OVERVIEW Responsible for securing and maintaining affordable housing for individuals having serious and persistent mental illness, who are at risk for homelessness, hospitalization and/or incarceration. Provides direct care and manages services for individuals living in permanent supportive housing. Work is performed under general supervision and is guided by agency policies and procedures, quality assurance, diagnostic guidelines and professional practices and including ethical standards related to client interactions, state and federal licensure and accreditation regulations and guidelines.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - Meet with participants in their homes, at least monthly and more often as appropriate, to assess needs specifically related to housing, noting other issues that could impede housing stabilization.
- Schedule and conduct meetings with participants to review their budget and work on longer-term stabilization goals which address employment/income, money management strategies, family/parenting, interpersonal relationships, self-development, vocational/educational needs.
- Refer participants to other community resources to gain support for goals and follow up to ensure referrals were completed. A referral may include providing or setting up transportation for a client to access the resource effectively. It may also mean accompanying them and/or setting up an advocate to attend a meeting with the participant.
- Track and document client progress.
- Conducts intake interviews, obtains data, assesses individual status and risk, identifies needs and develops, implements, coordinates, and monitors individual treatment and service plans.
- Facilitates access or assists the individual with obtaining and effectively using medical, psychiatric, social, educational, vocational and/or other treatment and community resources and coordinates with service providers.
- Provides crisis intervention.
- Assists the individual with obtaining and effectively using community resources and/or links individual to and coordinates with service providers.
- Assists individuals or their family members apply for available benefit programs.
- Provides direct supportive counseling to the individual.
- Provides counseling and educational information to the individual's family and other influential persons to help support implementation of the service plan and optimal goal achievement.
- Arranges for or provides transportation for individuals or their family members to access services.
- Participates in the development or enhancement of community services and programs beneficial to the population served such as living skills and vocational, civic and recreational opportunities.
- Monitors effectiveness of services delivered and received by the individual and modifies plans and providers as appropriate.
- Prepares and maintains case files and documentation
- Attends in-service training and staff development programs to enhance the case management services.
- Serves on treatment teams.
- Advocates on behalf of the individual for appropriate treatment/interventions.
- Provides in-home skill training, as needed, to assist client in maintaining their residential placement.
- Assists with housing search, landlord outreach, acts as liaison as needed between individual and landlord.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Demonstrated knowledge of homelessness, behavioral health, success planning, community rehabilitation and case management. Able to be flexible and appropriately handle stressful situations. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to network with landlords and develop relationships with community service providers. Must have an understanding of relationship-based service models and be comfortable working alongside volunteers. Must be a self-initiator and be able to problem solve various life issues.
Thorough knowledge of public and private resources, court services, mental health programs, substance abuse programs and service delivery systems in the local community and the eligibility criteria, intake processes, termination criteria and procedures; thorough knowledge of individual manage ment guidelines for Virginia; considerable knowledge of social casework management, including need assessment and supportive level counseling; considerable knowledge of the nature and types of disorders, diagnosis, treatment modalities and interventions applicable to individuals with mental illness and recovery model, behavior management, independent living skills training, supportive counseling, relapse prevention, family education, crisis intervention, discharge planning, service coordination, functional and other assessment types; considerable knowledge of clinical documentation and office practices; ability to conduct effective interviews, observe, assess and record individual behaviors and functioning and develop treatment and service plans; ability to identify needs and link individuals with appropriate services; ability to establish and maintain rapport with the individual population; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency and facility staff and of other private and public facilities, agencies and organizations; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; ability to operate a vehicle; ability to function calmly in stressful situa tions; ability to prepare and maintain detailed records and prepare related reports; ability to collect, compile and evaluate electronically sourced or other data and prepare reports; ability to persistently negotiate with individuals and service providers.
TYPICAL EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE Bachelor's Degree in human services and at least one year professional work experience in direct care to adults with serious mental illness. Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP); Experience working with homeless population preferred.
LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS Valid VA driver's license.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXPOSURE Work involves considerable exposure to disagreeable environmental conditions such as the requirements to interact with clients having unsanitary behaviors, poor hygiene and contagious illness and/or are potentially violent in unsafe or unsanitary residences or other locations; drive a vehicle, and/or transport clients in inclement, if not severe weather; occasionally physically assist and/or lift clients in the course of care.
RACSB maintains a drug-free workplace environment. All candidates who receive conditional offers of employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening and background check, including criminal history, driving record, and verification of credentials. Additionally, employees are subject to random drug testing throughout their employment. Our comprehensive screening program reflects our commitment to maintaining a safe, healthy workplace and providing high-quality services to our community.