Case Manager I

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

Background

Since 1976, St. Joseph Center has been meeting the needs of low-income and homeless individuals and families in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, and surrounding communities.  The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that assists people without regard for religious affiliation or lack thereof through comprehensive case management and integrated social service programs.  The Center enjoys broad-based community support as well as a sponsored relationship with its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.  St. Joseph Center serves approximately 6,000 individuals annually.

Brief Description of Principal Activities

Multifaceted intervention, prevention, and education services are carried out at four sites on the Westside of Los Angeles.  St. Joseph Center’s integrated programs provide clients with concentrated and coordinated access to services according to the nature of their needs.

Job Description

Job Summary

The Case Manager works as a team member of the multi-disciplinary homeless street outreach team, in collaboration with social service professionals, ensuring the delivery of quality care in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Los Angeles Department of Health Services for contracted agencies, as well as adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center. The E6 MDT Case Manager will be adaptable, proactive, positive, professional, and compliant to help people experiencing homelessness get connected to resources, and supportive services, in order to obtain permanent housing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Case Manager’s key areas of responsibility include: 

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Provide street based outreach, navigation, and supportive services navigation, to individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Provide support and assistance to clients with accessing resources in the community.  Establish and maintain professional and positive relationships with staff, clients, and community providers.
• Adhere to housing first and harm reduction models of advocacy with clients. Conduct interactions with clients and other professionals in a respectful and courteous manner.
• Listen attentively to client needs and suggestions and address their issues fairly and professionally, coordinate with immediate supervisor for supervision.
• Develop and maintain strong ties to the community, law enforcement, and other homeless service providers.
• Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim housing programs and assist them in completing required paperwork in order to enroll them in permanent housing-related programs.

Essential Duties:

• Link clients to physical health, mental health, and other supportive services.  Assist clients to enroll in mainstream benefits and obtain identification (i.e. California Driver’s License, Social Security Card).
• Participate in staff meetings, (2) trainings a month, conferences, program evaluation and program development.
• A ratio of one (1) case manager to every thirty (30) participants for optimal service delivery.
• Must be able to operate a motor vehicle to perform the essential functions of the position, which includes transporting clients in company vehicles.
• Build trust and rapport with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Keep highly organized files for each client and enter appropriate data in a timely manner into the region’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Provide bus tokens, bus passes, taxi vouchers, and/or direct transportation as needed.
• Participate in SPA 5 case conferencing meetings and other community meetings.
• Coordinate with other outreach teams, case managers and specialties in joint outreach efforts.
• Perform weekly follow-ups and wellness checks on existing clients and on all new referrals.
• Assist and support clients in maintaining cooperative and effective relationships with case managers and other service provers.
• Coordinate social, educational, and other activities/appointments for clients.
• When conducting field work staff are required to bring intake packets, contact sheets, business cards, resource information, and wear SJC T-Shirts.

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed are designed to provide typical examples of the work performed; not all duties and responsibilities assigned are included here, nor is it expected that all similar positions will be assigned every duty and responsibility.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must be highly motivated and a self-starter. The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients, community, and other staff. Must have excellent organizational skills and the capability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Have an understanding in how to work with low income and homeless individuals. Knowledge of how to work effectively in a harm reduction environment.
• Always demonstrate cooperative and professional behavior and maintain a professional appearance.
• Must be highly motivated and a self-starter. The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients, community, and other staff. Must have excellent organizational skills and the capability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong knowledge of homeless services and resources. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Critical Time Intervention, and Housing First.
• Effective crisis management skills.

Experience:

• Experience providing street-based services to highly vulnerable populations. Experience and general knowledge of working with individuals who, may be mentally ill, HIV positive, and/or have chemical dependency issues is highly desired.
• Experience providing street-based services to highly vulnerable populations.
• Street based outreach preferred.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services or a related field.

Direct Reports:

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. 

Computer Skills:

•  
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Ability to use widely supported internet browsers.
• Ability to accurately enter data into L.A. County, and St. Joseph Center databases

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• None

Travel Requirements:

• Access to reliable transportation. 

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.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, talk, hear, reach above and below shoulders; use hand and finger dexterity, keyboarding and making and receiving telephone calls. The employee may be required on occasion to lift and or carry up to 20 lbs.

Additional Information

Benefits:   Excellent Benefits package available.

Status: Full time/Non-exempt

  At St. Joseph Center, pay ranges are set using the best available market data for the job at the required location. To determine salary for a candidate, we consider the candidate's skills and capabilities for the job compared with expectations for the position.

Employment with St. Joseph Center is contingent on completion of satisfactory background check.

For consideration, please submit cover letter and resume. St. Joseph Center is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. All applicants for employment are invited to voluntarily self-identify their gender, race, ethnicity, and veteran status, by completing the EEO Information. Providing your EEO Information is voluntary and refusal to self-identify will not subject applicants to any adverse treatment. Similarly, applicants who do self-identify will not be subject to any adverse treatment based on the information they provide.

St. Joseph center invites you to review the current "EEO is The Law" poster as part of the application process. A link to the current poster is located here.