Caseworker Coach II - Outreach and Housing Navigator

POSITION TITLE:        Mobile Outreach Worker/Caseworker-Coach II- Outreach and Housing Navigator

REPORTS TO:             Program Manager, Homeless Services, Imperial

FLSA STATUS:            Non-Exempt

TIME COMMITMENT:  Full time (40 hours/ week)

SALARY:                      $23.00 - $25.00 per hour

BENEFITS:                   Medical, dental, and vision, prescription drugs, life insurance, cash

                                      Balance pension plan, 403(b), vacation, 15 holidays and sick leave

To apply for this position you need to complete this Application

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Mobile Outreach Worker and Housing Navigator position combines outreach, case management, and housing navigation to support women experiencing homelessness, particularly those with a history of substance use, throughout the Central San Diego region. This role integrates community-based services and an individualized care approach to assess participants' needs and connect them with recovery-oriented resources, including Rachel’s Women’s Center and other local services

AGENCY CULTURE: 

The business and social environment in which our Agency operates is continuously changing. To thrive, we must incorporate ways of thinking and acting that strengthen who we are and who we can be. As part of this cultural change process, it is critical that all employees of Catholic Charities aspire to the following:

• A commitment to the agency’s mission, vision, and values (“We Do the Right Thing”)


• A commitment to excellence in everything we do (“We Do Things Right”)


• A commitment to achieving desired outcomes and measured results (“Everything Counts”)


• A commitment to innovation and to what is possible (“We value Creativity and Generativity”)

ESSENTIAL FUCTIONS

• Adheres to Mission, Principles and Policies of Catholic Charities including those related to confidential information and use of electronic devices.


• Maintains collaborative, productive professional working relationships with community partners.


• Contacts immediate supervisor or that person’s designee when unusual situations arise off site.

• Completes and submits all required documentation in a timely and accurate manner


• Conduct mobile/street outreach to build rapport and develop trust with women experiencing homelessness.


• Provide information about available resources and assist participants in identifying services that meet their immediate needs.


• Identify and help alleviate barriers to accessing housing, behavioral and/or physical health care, or other community services.


• Conduct intakes and complete PROMIS forms with participants, initiating goal setting within 30 days of enrollment and updating goals every 90 days.


• Engage in Diversion conversations and, when appropriate, administer the VI-SPDAT to connect participants with housing resources.


• Provide transportation to Rachel’s Women’s Center (RWC) or other services as needed.


• Assist women with obtaining essential documents, such as birth certificates or social security cards, to facilitate access to benefits and services.


• Reconnect participants with established behavioral health service providers, advocating for their needs with external agencies and Catholic Charities programs.


• Support RWC participants in setting realistic and attainable housing goals.


• Assist participants in overcoming barriers to housing, increasing income, and accessing benefits, employment, or housing opportunities.


• Coordinate care with community partners and provide case management to ensure participants receive appropriate services tailored to their needs.


• Accompany participants to appointments and advocate with service providers or landlords to address challenges in securing suitable housing.


• Establish and maintain positive relationships with landlords and rental agencies to identify affordable housing options.


• Guide participants through rental application processes and educate them on the housing market, tenant rights, fair housing laws, and housing search strategies.


• Deliver group presentations and one-on-one sessions focused on obtaining and maintaining housing.


• Remains mindful of safety always.


• Builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with colleagues in other social service agencies including detox and substance use treatment programs, walk in mental health clinics and other co-occurring disorders programs, primary care clinics and outreach programs.


• Possesses a strong working knowledge of eligibility criteria for these programs and recommends the best options based on each woman’s individual needs.


• Ensures that mobile vehicle is always ready for use (clean and has a full gas tank)


• Promptly reports mobile vehicle maintenance needs immediate supervisor so it can be serviced according to manufacturer’s standards.


• Completes mileage logs before the end of each workday.


• Performs other duties as requested


• Remains mindful of safety at all times.


• Builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with colleagues in other social service agencies.


• Ensures that mobile vehicle is always ready for use (clean and has a full gas tank)


• Promptly reports mobile vehicle maintenance needs immediate supervisor so it can be serviced according to manufacturer’s standards.


• Completes mileage logs before the end of each workday.


• Performs other duties as requested.


• Accurately and completely records all services provided using the program’s internal data collection system, Clarity HMIS

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Associate degree and minimum two years case management/navigation; or outreach or equivalent experience.


• Minimum two years’ experience serving adults who are unhoused and living with substance use disorders and/or serious mental illness.


• Demonstrates an understanding of substance use and/or mental health recovery concepts


• Experience with women’s issues and services.


• Experience applying trauma informed approaches to service delivery, motivational interviewing, stages of change model and harm reduction. Possess a solid working understanding of and demonstrated ability to apply trauma informed principles to complex, unpredictable situations.


• Understands and embraces a Housing First approach to resolving homelessness.


• Valid Driver’s License and a safe driving record.


• Fluency in English is required, additional fluency in Spanish or other threshold language is preferred but not required.


• Computer proficiency and able to learn and accurately utilize electronic documentation systems.


• Ability to read and interpret documents such as policies, safety rules, operating instructions, and procedure manuals.


• Ability to multi-task, organize, and prioritize.


• Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team.


• Candidates with lived recovery experience and/or those who experienced homelessness are encouraged to apply.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to walk for up to 8 hours per day with intermittent occasional standing, bending, squatting, or climbing


• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds


• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.