PATH Outreach Worker

JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING STRUCTURE:  Under the direction of the Director of Community Services, the Outreach Worker outreaches and enrolls consumers that are homeless and have suspected mental illness.  The Outreach Worker assists consumers to seek psychiatric and/or substance abuse treatment, to secure income, and find housing, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Outreach consumers in the community.  Outreach consumers that have been referred from other community Organizations.  Go out and meet consumers where they are at, which includes parks, meal sites, shelters, clinics, crisis respite house, and others.
• Interview consumers to assess whether they are homeless or possible mentally ill.  Assess consumer for information on current treatment provider, having a release signed, and sending for records.  If the consumer does not have a current provider, refer for psychiatric treatment at Recovery Behavioral Health Clinic.
• If found eligible for PATH due to being homeless and having a suspicion of mental illness, concentrate on engaging with consumers.  Engaging with homeless consumers can be very difficult but is the key to long-term success. Provide support supportive counseling to consumers, symptom assessment, and symptom management.
• Interview consumers to complete assessments and crisis plans.  Assessments include mental status exams.  Develop plans of care with the consumer.  Provide ongoing linkage and follow up, referrals for services, and service coordination.
• Assess the need for psychiatric treatment, including substance abuse and trauma history.
• Intervene to get to get consumers into treatment for the preceding issues.
• Assist and refer consumer’s to apply for SSI/SSDI benefits through the SOAR model.  Assist consumers to find housing including providing technical assistance for rent or security deposit and applying for housing subsides.
• Provide crisis linkage and follow up to include the preceding paragraph as well as assisting with medical treatment, obtaining legal assistance, finding employment, training and education, and development of social support systems.  Provide supportive contacts and assist consumers in navigating through the community.
• Keep daily consumer logs and enter information on a weekly basis into Wisconsin Servicepoint.  Enroll eligible consumers into PATH using Wisconsin Servicepoint.   Create consumer Intake and Eligibility Forms for all PATH enrolled consumers. 
• Transfer consumers where services are no longer appropriate or more services are needed.  When appropriate, refer to CARS, Family Care or Adult services.  Identify consumers that might be appropriate for Wiser Choice and/or OCHC AODA case management services through the SHARE program and do appropriate referrals.
• Attend county staffings for shelter placement and/or to update the team when a consumer is staying at Safe Haven or THP.
• Coordinate transportation for consumers to and from appointments, to include medical and mental health.
• Attend and actively participate in departmental meetings and meetings with other service agencies.
• Coordinate/schedule any necessary medical examinations or psychiatric evaluations through OCHC Clinics or establish collaborative relationship with an organization that will perform any examinations needed to make a disability determination.
• Collaborate with and make referrals to other organizations to ensure favorable outcomes for consumers and beneficiaries.
• Experience with jobs requiring organizational skills, administrative work, writing and editing.
• Ability to comprehend instructions and understand medical/psychiatric terminology to screen claimants for program appropriateness.
• Act as a resource to representatives from other community based organizations to ensure that this program is recognized as a resource for those eligible consumers.

• Complete special projects as assigned.
• Maintain technical competency and remain current in technology and changes in the industry.  Perform all data entry accurately into computerized data entry system using Wisconsin Servicepoint.
• Attend all trainings and workshops scheduled as they relate specifically to the PATH Program.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with consumers and other employees of the agency.
• Manage and maintain records to ensure the completion of all required paperwork, documents, etc.
• Ensure compliance with all safety and work rules and regulations.  Ensure the maintenance of departmental housekeeping standards.
• Required early morning Friday shift.  Time begins at 3am and ends at 11am.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the role.

• The individual must have the ability to recognize medical and psychiatric disabilities in claimants, in alignment with the standards established for determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree and a minimum of one year of related experience;
  OR

• A High School Diploma or GED and a minimum of three years of related experience.

Outreach Community Health Centers, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer