TITLE: SLATE Program Specialist, Critical Time Intervention Specialist

REPORTS TO: Program Services Director

FLSA STATUS: Non Exempt

Supportive Living Assistance for Tenant Empowerment (SLATE)

Full time 

POSITION PURPOSE

The SLATE Critical Time Intervention Specialist (SLATE CTI) provides direct client supportive services to assure that unsheltered, chronically homeless individuals, homeless veterans, and chronically homeless veterans that struggle with behavioral health, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders gain access to permanent supportive housing, case management, benefits, and appropriate behavioral health and substance abuse supports. Perform other duties as assigned. 

SUMMARY

Preference is given to applicants that have personal experience with serious and persistent mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, and/or veteran status. Under general supervision of SLATE Program services, provides ongoing intensive mental health, chemical dependency and trauma related interventions to homeless persons with severe and persistent mental illness.Services are provided in accordance with SAMHSA guidelines. Completes and maintains progress notes, service logs and other pertinent documentation according to agency and regulatory service standards.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Establish and maintain a professional rapport with the population of focus enrolled into the SLATE program utilizing personal experiences with recovery to offer hope, encouragement and reassurance. Role modeling and providing support while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
2. Provides an array of community based, mobile services that address the individualized mental health needs of persons who have a severe and persistent mental illness, chemical dependency and who are homeless. Services include, but are not limited to, ongoing assessment of needs, coordination of services, linkage, symptom monitoring, advocacy, outreach, housing placement, and skill development. Services may be provided face-to-face or by telephone.
3. Provides services in accordance with the Evidenced Based Practice, Critical Time Intervention and adheres to fidelity standards.
4. Coordinates the development of the individualized service plan (ISP) for each assigned client. ISP must be collaborative and include client’s own statement of need, a specific objective and measurable steps to achieve the objective.
5. Conducts community outreach by establishing and maintaining professional and therapeutic relationships with clients, and maintains accurate treatment documentation.
6. Provides and/or ensures the provision of all necessary community support services as identified on the individual service plan.
7. Initiates appropriate action and crisis intervention with individuals/clients or situations through prompt utilization of community resources. Takes appropriate action to deal with emergencies and provide crisis intervention.
8. Ensures the engagement of clients by providing services in a trauma sensitive manner
9. Ensures compliance with productivity and documentation/record keeping standards as set by the agency in accordance with funding and accreditation requirements. 
10. Promotes recovery and increases the client’s capacity to positively impact his/her own environment by assisting clients in the development of interpersonal and community coping skills, and self-management techniques.
11. Provides assistance to clients in maintaining housing, entitlements and other basic resources, and establishes and maintains regular contact and follow-up requirements as specified in Housing Stabilization Plans/ Service Plans.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

CORE COMPETENCIES 

For successful company culture integration, all employees must demonstrate the following competencies;

Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Writes clearly and informatively; Varies writing style to meet needs.

Customer Service - Displays courtesy and sensitivity; Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Meets commitments; Promptly responds to customer needs and solicits customer feedback to improve service.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Planning/Organization - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics

1. Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, goals and objectives with a willingness to respect, understand and promote the mission, values and goals of the agency.
2. Knowledge of state and local rules, regulations and laws pertaining to the provision of agency services.
3. Knowledge of major mental disorders and of community resources for services to individuals wit mental disorders.
4. Knowledge of the principles of social work and or counseling; first aid and CPR administration.
5. Ability to change conduct as a result of feedback from supervision.
6. Ability to effectively and professionally interact with professionals of many disciplines and with a variety of individuals from varying educational, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.
7. Ability to prepare meaningful, concise and accurate documentation.
8. Ability to change conduct as a result of feedback from supervision.
9. Ability to gather, collate, classify information about people, data and things.
10. Ability to work with and handle sensitive and confidential inquiries.
11. Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
12. Creative and flexible problem solving skills.
13. Computer skills; database and spread sheet software capabilities.

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

A completed education in Mental Health, Social Work, or another related area. Bachelor’s Degree preferred. A minimum of 2 years of previous experience in homeless outreach, housing service for formerly homeless people, or related area is required. Familiarity with state and local behavioral health service community is required. Employee must be willing to work odd and irregular hours. Employee must be capable of working with minimal supervision.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

Valid Ohio driver’s license with less than six points and proof of automobile insurance, adhering to the minimum requirements of Ohio’s Financial Responsibility Act.

CPR Certification plus First Aid, non-violent crisis intervention training, and Critical Time Intervention principles (within 60 days of hire).

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Where duties require the incumbent to outreach into the community via field work, possession of a valid operator’s license appropriate to the vehicle to be operated at time of appointment and maintained throughout employment. Must possess and drive a motorized vehicle.The employee must pass a criminal background inquiry and be able to work closely with law enforcement personnel.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. Ability to speak effectively before groups of managers, clients, consumers and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages to practical situations. Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variable in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral diagram, or schedule form.

COMPUTER SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. Also, employee will be expected to use a site-specific database: Homeless Management Information System.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

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

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be capable of walking during all or most of an eight-hour shift.

The SLATE CTI Specialist is expected to meet people outside, making exposure to the weather an expectation of the position. Driving for prolonged periods of time with frequent stops is an essential part of the job. The SLATE CTI Specialist may need to walk on rough terrain from time to time, for example, uneven ground, parks and ravines, while providing outreach to community members sleeping outdoors.

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 noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee must be capable of remaining outdoors in most weather conditions, during all or most of an eight-hour shift.

Nature of work requires an ability to effectively communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, operate standard business office equipment, with an ability to work effectively in a multi-tasking environment. 

Work performed in a general office environment and in community settings without mechanical lifts. Hours of work may exceed normal business hours during peak periods and frequent local travel to sites of service. Full time, evening or weekend hours may be necessary to fulfill duties.

Travel will be required. Most travel will be local. Travel to trainings will be required, primarily in Ohio.

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Miami Valley Housing Opportunities is an equal opportunity employer and affirmatively seeks diversity in its workforce. All interested and qualified parties are afforded equal opportunity with respect to employment, compensation, benefits, training, transfer, and promotion without discrimination, without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Miami Valley Housing Opportunities. Since no position description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder’s responsibility.