Job Title: Outreach Case Manager
Department: Client Services
Supervisor: Client Services Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Hours: Full-time, Monday - Friday
Rate: $18.00 - $22.00/hour (+$2.30/hr - Hazard Pay – temporary benefit – must be onsite to receive)
Date: July 2022
Job Overview
The Homeless Outreach Case Manager is focused on housing chronically unhoused individuals through individual-focused outreach, engagement, and a collaboration of public and private organizations. The Outreach Case Manager is the key point of contact with clients and is responsible for developing strategies for engaging clients on the streets and developing a path to housing or shelter with the support of community partners. Much of the work, from initial outreach and engagement through housing, is performed with clients on the street. The Outreach Case Manager must be an energetic self-starter, passionate about helping unhoused individuals, have excellent communication skills, be attentive to detail and relentless in driving towards outcomes.
The ideal candidate will be familiar and comfortable with unhoused individuals and street culture and will demonstrate an ability to establish trusting, hopeful relationships with these individuals. We are looking for someone who can work Monday - Friday, 10:00am – 6:30pm, with flexibility for nights and weekends.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
1. Provide respectful engagement to adults with histories of chronic homelessness, serious psychiatric disabilities and co-occurring substance use disorders.
2. Provide outreach services in the North County region, including Atascadero, Cambria, Paso Robles, Shandon, and San Miguel.
3. Conduct interviews with all clients for the Coordinated Entry Program and HMIS and input information into the data systems in a timely manner.
4. Work with other homeless services partners to develop strategies that help encourage homeless individuals to take steps leading ultimately to housing.
5. Lead service coordination for street outreach clients including assuming primary responsibility for developing and implementing goals and plans for each client in collaboration with the client and the team, providing clients with support, guidance, and encouragement on their journey to housing.
6. Proactively engage clients on the street, trying out-of-the-box ways of reaching clients who have been living on the street for many years and who may have significant trust, mental health, and substance use issues.
7. Act as liaison to and consult with homeless services partners and community agencies and programs to maintain coordination in the treatment process.
8. Help with paper work needed to place clients with vouchers into housing.
9. Document engagement and case notes for each client.
10. Help clients adjust to life in housing or shelter, including but not limited to engaging clients around goals and aspirations, life skills, hobbies, and other activities that may be needed during the adjustment to housing.
11. Work with the ECHO Case Management team to develop best practices that can be replicated with other clients.
12. Drive clients as needed to appointments.
13. Coordinate with outside inpatient services and establish linkage to outpatient treatment and self-help programs.
14. All other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
1. Collaborate with other departments, taking a team approach to client relationships and advocacy whenever appropriate.
2. As needed:
a) Allocate funds to clients for various purposes. Each case is considered on its own merit and often includes such things as: Rental assistance, transportation needs, phone time and child care considerations.
b) Assist clients schedule and attend various meetings: DSS, SSI, SSDI appointments, doctors' appointments and Section 8 orientation meetings.
c) Assist clients in corresponding to various agencies and/or organizations via: Assist in completing forms, faxing related documents, emailing necessary documents and information and phone contacts.
3. Maintain an appointment calendar.
4. Assist with the Atascadero Winter Emergency Shelter services on a seasonal basis.
Knowledge, Skills, Talents, & Abilities
We are looking for a person who has a can-do attitude, is passionate about engaging chronically homeless individuals and has experience with this population. We are looking for someone who can work Sunday - Thursday with flexibility for nights and weekends.
1. Skills and competence to establish supportive, respectful, trusting relationships with persons with histories of homelessness, severe and persistent mental illnesses and cooccurring serious substance use disorders.
2. Ability to work with diverse populations including those facing challenges in the areas of mental health, domestic violence, child welfare services and aging.
3. Strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent and continuous support and services.
4. Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
5. Must have a valid California Driver License, a driving record acceptable by the Agency’s insurance company, and proof of personal vehicle insurance.
6. Must be able to meet the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 requirements.
7. Qualifications in the following are ideal but not required
8. Specialization in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies
9. Two years (2) experience in mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment, or related social service experience.
10. Dual mental health and substance use recovery competency.
11. Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred.
12. Must have a valid California Driver License, a driving record acceptable by the Agency’s insurance company, and proof of personal vehicle insurance.
13. Must be able to meet the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 requirements.
Education and/or Experience
· College degree or high school diploma/GED, depending on experience.
· Minimum of one to two years’ experience in health and human services.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully preform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While preforming the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finder, handle, or fee; reach with hands and arms; and talk to hear. The employee often is required to stand and walk, including stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as lifting balancing, walking, stooping and handling of materials.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Variable work environment; work is conduction both indoors and outdoors with varying environmental conditions; outdoor to indoor facilities often kept open, so warm clothing is required when working at night. The Admin Offices are located upstairs, with only stairway access. Noise level varies from quiet office environment to very noisy shelter and dining hall.
ECHO is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, marital status, age or any other protected status covered by federal or state law.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirement of the job change
TO APPLY:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three work related references to ECHO's CEO, Wendy Lewis.
No phone calls or drop-ins.
COVID-19 considerations:
At ECHO the health and safety of our clients, volunteers, and staff are always our top priority.We maintain hygiene precautions in accordance with the latest CDC strict guidelines. We provide masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer on site.