Problem Solving Specialist

Job description

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Problem-Solving Specialist provides housing-focused intervention services to youth and young adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The Specialist utilizes trauma-informed, housing-focused Problem-Solving conversations to identify immediate, safe alternatives to homelessness, support housing stabilization, and, when appropriate, connect participants to community resources and Coordinated Entry System services. The Specialist serves as the primary Problem-Solving staff member at the agency's Drop-In Center, providing walk-in crisis intervention, referral coordination, financial assistance, Problem-Solving navigation, and housing stabilization support. The position is responsible for maintaining compliance with LAHSA Problem-Solving requirements, HMIS documentation standards, contractual performance measures, and agency policies while promoting Housing First and Positive Youth Development practices.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Extensive knowledge and experience in problem-solving, certified to process PS financial assistance funds through LAHSA
• Minimum 2 years of experience working as a case manager with the homeless population and possess knowledge of housing and other area resources
• Must be proficient in record keeping, including tracking, maintaining, and reporting statistics according to program guidelines and requirements
• Must have the ability to meet the physical requirements of this position
• Experienced and strong understanding of CES/LAHSA
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
• Database experience (HMIS) strongly preferred
• Familiarity with TAY and HUD programs
• Valid California driver's license and insured automobile
• Knowledge and experience with motivational interviewing, evidence-based practices, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care
• Former college student or experience working in a college campus setting

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All of the responsibilities listed below are considered essential functions of this position. Additionally, this position is expected to ensure adherence to the core operating values and the strategic direction of the agency.

1. Utilize culturally relevant active listening and motivational interviewing with participants to support them in accessing temporary or permanent housing outside of the Coordinated Entry System (CES)
2. Liaise and Co-locate with our Drop-in Center.
3. Regular on-site presence is required to support participant services, referral processing, Drop-In Center assigned operations, and team collaboration. Limited remote work opportunities may be available when approved by management and consistent with program and agency needs.
4. Knowledge of Housing First, Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed Care, Positive Youth Development, and Progressive Assistance models.
5. Knowledge of diversion, prevention, rapid resolution, and housing stabilization strategies.
6. Experience processing housing financial assistance requests.
7. Experience with HMIS documentation and data quality standards.
8. Experience working with youth experiencing homelessness, housing instability, foster care involvement, or systems involvement.
9. Ability to facilitate conflict mediation, family reunification, and host household conversations.
10. Knowledge of LAHSA CES policies and procedures.
11. Providing services to youth experiencing homelessness to help them access mainstream or CES resources to end their housing crisis
12. Identify safety or health issues that may need to be considered during the identification of housing
13. Provide mediation between households and property owners/family/friends to assist in resolving the housing crisis
14. Partner with legal service providers to resolve housing crises
15. Deliver both field- and place-based supportive services, as appropriate, to participants
16. Acquire resources and make successful referrals, including follow-up to ensure the participant successfully accesses and initially retains housing
17. Able to minimize barriers to accessing CES (e.g., transportation, schedule conflicts with classes)
18. Ensure services are documented (e.g., face-to-face, phone, and collateral contacts) in the LA CoC homeless management information system (HMIS) in a timely and thorough manner
19. Assist in budgeting with participants and determine what level of minimal assistance is necessary to be successfully housed or have a housing crisis resolved. Facilitate access to CES for participants, as appropriate, including the completion of the Initial Triage and Initial Assessment phases of system access, assessment, and housing location
20. For participants entering CES, provide a warm handoff to sustain case management services where possible, or provide initial case management for up to 60 days upon the participant gaining CES access
21. Continuously try new approaches and explore new solutions
22. Delivering services based on participant strengths
23. Attend training and participate in regular technical assistance, such as learning collaborative
24. Comply with contract SRS and agency KPI's
25. Provide problem-solving case conference and guidance
26. Serve as the Problem-Solving point of contact with our funder, LAHSA
27. Provide all problem-solving staff with developments under PS, such as materials, training, and guidance.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Adheres to all legal parameters for ensuring and maintaining clients' confidentiality, including HIPAA, State and Federal laws

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:

• Reaching, Standing, Typing, Talking, Hearing, Repetitive Motion
• Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.71 - $30.82 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person