NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING NAVIGATOR

Career Opportunities with Neighborhood House Association

About NHA:

The Neighborhood House Association is a non-profit organization. Head Start positions are funded in whole or in part by money provided through the State and Federal Government. Additionally, some Social Service Program positions may be funded in whole or in part through grant funds. Because positions and salaries may be funded through grants, and State and Federal funds ongoing employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds.

Our EEO Policy:

Neighborhood House Association is an equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans). We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

Benefits:

Eligible employees receive the following benefits:

• 15 Holidays Days
• 401(K) Retirement 6% Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement up $2,500
• 2 Personal Days
• Group Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Agency-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Live Well Program
• 4 Paid Days Annual Bereavement (Note Total of 5 days of bereavement leave per loss)
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Voluntary Benefits: Life and AD&D Accident, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

**Medical and dental benefits are provided to regular employees who work a minimum of 30 hours per week.**

POSITION PURPOSE:

Under the Program Manager supervision, the Neighborhood Housing Navigator provides housing services for adults on an outpatient basis and performs related work as required. Neighborhood Housing Navigators (NHN) are community-based case managers providing intensive case management support to community members through intensive coordination of health and health-related services via Enhanced Care Management (ECM). The NHN provides housing related community support to clients with identified housing needs through coordination with Neighborhood Housing Navigators and ECM services. Main duties include conducting personal assessments, guiding individuals in developing housing care plans and goals, and connecting individuals to resources and support in the community, all with the goal of providing housing tenancy and sustaining services.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this position.

• Serve as a community-based advocate and resource for health plan members, using knowledge of the community and resources available to engage and assist clients in managing needs.
• Engage clients with motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care practices to conduct initial intakes, confirm program eligibility, provide ongoing outreach, and set up meetings in the most easily accessible setting for members, such as in-person appointments at their homes, NHA offices or other community locations, telephonic and/or virtual settings.
• Contact eligible members to assist in development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of Assessments and individualized Care Plans and objectives, which may include accessing social services such as community-based resources for housing, food, employment, etc.
• Assist clients to develop, implement, evaluate, and revise housing case plan goals and objectives, which may include obtaining income and establishing supportive services that will help to assure housing stability, tenant screening, housing assessments and developing an individualized housing support plan which includes housing search assistance, support in completing applications, and obtaining required documentation.
• Identify, coordinate, and secure resources for subsidized rent and secure funding for security deposit, moving costs, adaptive aids, housing and modification, and other one-time expenses necessary to enable a person to establish basic housing, and arranging for and supporting move.
• Provide early identification and intervention for concerns that may jeopardize housing and provide education, training and coaching on maintaining housing, in addition to coordination with landlord to assist in resolving disputes, communicating, and advocating on behalf of tenants, and provide landlord education and engagement.
• Assist with annual recertification, independent living and life skills training, link clients with community resources, review, update and modify housing support and crisis plans, conduct health and safety visits, and provide independent living and life skills training.
• Maintain communication with Neighborhood Networks Program staff, service providers, and housing resources and provide timely and accurate documentation of service delivery, status, and progress of clients.

• Creates detailed documentation of clients' housing progress and performs various other administrative functions associated with the program; updates assigned clients' progress notes; maintains weekly log of clients seen.
• Enters necessary data and information into the database in the required time frame.
• Ensure that all client files are accurate, organized, auditable and stored in confidential file cabinets.
• Assist with recruitment of clients.
• Represent NHA and the Program at meetings as requested by the Program Manager.
• Assist with administrative duties as needed.
• Assist Program Manager with special projects.
• All other related duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Experience working in a health care setting, preferred and experience providing case management/case work services to underserved or special needs populations with varied and complex health, behavioral health, economic and educational circumstances.
• Lived experience living or working in community to be served, including awareness of available resources, community conditions, barriers, and assets.
• Access to reliable transportation to meet clients in the community is required.

Ability to:

• Ability to demonstrate a trauma informed approach and utilize motivational interviewing.
• Expertise of relevant resources within the San Diego County community.
• Experience working with underserved populations and broad knowledge of diverse cultures and sensitivity in dealing with diversity issues.
• Ability to work independently, take significant initiative, manage multiple demands, and prioritize when needed.
• Maintain positive and supportive relationships with coworkers, strong communication, relationship-building skills, and ability to collaborate and work in a team-oriented atmosphere.
• Maintain accurate knowledge about the agency, its programs and service.
• Accurately represent the agency to and preserve positive working relationships with the general public, clients, funding sources, government bodies, etc.
• Communicate positive and negative feedback from the community through your supervisor to management and utilize appropriate opportunities to pursue positive public relations for the agency.
• Commit to company values and mission with ability to demonstrate those positively and proactively to clients, fellow employees and management in everyday performance and interactions.

• Maintain absolute confidentiality concerning client information.
• Handle multiple priorities and show a high degree of initiative.
• Practice good grammar, spelling and case note composition skills;
• Present a professional manner and appearance;
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills;
• Manage time effectively;
• Implement problem solving skills;
• Show proficiency in MS Office suite;
• Respond appropriately in crisis situations;
• Demonstrate interpersonal, collaborative and relationship-building skills; interact positively with fellow employees and management at the company, and when dealing with staff at other agencies;
• Be dependable, punctual and reliable.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

The incumbent must be fluent in the written and verbal skills necessary to successfully perform the position's essential functions, duties and responsibilities. Ability to read, speak and write English (and Spanish if bilingual) with clarity of expression sufficient to communicate to employees and clients in clear and easily understood terms.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is a minimum completion of a High School Diploma or GED. One year experience working in the field of housing services, social work, mental health, or a medical setting, and/or related field preferred; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must have a valid California Drivers' License and possession of or authorized access to a registered and insured vehicle. TB test required upon hire and must be maintained every four years.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit or stand for long periods; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; walk and lift or move up to fifty pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve complex problems; observe and interpret complex situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform work on multiple, concurrent tasks; and interact with program management, staff, clients and others encountered in the course of work. The employee may have occasional contact with abusive and physically violent clients.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee works under typical office conditions; the noise level is usually quiet.

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