Outreach Specialist

Description:
SCHEDULE: 40 hours, Monday – Friday, evenings and weekends (only as needed during inclement weather and as directed by program needs)
Pays Starting at $ $30.00 per hour DEO (Salary ranges provided are based on relevant experience and skill set)
LOCATION:
105 Chauncy St and community-based work on the streets of Boston

*SUMMARY OF THE POSITION*
:
The Outreach Specialist will provide outreach, engagement, and case management services to street sleeping individuals in the city of Boston. This includes the identification of chronically homeless individuals, assessment, service planning, referrals for substance abuse/health/mental health care, and housing placement for targeted clients sleeping on the streets of Boston as part of a two person team. The Outreach Specialist will assess individuals on the streets, assisting with identifying the appropriate level of service need and diverting individuals from homelessness whenever possible. The Outreach Specialist will work closely with the Coordinated Access System to match chronically homeless individuals with needed services and a housing pathway.

All Outreach Specialist will possess and exhibit the following competencies in their roles;
Client Focus
: Provides service excellence to guests. Responds to needs in a timely, professional, helpful, and courteous manner. Keeps guests up to date on progress of services they are receiving and changes that affect them. Appropriately prioritizes needs of guests.

Attention to Detail:
Works in a conscientious, consistent, and thorough manner. Demonstrates clear understanding of documentation requirements for the Outreach Specialist role and maintains current, accurate documentation.

Motivating Clients:
Inspires guest commitment to their own development toward autonomy and independent living. Looks for and uses intervention techniques, including motivational interviewing and solution-focused discussions. Acknowledges achievements. Helps guests identify their long-term plans and goals. Maintains and communicates a positive, yet realistic outlook. Uses a variety of approaches to energize and inspire.

Requirements:
EDUCATION/TRAINING:
Required:

• High School Diploma or GED, AND
• Minimum of 2 years' experience working with a homeless population and experience delivering community-based case management services to individuals with SUD, COD and SMI
• Valid MA driver's license in good standing and an acceptable driving record

OR

• A minimum of an Associate Degree or 60 college credits in a human services field or,
• LADC or,
• CADC or,
• One year experience working with a homeless population and experience delivering community- based case management services to individuals with SUD, COD and SMI
• Valid MA driver's license in good standing and an acceptable driving record

*KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:*
REQUIRED:

• Minimum of one year recovery counseling or case client services to a complex and vulnerable population
• High degree of cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively with diverse people and situations

*PREFERRED:*

• Experience with HMIS systems or customer databases
• Strong demonstrated experience in readily applying both motivational interviewing and stage of change work.
• Training in and/or experience providing services to racial, cultural and ethnically diverse populations
• Knowledge of Stage of Change work as it relates to addiction & MH with individuals experiencing substance abuse, mental illness, trauma, homelessness and/or other complex disorders
• Bilingual (English/Spanish, English/Haitian-Creole) strongly preferred

Required:
PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

• Ability to stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds (assisting in physically lifting clients/containers)
• Ability to stretch and bend
• Ability to respond safely and quickly in case of emergency situations
• Ability to travel to and access multiple sites on the streets and within the community
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time and communicate by telephone
• Must be able to drive a PSI vehicle for work

Required:
MENTAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

• Highly developed interpersonal and effective communication skills
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; the ability to balance many competing demands.
• The ability to maintain a solution focus in all situations encountered.
• Highly developed professional boundaries and ethical standards
• Demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity and cultural competency around issues related to homelessness, trauma, mental illness, addiction, and diverse vulnerable populations
• History of effectively working in a team-oriented workplace

*WORKING CONDITIONS:*

• 65% of the time outreach specialist will be spent outdoors in all types of weather, with much of the time spent walking, standing, or bending
• 35% of the time the outreach specialist will be working at their desk

*ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Case Management/Motivation of Client*

• Actively manage an assigned caseload of chronically homeless, street-sleeping clients with the goal of securing housing, related benefits, and services needed to retain housing and empower clients towards greater self–sufficiency.
• Maintain a solution focus in all situations.
• Provide high quality, culturally sensitive, intensive case management while utilizing the evidence-based approaches of motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction.
• Provide outreach, engagement, and case management on the streets of Boston as well as in the office.
• Utilize Trauma-Informed Care when interacting with clients, along with motivational interviewing skills and a Stages of Change framework, to aid clients towards positive outcomes.
• Assess clients on their vulnerability, chronicity, substance abuse issues, mental health symptoms, legal issues, health care, employment and income, independent living skills, and community engagement using to guide frequency and type of case management intervention.
• Provide advocacy services with community agencies and other available and appropriate resources, with the goal of supporting each client's personal growth, enhanced independence and access to housing and external services.
• Demonstrate initiative in exploring existing and potential resources through the development of positive working relationships with service providers in the Greater Boston community.
• Actively participate in referrals and aftercare/discharge planning to and from treatment programs when appropriate.
• Work with clients to create and implement client-centered, strength-based individualized plans that have a housing and safety focus.
• Completing triage assessments to divert persons from homelessness and identifying needed services and a housing pathway upon completion of triage assessment.
• Work closely with internal and external agencies on housing pathways through the Coordinated Access System towards getting clients off the streets and into housing.
• Ensure that coordination of services occur in all housing placements.

Attention to Detail/Documentation

• Maintain accurate written records and documentation in accordance with program standards including, but not limited to: individualized plans; guest charts; incident reports; detailed case notes; referrals; and third party billing when applicable. Maintain HMIS records in a timely and accurate fashion and contribute to Annual Progress Reporting when needed.
• Document all hazardous incidents and intervening appropriately in any unsafe situation.
• Adhere to all documentation and policy requirements of contractors, authorities and community partners (i.e. Boston Housing Authority, City of Boston, Metro Housing, etc.).

*Organizational Responsibilities*

• Participate in Outreach team events and activities, contributing positively to daily huddles, case conferences and collaborations with third parties when appropriate.
• Consistently identify unsafe or potentially unsafe situations and intervene appropriately to maintain a safe and secure environment for self and others.
• Through daily work, promote a safety-conscious, respectful working environment. Consistently follow PSI and shelter safety policies and procedures.
• Adhere to TB-testing procedures and complete OSHA trainings.
• Attend mandatory NARCAN\ Naloxone trainings and administer it to clients as needed.
• Maintain current certification and attend mandatory trainings in CPR and First Aid and administer life-saving aid to clients as needed.
• Adhere to the Organization's mandatory training requirements including CPI, CPI refresher courses, Trauma-Informed Care, and any other training required by program management.
• Drive and maintain eligibility to drive PSI vehicles.
• The Outreach Specialist will respond to City of Boston 311 calls in all of Boston proper, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Mattapan, East Boston, and Logan International Airport. This position will pair up in teams of at least two staff members and utilize the Pine Street Inn vehicles as needed to adequately cover the Greater Boston Area. This position will work closely with program management and the OVAN supervisors to ensure good communication, and coordination of services occurs in response to city and neighborhood requests for services.
• Outreach Specialists are considered essential employees under PSI's weather emergency policy, reporting for work regardless of adverse weather conditions.
• Other duties as assigned in order to meet the needs of the organization during pandemics, other public health emergencies, and weather emergencies.

INTERNAL CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE SUBMIT A PROMOTION/TRANSFER APPLICATION TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF POSTED DATE.

Pine Street Inn is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.