Part Time Homeless Outreach Specialist

About the role

Under the direction of the Housing Director, provides supportive services such as assessment, service planning, service linkage, ongoing monitoring, ongoing clinical support and advocacy for individuals who are homeless and have a mental health and/or co-occurring diagnosis in Union County. This is an evidence-based program (PATH) offering the opportunity to learn and refine clinical and engagement skills while helping people progress on their unique recovery journeys.

Responsibilities

Supportive Services

• Conduct assessments (clinical and functional) on individual holistic needs and tailor services to meet unique needs addressing strengths, needs, resources, motivation, level of functioning, skills (community living, daily living, self-care, social, etc.), mental status and risk category; comprehensive assessments also include mental health, substance abuse, legal, housing, vocational, and community needs.
• Provide intensive community-based engagement and support services for a period of 3–6 months, for 12–20 individuals via outreach in the streets, shelters, and anywhere designated that homeless individuals may congregate to maximize each individual's access to services, ability to successfully perform community living functions and integrate into the community.
• Encourage reluctant individuals to accept services through interventions with him/her and/or family members/friends concerned with the person's welfare.
• Support individuals with securing immediate needs, including exploring and locating shelter/housing options, entitlements (including assistance in obtaining emergency assistance such as general assistance, food stamps, Temporary Rental Assistance, etc.), clothing, medical care/medication, identification and food.
• Coordinate the development of the Individual Recovery Plan (IRP) for each individual, and IRP reviews and revisions based on the individual's life events and goal attainment; the IRP may include a plan for medication management, in consultation with prescribers, for individuals in need of such a plan.
• Link individuals to all needed community-based services, and accompany individuals to all initial appointments and provide transportation when necessary.
• Provide supportive counseling, legal advocacy, medication education, mental health education, community living skill assessment and monitoring, and early crisis intervention wherever the person is located.
• Provide assessment of the need for crisis intervention, and assistance to providers of psychiatric emergency services in resolving crisis.
• Support individuals with training in the areas of linkages, community resources, advocacy, housing search, mental health education, daily living skill assessment, and supportive counseling.
• Support individuals with developing a supportive network in the community, including use of self-help centers, and through the development of a Wellness Recovery Action Plan.
• Provide frequent face-to-face contact, monitoring and on-going support in order to engage and provide service monitoring for each individual to include medical, mental health, social services, and housing; identify service gaps and advocate on behalf of the person to remove barriers to needed services.
• Provide supportive counseling, education and ongoing support services for the individual and may include support within the person's natural support system including family, friends and employers and typically occurs where the person resides or frequents; frequency of support services is coordinated with the individual's risk status and assessed individualized needs.
• Utilize a clinical skill-set by forging therapeutic relationships with diverse individuals through a trauma-informed and recovery-based lens.
• Provide direct clinical intervention using evidenced based practices, including Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, Trauma Informed Care, Permanent Supportive Housing/tenant rights, and Career Development, when engaging individuals with their recovery.
• Provide technical assistance and education to team members in the area of recovery and wellness; work with the team to develop materials and strategies for teaching wellness strategies including WRAP plans, instilling hope, promoting choice, advocacy and empowerment, and spirituality.
• Participate in 24-hour on-call rotating schedule for after hours and weekends for assigned programs.

Coordination Of Services

• Coordinate and integrate services from multiple providers, via service delivery monitoring, case conference, other collateral contact and systems review.
• Coordinate referrals and linkages to housing, mental health, substance abuse, medical and various social service providers as needed for the individual.
• Provide monitoring of service providers including routine follow-up with service providers to assess provision of services per the individual's IRP.
• Attend all scheduled team meetings and participate in community meetings related to services for homeless individuals such as Continuum of Care to End Homelessness.
• Foster relationships with homeless resource agencies and/or attend county(s) meetings and sub-committees as assigned.
• CST PATH – Coordinate with Team Leader the transition of persons from PATH to necessary CST services.

Program Evaluation / Reporting / Data Collection

• Complete all statistical reports related to services provided to include: a daily report of face-to-face contacts and linkages provided, monthly hospitalization domain form completion, and tracking of program evaluation data related to annual program goals.
• Maintain individual's records according to policy and procedures and complete documentation in a timely manner.

Requirements

Education / Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, social work or related area.
• CAC, CRC, BSW accepted.

Experience

• 2 years paid work experience in human services required with at least 1 year in mental health.
• 2 years additional paid work experience in mental health may substitute for a bachelor's degree.
• Master's degree in human services may be substituted for the 2 years paid work experience requirement.

Driver's License & Vehicle

• Valid driver's license required.
• No more than one moving violation within the past 12 months.
• Vehicle required.

Skills and Knowledge Requirements

• Knowledge of SOAR application process.
• Engagement and outreach with individuals in various stages of change.
• Motivational interviewing.
• Cognitive behavioral techniques.
• Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment.
• Care management.
• Non-judgmental and resourceful approach.
• Participation in clinical and non-clinical team meetings including individual and team supervision.
• Actively seeks out monthly supervision from supervisor.

Pay

Hourly: $21.00

Schedule

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00am–5:00pm

Location

Elizabeth, NJ

Department

Union PATH Hourly