Case Manager

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Days Off: Friday, Saturday

Shift: Day (10:00am-6:30pm)

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB DEFINITION:

DESC's STAR (Stability Through Access and Resources) Center is a time-limited, 24/7, behavioral health-focused non-congregate shelter program. Services at the Center are tailored for unsheltered adults facing significant untreated and under-treated challenges related to mental health and substance use disorders. The center is located at 619 3rd Avenue and Cherry St in Seattle.

Part of a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week team of professionals providing emergency shelter and service navigation for unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness, STAR Center Case Managers work with clients one-on-one to create comprehensive plans to secure housing and services that will end their homelessness.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Engage clients and maintain working relationships through creative, resourceful strategies which build trust and confidence.
• Complete housing assessments with selected clients.
• Create and implement client-centered, detailed disposition plans focused on housing acquisition.
• Provide intensive case management to facilitate client access to housing, physical and behavioral health care, financial assistance and vocational training or employment.
• Coordinate with other DESC programs and community providers to assure continuity of client care and successful transition of clients to long-term providers as appropriate.
• Collaborate with key partners and stakeholders, including the Navigation Team and the City of Seattle, to ensure smooth operations and communication.
• Promote and maintain positive relationships with the surrounding neighborhood.
• Outreach potential clients in the community, including encampment sites, as assigned.
• Provide crisis intervention and counseling services for clients.
• Provide strong harm reduction-oriented service interventions.
• Maintain service notes and files in an orderly, up-to-date manner.
• Become familiar with local housing, employment and other resources.
• Provide transportation for clients as necessary.
• Work shifts as assigned covering milieu to maintain order and communication and enforce agency rules.
• Maintain a safe and clean environment.
• Participate in staff meetings and training sessions.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Washington Department of Health minimum credential as an Agency Affiliated Counselor or ability to obtain the credential upon hire.
• Experience working with homeless, mentally ill, or substance using adults.
• Interest or experience in working with participants who are difficult to engage and refer to traditional programs.
• Firm commitment to being part of innovative work in harm reduction and low barrier shelter provision.
• Willingness to be flexible and work cooperatively with coworkers to accomplish all responsibilities of the team.
• Ability to work flexible hours as required by program and staffing needs.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with a high degree of professionalism.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.
  
  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science, OR
• A combination of 1 year* of relevant paid work experience and demonstration of the ability to perform required job duties
• Internal applicants in direct, client facing positions can substitute 6 months of experience in lieu of 1 year
  
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Knowledge of harm reduction strategies, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation skills.
• Ability to drive agency vehicle, valid Washington State Driver's license and insurable driving record.
  
  

Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons, and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.

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 will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

$37.78 - $41.72 per hour