Case Manager, Single Adult Shelter

Job Description

Job Description

Summary: Provide case management services to families placed in Scattered Sites shelter units, Shelters, and others referred through the Department of Housing and Community Development. Case Management will include assessment, service plan development, and budget development as well as making referrals to community-based resources, and providing advocacy and crisis intervention. These services will be provided with the primary goal to assist each family to obtain and sustain a permanent housing placement. A typical caseload consists of 18 to 20 homeless families in emergency shelter.

Why Work for SMOC?

• Paid Time Off: All full-time employees can accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D and Long-Term Disability for full-time employees.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program, Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage, and EyeMed Vision Insurance available to full-time employees.
• 403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one for all full-time and part-time employees.
• Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform new placements as assigned. This includes ensuring that units are ready and fully equipped/furnished prior to the arrival of the family, greeting the family at the unit, and conducting a tour and orientation to the unit and area upon the arrival of the family.
• Complete an intake and needs assessment with each family within 48 hours of their placement into shelter. This assessment will include a broad range of areas, including: income/employment/education, budgeting/credit, behavioral health, food/nutrition, children's school/daycare, legal/CORI issues, health, parenting, and daily living skills.
• Establish a respectful relationship with families and meet at least weekly to monitor the re-housing plan as required by DHCD. Document all client meetings and attempted client meetings.
• Perform weekly home visits and perform safety inspections on apartment units using required forms.
• Work closely with families to identify and build upon strengths and develop strategies to address barriers and concerns identified through the assessment process.
• Support working families by being flexible in scheduling weekly home visits to accommodate family members' work schedules, as pre-authorized by your direct supervisor or the Director of the program.
• Assess, evaluate, document and report adherence to Uniform Shelter Rules on a regular basis. Coordinate all services as required.
• Act as a liaison between shelter and public schools, assist with enrollment in daycares and public schools, and provide information about educational activities around parenting and children's issues for adult residents and recreational activities for the children.
• Develop Rehousing Plan that is tailored to the unique needs and strengths of each family.
• Work with each family to develop and implement housing action plans.
• Support goal of housing search and work with Housing Search Worker to promote successful rehousing, including help with obtaining documentation for the HomeBASE application.
• Advocate on behalf of clients and attend administrative hearings, if necessary.
• Assist families in arranging appointments and transportation.
• Provide client transportation to housing related appointments as needed.
• Assist families in successfully transitioning to their own housing, including referring families to Stabilization and sharing information with the Stabilization worker.
• Maintain up-to-date case notes, telephone contact log and referrals to community-based services.
• Document activities and update information in ETO and/or other required databases on a bimonthly basis, including touch points, rehousing plans, and demographic information, including adding new babies to the record.
• Work collaboratively with collateral providers including DCF, DYS, Early Intervention, Legal Services, BHS, etc. to ensure coordination of services.
• Uphold confidentially, set limits and monitor adherence re-housing plan.
• Participate as a member of the Family Emergency Services Team. Attend regular team meetings.
• Engage all clients by understanding and addressing their needs whether within or outside the scope of work.
• Attend & participate in team meetings and case conferences as requested and communicate effectively with clients and staff in other areas.
• Maintain confidentiality of client, employee and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and funder requirements.
• Ensure compliance with program/department, agency and/or funder requirements, as well as, SMOC policies & procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree or a minimum of three years’ experience in Human Services or related field
• Sensitivity to low-income families of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to work independently
• Good written communication skills
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet our insurance standards
• Assessment, advocacy and case management skills
• Bilingual preferred

Organizational Relationship: Directly reports to Program Manager or Case Management Supervisor. Indirectly reports to Program Director and Division Director.

Physical Requirement: Ability to attend to light maintenance tasks. Ability to ascend and descend multiple flights of stairs. Must be able to lift up to 50lbs. Must be able to accompany clients to appointments/interviews. Must be able to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time. Must be able to operate a computer and complete extensive paperwork.

Working Conditions: Desk space is provided in an office setting. Company van is available with advance scheduling for transportation of residents. As part of the responsibilities of this position, the Case Manager will have direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in various programs funded or administered through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. A successful background check is required.

Monday through Friday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM. Includes a 1-hour unpaid lunch break.
35 Hours per week.