Veteran Engagement Specialist

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position:         Veteran Engagement Specialist

Supervisor:    Veteran’s Outreach Supervisor

Location:        Mount Scott Office; 7916 SE Foster Rd.

Hours:             Monday – Friday; 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. some weekend and evening work required

Wage:             $23.97 hourly

Eligible for Language Differential

Benefits:         Competitive Benefits Package

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide comprehensive engagement and outreach services to Veteran participants and their households experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness. This position coordinates with the SSVF Case Management Team to assist participants in accessing shelter, housing, and connecting to necessary support services.

Employees hired as Engagement Specialists are expected to be able and willing to perform the duties of each of these functions and may have duty priorities adjusted as needed. Duties may take place at any of our service sites or off premises.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Access, Housing, and Retention:

1. Assist in the development and implementation of individual goals and objectives to attain stability, housing and ultimately maintain self-sufficiency.
2. Provide engagement and outreach to veterans including communication via phone, email, in-office, and field-based visits to encampments, shelters, outreach events and personal living environments when needed.
3. Work with referral sources and community partners to identify possible veterans needing assistance through team meetings, outreach, and referrals.
4. Complete screening assessments with participants to gather information and documentation necessary to determine eligibility for veteran services.
5. Provide education, guidance and resources to participants around specific needs and services availability.
6. Address barriers to individual goals and objectives including (but not limited to) - mental health, substance use, income development, tenant education, socialization, basic needs.
7. Coordinate with agency staff to provide consistent quality and comprehensive services to participants.
8. Develop and maintain relations with community resources to assure service availability to participants including but not limited to attending meetings, coordination, and referring participants to services.
9. Create and maintain relationships and resource knowledge specific to the population served.
10. Provide education to community partners around the Veteran Services programs through Transition Projects, program changes, and eligibility determinations.
11. Maintain participant confidentiality and perform job responsibilities in accordance with the rules and regulations of Transition Projects, Department of Veterans Affairs, SSVF, VA Medical Center and HUD-VASH.

General:

1. Attend staff meetings, case management meetings and partner meetings as assigned.
2. Maintain accurate, updated and comprehensive participant files.
3. Maintain accurate and updated documentation of services in HMIS.
4. Adhere to allocated budgetary guidelines.
5. Other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Each Transition Projects employee must:

1. Acquire First Aid/CPR/AED certification within 30 days of hire and be retested biannually thereafter throughout employment.
2. Complete Bloodborne Pathogens and Narcan Training within 30 days of hire and be retested annually thereafter throughout employment.
3. Demonstrate reliability by being present for work as scheduled, arriving and leaving on time and taking breaks in expected time frames.
4. Interact effectively with persons of diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.
5. Attend agency and program staff meetings.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

1. Hearing and vision adequate for interaction with participants, interaction with staff and interaction with the general public.
2. Hearing adequate for telephone work. Vision adequate for close work.
3. Hand and finger dexterity adequate to operate standard office equipment.
4. Ability to walk, bend, stand, sit, reach, stoop, pull, squat, and climb stairs.
5. Sitting at a desk completing paperwork and working on a computer for lengthy periods.
6. Mobility to allow responsive traveling to participant residences located around the metro area.
7. Ability to perform CPR for fifteen minutes continuously.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The right individual for this position has a passion for helping others and a desire to work in an organization that serves people who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.

1. Bachelor's Degree in a related field OR 2 years experience in social services required.
2. Demonstrated ability to interact with other agencies in developing and providing services to participants; including ability to advocate on behalf of participants for services with other agencies.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of chemical dependency and mental health issues and appropriate treatment resources.
4. Ability to identify and work effectively with property and building managers, developing positive long-term relationships.
5. Ability to provide mediation between agencies, participants, and property and building managers.
6. Up-to-date familiarity of community resources and services available to assist the homeless.
7. Demonstrated knowledge of domestic violence and sexual assault issues and resources.
8. Demonstrated knowledge of services available to assist the homeless.
9. Demonstrated knowledge of services available to assist veterans.
10. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team in the delivery of services to participants.
11. Computer literacy. Demonstrated ability to use word processing, database, spreadsheet, e-mail, and Internet programs.
12. Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and comprehensive participant files.
13. Demonstrated ability to prepare accurate and comprehensive statistical and narrative reports.
14. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Applicants who are themselves veterans will receive priority consideration.
15. Valid driver’s license, liability insurability and possession of reliable transportation, or otherwise capable of responsive off-premises mobility. 

Transition Projects, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, source of income, union participation or activities, or any other status legally protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.