Service Coordinator I Housing Specialist DMH

Service Coordinator I - Housing SpecialistDMH

REPORTS TO: Program Manager

HOURS: 40 hours per week

CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt

SUMMARY: The Hollywood Homeless Services programs provide intensive mental health services to TAY and Adults (18 and older) in community, field and clinic based settings.  Members are generally homeless or at risk of homelessness at enrollment or are discharging from a hospital or jail mental health setting prior to enrollment.  The team provide services to all members on the census with “whatever it takes and is appropriate” including adequate outreach and engagement services prior to enrollment to ensure services will be successful.  Step Up as an agency subscribes to a Trauma Informed Model of Rehabilitation, Housing First, and Wellness and Recovery for all members. 

DUTIES: The following reflects essential functions for this job but does not restrict other tasks, which may be assigned:

Direct Service and Support:

1. Homeless Support Services 

· Support the targeted outreach efforts of the FSP, OCS, and WeHo MIT teams to initiate contact, develop rapport, and in coordination with Multidisciplinary team members: SC II, SC I, Substance Abuse Specialist, RN and PM, will assess homeless adults for mental illness, co-occurring substance use and other health care needs in the community until linkage and services are accepted.   

· Complete the homeless survey tool, The Packet (formerly known as the VI-SPDAT) on all homeless individuals encountered to determine severity of need.  Submit tool results to local CES for entry and housing match.  

2. Housing Support Services 

· Identify new housing opportunities, engage and create relationships with landlords and property managers in the community.  

· Identify appropriate forms of housing, including Section 8, sober living, board and cares, project-based housing, etc. 

· Assist clients and case managers in completing Housing Authority applications. Facilitate submission of applications and act as liaison with Local Housing Authorities until applicant is housed. 

· Assist clients with benefit establishment and documents required for housing application. 

3. Post Housing Support Services 

· Once housed, engage assigned clients to achieve their goals and objectives and report to the team and clinically qualified staff regarding changes clients of level of functioning, support networks, adequacy of living arrangements, financial status, physical health, level of self-care.   

· Assure clients have access to local resources, including psychiatric and medical care/appointments, housing, benefits establishment, community rehabilitation and socialization activities, drug/alcohol services, providing transportation and accompanying the client using personal or public transportation when necessary. 

· Monitor for compliance, stability, and report any warning signs of decompensation and crisis. 

Documentation and Data Collection:

· Communicate regularly with other treatment providers.  

· Complete all program required paperwork such as HMIS or DMH/Medi-Cal and maintain documentation according to those program standards of practice in Electronic Health Record – Welligent or HMIS within prescribed timeframes as outlined in SUOS documentation policy. 

· Maintain housing documentation and files per Housing Authority standards. 

· Meet weekly, monthly and quarterly billing quota as presented by Program Manager.   

· Attend daily staff meetings, supervision and trainings as requested. 

· Other duties as assigned. 

SKILLS: Knowledge of or experience with mainstream benefits and services, mental health diagnoses and level of functioning, EBP’s such as Critical Time Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, Housing First, Harm Reduction, etc.  Ability to work collaboratively with others and on a team.  Initiative and solution focused practice. Uses good time management skills and resources to balance case load direct service and paperwork. Works within skills and scope of practice asking for support and training to improve abilities when needed. Ability to work as a team member on the streets, in homeless facilities or with other homeless community providers such as police, churches and hospital ER’s.  Ability to engage individuals on the streets in a meaningful manner which imbues trust enough to accept services offered.  Understands and promotes safety first to self and team members. 

QUALIFICATIONS: B.A. in psychology or social work or 3 years of related work experience with a minimum of 2 years’ experience working with homeless adults diagnosed with a mental illness. Case management experience is essential, including the ability to chart patient progress to meet documentation requirements. Interview will involve a review of this ability.  Candidate must have own transportation and current California driver’s license and insurance.  Position requires occasional driving and transporting.   

Please Note: This position is part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU721) Bargaining Unit.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:  Work with people experiencing homelessness whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services, may present inherent challenges and difficulties such as: exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, individuals who may have poor hygiene or unclean homes due to homelessness, mental health symptoms, or poverty.   Additionally, in working with our members, employees may encounter instances of profanity, sexually explicit or derogatory language, or verbal or physical expressions of anger and trauma. Very rarely do these situations ever escalate to physical contact, and negative or derogatory communication patterns can often be negotiated successfully.   All direct care staff are provided adequate training to develop skills to deescalate crisis situations that may arise and Step Up has established procedural safeguards for all employees to mitigate (but not eliminate) these inherent risks of employment

Please Note: This position is part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU721) Bargaining Unit.

STEP UP CORE VALUES

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community. WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community. VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community. RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community. COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community. Step Up is committed to providing quality services that adhere to the highest ethical standards and principles. All Step Up employees agree to adhere to the ethical policies and codes of conduct, as outlined in the Employee Handbook and those specified for this grant. I can perform the functions of this job as described with or without reasonable accommodation.

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Step Up provides equal employment opportunities without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER