Referral Coordinator (CHPLA) (LEAD Program)

Referral Coordinator

Community Health Project Los Angeles (CHPLA) is a program of Heluna Health. CHPLA's mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of people affected by substance use in Los Angeles, to increase access to health care, empower people to protect themselves, and educate each other to reduce harm in our communities. CHPLA combines direct services, advocacy, outreach, education, and research collaborations to fulfill this mission. Los Angeles Community Health Project was founded in 1992.

Under the direction of the Director of Client Services, the Referral Coordinator is responsible for providing programmatic and operational support to CHPLA's ICMS LEAD Program (Intensive Case Management Program, formally: Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion/ updated to: Let Everyone Advance with Dignity). LEAD is a collaborative project involving local police, prosecutors, public defenders, corrections officers and social service providers designed to divert individuals arrested or suspected of low-level drug offenses and/or prostitution into social services rather than the criminal justice system. These individuals will be engaged in supportive services with the goal of reducing legal recidivism and improving quality of life.

CHPLA provides harm reduction services across greater Los Angeles through a range of delivery models and person-centered service modalities. The population we serve experience many critical and acute situations that require immediate and clinically appropriate responses. This person will be expected to support case managers, clinical team and harm reduction care services through supervision and monitoring of program goals, as well as serving as a resource coordinator to promote service accessibility for program participants.

This is a full-time benefitted position. Employment is provided by Heluna Health.

The pay rate for this role is $80,000 annually.

Essential Functions

Community Engagement

• Work directly with local police departments to build relationships and educate on program with goal that police will divert to services in lieu of arrest.
• Attend community meetings to promote and offer education about ODR (Office of Diversion and Reentry) LEAD and the care options offered through the program.
• Plan and participate in special community or inhouse events held to spread awareness of programs or promote participant health, wellness, and empowerment.
• Expand CHPLA's partnered service provider resources guide to increase available linkages and resources available to program participants.
• Represent CHPLA in a professional manner at meetings, community events, with ODR, law enforcement, and other partners.
• Attend, advocate, and lead at ongoing court hearings in various districts for participants with their assigned case manager.
• Attend treatment planning and case consultation meetings with partnered providers for the purpose of care coordination.

Program Support

• Order, organize, and maintain inventory of program supplies and donations.
• Oversee and manage drop-in center services to ensure safe, nonjudgmental, welcoming, impactful, and beneficial space for participants.
• Provide support to Director of Client Services and Clinical Supervisor in maintaining a safe, positive, and empowering work environment.
• Provide in-person assessment, triage, crisis intervention for LEAD participants experiencing complex health, mental health and/or substance use challenges.
• Schedule supervision with case managers to review operational tasks, client linkages to outside providers, and drop-in duties, schedule, protocols, and workflow.
• Conduct regular reviews of chart and the DHS CHAMP electronic health records system to review and ensure timely, accurate, detailed and professional case notes are documented on all client related contacts and progress in accordance to timelines and standards set by ODR (Office of Diversion and Reentry).
• Receive program participant referrals for enrollment from LAPD, local outside service providers, or from internal CHPLA contacts. Must be available to receive these referrals outside of regular business hours.
• Be part of a regular rotation staffing a 24-hour emergency service phone line. Receive emergency calls from service providers or program participants outside of business hours and respond to crisis situation with clinically sound judgment and expertise.
• Attend regular clinical supervision sessions and case conferencing with ICMS staff and support in completing and maintaining client roster and documentation associated with clinical supervision and case conference meetings.
• Support in maintaining and monitoring program data, activities and outcomes, and compile data reports as requested within outlined timeframe.
• Provide administrative and operational supervision of ICMS case management staff to ensure delivery of quality services, care, outcomes, and support staff's knowledge and growth.
• Contribute as requested and as needed to complete DHS program reports.
• Support Director of Client Services in maintaining program budget.
• Monitoring spending and purchases of client related expenses to ensure appropriate use of funds and spending remains within allocated amount.
• Provide case managers feedback in best practices, safety and service protocols, and trainings related to drop-in space and activities.
• Provide guidance, respond, and be available during emergency situations encountered by ICMS case management staff.
• Support LEAD program team in assessing and consulting about participant needs with a true harm reduction, nonpunitive approach.
• Support case managers to coordinate clinically appropriate linkages to outside service and community partners. This may require a collaborative research effort between Clinical Supervisor, Referral Coordinator, and case manager.
• Educate and inform case managers on available LA County resources and available services and best practices to navigate complicated service systems.
• Support case managers in completing and submitting documentation related to housing, social benefits, obtaining legal documents, insurance and medical information.
• Support arranging, scheduling, and directly providing participant transports with CHPLA company vehicles.
• Accompany case managers in the field as needed due to safety or care concerns.
• Support charting, electronic records, and quarterly Care Plans of case managers as required by DHS (Department of Health Services) and report all lapses to Director of Client Services.
• Troubleshoot with CHPLA leadership team to develop strategies to remove barriers to achieving program/monthly goals and outcomes.
• Participate in all-staff meetings at CHPLA. Openly receive input from staff aimed towards program development and quality management.
• Monitor the progress of program participants; monitor and maintain accurate documentation of supportive services in accordance with Federal, State, County, and agency guidelines.
• Oversee incoming referrals regarding case management support, housing navigation, community reintegration, triage activities, and client documentation including eligibility.
• Must know, understand, and be able to articulate the mission, vision, and core values of CHPLA and harm reduction as a practice.
• Participate in scheduled rotation of coverage for 24-hour/7 days on-call crisis intervention hotline.
• Document interactions and events from 24-hour/7 days on-call crisis intervention hotline. Answer incoming crisis calls, coordinate care and/or resources for clients.

Non-Essential Functions

Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director and Director of Client Services

Job Qualifications

Education/Experience

• At least one (1) year of experience working with people experiencing homelessness (PEH), people who use drugs (PWUD), and/or who have chronic health issues.
• Bachelor's degree in social work or similar mental health related major
• At least two (2) years of experience providing direct field-based case management services or ICMS-HR
• Expertise in the following areas: outreach and engagement strategies, intensive case management services, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, housing first, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, substance use and mental health.
• Lived experience and/or diverse background is supported and preferred
• Experience with working with clients/participants that use drugs, engage in sex work, and/or are unhoused
• Deep and thorough understanding of harm reduction, low-threshold services, trauma informed care and patterns, risks and behaviors of drug use.
• Deep understanding of client assessment, care planning, care coordination, evaluation and advocacy.
• Understanding of oppression, racism, and disenfranchisement in our society due to power and status hierarchies
• Understanding of criminal justice, mental health, medical, and housing systems

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances

• A valid California driver's license, proof of vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. Must have the ability to drive program vehicles when needed.
• Background check clearance required.

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities