Peer Case Worker

About Us

Since 1990, New Reach has been a dedicated leader in providing shelter, housing, stabilization, and support for children, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness in the Greater New Haven and Fairfield Counties. We believe in empowering those affected by homelessness and poverty to achieve lasting independence.

Why Work with Us?

At New Reach, you will be part of a compassionate, innovative, and inclusive team that uses the most progressive approaches to inspire independence. You will play a key role in a transformative movement to end homelessness and food insecurity through prevention, support, and housing solutions that create long-term stability for those we serve.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week, including a 30-minute paid lunch.

Primary Purpose

New Reach is seeking a full-time Peer Case Worker to provide person-centered peer-to-peer support services to households affected by housing instability. The Peer Case Worker will lend mentorship, guidance, and coaching focused on parenting skills, household duties, educational system navigation, and daily living skills.

Essential Functions

• Ongoing support, counseling, and advocacy for the needs of clients and their families working within the Supportive Housing Program.
• Provide many services in the client's home or the location of the client's choosing.
• Acts as primary contact person for not less than eight and no more than 25 households.
• Development and implementation of action plans for clients per program guidelines.
• Maintains timely and accurate client files, including care plans, correspondence and case notes.
• Locate and help secure appropriate housing arrangements for households.
• Aid clients in identifying un-addressed needs related to benefits, education, housing, medical, and other needs.
• Maintain strict confidentiality concerning any client's information, living information, and HIV/AIDS status.
• Maintain records and statistics on clients as directed by Program Manager.
• Assist in program development and quality assurance activities as directed by Program Manager.
• Attend required training programs and community meetings as assigned.
• Develop a strong community profile within the homeless services, mental health, substance abuse and/or HIV/AIDS community as an advocate for clients.
• Attend regularly scheduled supervision, staff, and other meetings as requested.
• Mandated to report any witnessed or suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Families.
• Assist with special projects and complete other duties assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BS) with two years related experience, or Master’s Degree in related field.
• Bilingual/Bicultural preferred.
• Experience with Motivational Interviewing a plus.
• Experience working with specific needs of a vulnerable population.
• Knowledge of mental health and HIV and the care continuum.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• High level of organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able and willing to work as part of a team; identify and support the mission of New Reach.
• A commitment to the values of New Reach: Professionalism, Integrity, Compassion, and Initiative.

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.