HOST Intensive Case Manager

Job Description

Job Description

HOST is a multi-disciplinary team serving homeless adults experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders. HOST prioritizes services to those who are highly vulnerable, lack service connections or other support, and are unwilling or unable to engage in traditional service models. The HOST team will work throughout Skagit and Island Counties to provide critical survival services and engagement with the ultimate goal of addressing acute mental and physical health needs, increasing stability, obtaining housing, and transitioning to long-term services. The Team consists of psychiatric and health care providers, a consulting nurse, mental health and substance use disorder counselors, and behavioral health peers and case managers to collaborate to deal with the more challenging cases that do not meet eligibility for our Law Enforcement Diversion Program.

Host Intensive Case Manager: These positions will work in consultation with clinical, medical, housing, peer support, and shelter leadership to provide comprehensive care, crisis response, and low-barrier clinical services to clients enrolled in HOST. Knowledge of working with Co-Occurring Disorders is essential. The Intensive Case Managers will each carry a caseload of no more than 20 individuals and work Monday through Friday day shift.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position is involved in all aspects of referral, outreach and engagement, intensive case management services, as well as coordination with other providers to ensure successful transition of consumers to on-going care for a caseload or 20 or fewer persons with mental health disorders. Services will be provided in Everett and Snohomish County areas. Many services will be provided on the streets, in shelters, in jail, and in other service centers as assigned. This position requires a high degree of coordination and collaboration with other ERC programs as well as outside agencies. Specific roles and tasks included, but are not limited to:

• Participate as a member of a team of primary health, nursing, addiction and mental health specialist collaboratively providing ongoing advocacy and integration of services to mentally ill, homeless and formerly homeless adults in Snohomish County.
• Provide intensive work and identifying long-term options for a caseload of 20 or fewer clients.
• Perform assessments and intake evaluations on selected clients; with the client’s participation, develop support and treatment plans; facilitate linkages to collaborative resources when appropriate.
• Advocate for client access to community resources and services, ensuring that client needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated commitment to the vision, values and mission of the HOST project working with low income, court-involved, and homeless populations.
• Identify gaps and barriers in available community resources and advocate for systemic changes.
• Skills necessary to provide advocacy and support for participants within the criminal justice system including court appearances and written communication.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2 years of experience working with adults who are experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders--street outreach experience and/or Peer Counselor credential a plus.
• Knowledge of de-escalation skills, motivational Interviewing and patience with persons who have not succeeded in traditional service settings.