Problem Solving Case Manager

Role: Problem Solving Case Manager

Reports to: Program Manager

Program: 1401-Westside Center

Department: Access Services

Location: Annenberg Access Center - 503 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401

Setting: 100% Onsite

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Status: Full-time/Non-Exempt/Non-Management

Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, 403(b) Retirement plan, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), etc.

Openings: 1

Job Description Summary:

As a Case Manager, you will play a key role in our mission to provide compassionate, restorative care to individuals facing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance addiction. Through the use of evidence-based practices such as harm reduction, housing first, and trauma-informed care, the Case Manager supports Clients' housing stability, self-sufficiency, and community integration. The Case Manager partners with Clients who are currently homeless to assess and address barriers to housing placement. Once Clients locate best-fit housing, the Case Manager works to implement interventions with recently housed Clients to support housing retention and further coordinates multiple services to meet individualized needs. The Case Manager collaborates with Clients to learn independent living skills and other life-skills vital to a successful transition from homelessness into permanent housing.

Job Description Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Supportive Services Program Manager, the problem-solving Case Manager is responsible for:

• Support households in crisis by engaging in problem-solving discussions with households to uncover unique strengths, existing supports, and needs, to resolve their crisis and regain control over their situation and lives.
• Empower households facing a housing crisis to identify safe and appropriate housing resources.
• Assist rent-burdened households who are experiencing a housing crisis to remain or return to housing as quickly as possible.
• Apply intervention tools such as active listening, motivational interviewing, mediation, and conflict resolution.
• Develop effective, trusting relationships with clients using a client-centered approach, using best practices that include motivational interviewing, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and Housing First.
• Work to re-house households using all available resources, including Problem-solving Assistance Funds (PSAF).
• Be knowledgeable about victim service provider agencies for households who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or human trafficking.
• Understand the five main problem-solving outcomes that households can achieve, which include: permanently moving in with friends or family, returning to their residence, temporarily moving in with friends/family as they seek new housing, relocating to a safe location out of town, or finding a new residence of their own.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with partner agencies and service providers within CES to address clients' needs relevant to increasing income, improving daily living skills, and increasing community engagement.
• Educate community members (and potential clients) about Access Center services and the issues faced by the population served.
• Co-facilitate orientation groups on Access Center services, what CES is, what Case Management is, and housing resources available without entering CES.
• Participate in ongoing self-evaluation, program evaluation, and development/modification.
• Participate in all case conferences, tenant meetings, staff meetings, community meetings, trainings, and retreats as required.
• Communicate effectively and on time with management team, peers, collaborators, and clients.
• Complete service statistics and reports as required by funders; organize documentation in client files and enter problem-solving discussions in HMIS database utilizing the problem-solving intervention tool (PSIT).
• Complete all documentation and paperwork on time.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Description Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED or Equivalent
• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Social Work, Community Organizing, or other Human Services) or one years' full-time experience working with the homeless, preferably those living with mental illness and/or substance addictions or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues faced by population served (homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, medical issues, domestic violence, etc.)
• Knowledge of social services agencies, community & housing resources.
• Able to work in a high tolerance Harm Reduction model with members who have multiple barriers
• Knowledge of best practices that include motivational interviewing, harm reduction, Trauma Informed Care, housing first, and the ability to apply those practices with participants who have multiple barriers.
• Ability to self-motivate, learn quickly, work effectively with a wide range of constituencies, and be flexible in a fast-paced environment
• Experience working in a community-based setting and as part of a team
• Skilled in non-violent crisis intervention
• Computer literate; able to use computerized database system for program participant file management and knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel
• Current, valid California Driver's License with an acceptable driving record, reliable vehicle
• Comfortable, able, and willing to drive/transport program participants in an agency van.
• Able to provide cleared TB test & pass a criminal background check.

Job Description Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual (Spanish)

Job Description Work Environment: