Housing Case Manager

Step Up Nashville Supportive Services

JOB TITLE: Housing Case Manager

REPORTS TO : Program Manager

HOURS : Full-Time

CLASSIFICATION : Hourly Non-Exempt

SUMMARY : The Housing Case Manager will provide support, engagement, and on-going stabilization services to members who are placed in scattered site housing in the community. The CM will be a member of a new Housing First team forming to expand Step Up’s successful permanent housing model in the Nashville area. The team will provide services to adults experiencing chronic homelessness and co-occurring disabilities that leads to permanent supported housing. This position fully promotes the use of Housing First, Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed Care and the Motivational Interviewing evidenced-based models of Recovery Oriented service delivery.

DUTIES : The following reflects essential functions for this job but does not restrict other tasks, which may be assigned:

Direct Service and Support

• Provide intensive case management Housing First services to chronically homeless persons to support them in maintaining permanent, stable housing. Services include: case management, engagement, screening, intake and assessment, document acquisition, service plan development, re-certifications, linkages and referrals to clinical and appropriate community resources, housing search, voucher renewal, and moving into housing.
• Meet with assigned residents individually through regular home visits to review progress toward goals and provide case management and skill building interventions to improve vocational skills and ensure housing stability.
• Comprehensive coordination of care including developing/maintaining relationships with community resources for successful transition to and maintenance of independent living.
• Monitor for warning signs of de-compensation and crisis, and collaborate with the team accordingly.
• Provide linkage to life skills groups and community-based recreational opportunities.

Documentation and Data Collection

• Using the BIRP note format, document all services provided to and on behalf of members as required by Step Up in Welligent and in the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS).
• Responsible for tracking productivity, charting and documentation for all services, and file maintenance.
• Process all paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.
• Team Engagement and Support
• Work collaboratively with members of the SU team to support and effectively perform their assigned job duties and contribute to the achievement of the program's goals and objectives of client’s housing stability.
• Attend staff meetings, supervision and training as required.

QUALIFICATIONS : A minimum of 2 years related housing/case management experience working with chronically homeless adults struggling with a mental illness. Knowledge of housing vouchers and providing services in the field. Experience documenting services provided using the BIRP note format

Required license or certification:

Tennessee Driver’s License with a good driving record

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION : Work with people experiencing homelessness whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services, may present inherent challenges and difficulties such as: exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, individuals who may have poor hygiene or unclean homes due to homelessness, mental health symptoms, or poverty. Additionally, in working with our members, employees may encounter instances of profanity, sexually explicit or derogatory language, or verbal or physical expressions of anger and trauma. Very rarely do these situations ever escalate to physical contact, and negative or derogatory communication patterns can often be negotiated successfully. All direct care staff are provided adequate training to develop skills to deescalate crisis situations that may arise and Step Up has established procedural safeguards for all employees to mitigate (but not eliminate) these inherent risks of employment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers; handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, balance, stoop, kneel, and/or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Keyboard data entry required.

Step Up utilizes the principles of trauma-informed care and mental health recovery. These principles inform our Core Values of Hope, Wellness, Voice and Choice, Respect, and Collaborative Relationships. As representatives of Step Up, employees agree to adhere to these values in their interactions with members, colleagues, supervisors, and associated community members.

STEP UP CORE VALUES

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

Step Up provides equal employment opportunities without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER