Case Manager Problem Solving Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

About Us:

VOALA
Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at

PAY RATE: $23.98 - $25.24 Per Hour

BENEFITS: VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The Case Manager (Specialist) – Problem Solving Specialist provides intensive housing crisis response and case management services to eligible clients, meeting participants at least weekly. Using active listening techniques, the Case Manager – Problem Solving Specialist is the primary point of contact to coordinate creative resolutions to a housing crisis – locating both temporary and permanent housing. Located at a VOALA shelter, and working is the field as needed, the Case Manager (Specialist) – Problem Solving Specialist focuses on resolving the housing crisis, but can refer to other resources as needed.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• As a member of the program case management team, provides information referrals, crisis intervention, and assistance with permanent housing placement for participants
• Assists case managers in conducting the culturally appropriate, comprehensive screenings and assessments to collect functional, environmental, financial, employment, housing, educational, and health information, as appropriate, to develop a Housing Stability Plan
• Meets with participants to learn about family dynamics, and cultural factors that may assist in finding housing inside the participant’s network or family, as a last resort utilizing the resources of the Program to obtain housing, helps participants establish a plan to sustain housing permanently
• Assists in budgeting with participants, to determine what level of assistance (if any) is needed to resolve housing crisis
• Coordinates follow-up services with participants and case management team
• Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless participants, including referral to VOALA shelters as appropriate.
• Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
• Communicates with and visits, families, outside service providers and landlords to familiarize them with the program and the unique needs of participants
• Conducts habitability and lead-based paint inspections of housing options as needed
• Works directly (One on One) with landlords on behalf of clients and program
• Develops support systems to meet individual client's housing needs; coordinates and facilitates move-in activities, rental negotiations, and service referrals as needed
• Facilitates the use of community resources to assist both tenants and landlords in the event of problems leading to potential eviction
• Provide service linkages and support systems to ensure identified needs are met, coordinate with outside service providers.
• Continuously works to identify and apply new, creative approaches and solutions for each participant/family
• Additional duties as assigned
• Other duties as required

ESSENTIAL ABILITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ability to work and deal with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs, which may include clients with homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration, and other challenges.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Services for this position must be provided on-site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on-site each day of active employment.
• Meet with participants and through active listening, assess the cultural, social, family, economic and other factors that may resolve the housing crisis: seek solutions outside of homeless services system
• Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless program participants, inside the participant’s network initially, then through referral to social service partners
  • Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
  • Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the program
  • Works one-on-one with landlords to help clients, and represent program
  • Acts as Mediator to assist in resolution of housing crisis
  • Performs follow-up to ensure housing is sustained
• Develops Support system for clients to achieve and keep permanent housing, involving, family, landlords and services available in the community.
• Coordinates efforts with Case Management team, supporting Case Management initiatives for clients served, meets regularly to stay current with client needs
• Participates in Community engagement and outreach efforts, supports Participants in the field, Partner with other VOALA and community service providers
• Ability to perform hard and soft file management, HMIS, CM process flow, clinical documentation – DAP note proficiency, and qualification of outcome files
• Other duties as required and is subject to change at any time.

MANDATED REPORTER

As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflicts dealing with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs which may include clients with homelessness, mental-illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration and other challenges.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services or related discipline, Or
• Equivalent combination of education and work experience (four years)

EXPERIENCE:

• 2 years of experience as a case manager
• 1 year assisting the homeless find housing
• Experience working with clients with co-morbidities (chronic health, mental health, substance abuse issues, for example)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2 years of experience counseling target population
• HMIS navigation
• Bilingual in Spanish

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.