Job Information
Volunteers of America Los Angeles Case Manager Problem Solving Specialist in Los Angeles, California
Case Manager Problem Solving Specialist
Location:Los Angeles, CA
Job ID:4655
Salary:$23.98 - $25.24 Per Hour
Area of Interest:Case Management
Division:Adult Services
Shift Type:Day
About Us:
VOALA
Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories
Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans- services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.
PAY RATE:$23.98 - $25.24 Per Hour
BENEFITS:VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE
The Case Manager (Specialist) - Problem Solving Specialist provides intensive housing crisis response and case management services to eligible clients, meeting participants at least weekly. Using active listening techniques, the Case Manager - Problem Solving Specialist is the primary point of contact to coordinate creative resolutions to a housing crisis - locating both temporary and permanent housing. Located at a VOALA shelter, and working is the field as needed, the Case Manager (Specialist) - Problem Solving Specialist focuses on resolving the housing crisis, but can refer to other resources as needed.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of the program case management team, provides information referrals, crisis intervention, and assistance with permanent housing placement for participants
Assists case managers in conducting the culturally appropriate, comprehensive screenings and assessments to collect functional, environmental, financial, employment, housing, educational, and health information, as appropriate, to develop a Housing Stability Plan
Meets with participants to learn about family dynamics, and cultural factors that may assist in finding housing inside the participant-s network or family, as a last resort utilizing the resources of the Program to obtain housing, helps participants establish a plan to sustain housing permanently
Assists in budgeting with participants, to determine what level of assistance (if any) is needed to resolve housing crisis
Coordinates follow-up services with participants and case management team
Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless participants, including referral to VOALA shelters as appropriate.
Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
Communicates with and visits, families, outside service providers and landlords to familiarize them with the program and the unique needs of participants
Conducts habitability and lead-based paint inspections of housing options as needed
Works directly (One on One) with landlords on behalf of clients and program
Develops support systems to meet individual client's housing needs; coordinates and facilitates move-in activities, rental negotiations, and service referrals as needed
Facilitates the use of community resources to assist both tenants and landlords in the event of problems leading to potential eviction
Provide service linkages and support systems to ensure identified needs are met, coordinate with outside service providers.
Continuously works to identify and apply new, creative approaches and solutions for each participant/family
Additional duties as assigned
Other duties as required
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Services for this position must be provided on-site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on-site each day of active employment.
Meet with participants and through active listening, assess the cultural, social, family, economic and other factors that may resolve the housing crisis: seek solutions outside of homeless services system
Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless program participants, inside the participant-s network initially, then through referral to social service partners
Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the program
Works one-on-one with landlords to help clients, and represent program
Acts as Mediator to assist in resolution of housing crisis
Performs follow-up to ensure housing is sustained
Develops Support system for clients to achieve and keep permanent housing, involving, family, landlords and services available in the community.
Coordinates efforts with Case Management team, supporting Case Management initiatives for clients served, meets regularly to stay current with client needs
Participates in Community engagement and outreach efforts, supports Participants in the field, Partner with other VOALA and community service providers
Ability to perform hard and soft file management, HMIS, CM process flow, clinical documentation - DAP note proficiency, and qualification of outcome files
Other duties as required and is subject to change at any time.
MANDATED REPORTER
As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.
Qualifications
REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
EDUCATION:
Bachelor-s Degree in Social Services or related discipline, Or
Equivalent combination of education and work experience (four years)
EXPERIENCE:
2 years of experience as a case manager
1 year assisting the homeless find housing
Experience working with clients with co-morbidities (chronic health, mental health, substance abuse issues, for example)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
2 years of experience counseling target population
HMIS navigation
Bilingual in Spanish
Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.