively seeks diversity in its workforce. All interested and qualified parties are afforded equal opportunity with respect to employment, compensation, benefits, training, transfer, and promotion without discrimination, without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Miami Valley Housing Opportunities. Since no position description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder’s responsibility.

I have read this position description and I agree to perform these functions. I understand that this description will be the formal basis for my performance evaluation. This understanding also applies to any subsequent attachments, including department and individual performance goals.