What are the responsibilities and job description for the Housing Specialist position at The Wellspring Alliance for Family?
Housing Specialist
Job Purpose: Provides case management and supportive services reflective of the Wellspring mission that are designed to strengthen the well-being and development of families and individuals.
Experience and Knowledge
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field
- Knowledge of community resources
- Previous experience working with the people in a social services setting
Skills and Abilities
- Ability to engage, build, trust and rapport
- Strong ability to understand supports needed and then coordinate those resources
- Understand best practices with motivational interviewing, harm reduction, trauma informed care
- Understanding of how housing and supports work together
- Understanding of how income relates to housing in terms of building a realistic housing plan
- Knowledge of community resources
- Ability to develop and access community resources
- Computer skills
- Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships and to communicate and work with other staff, clients, volunteers and other professionals from various cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds
- Ability to work within the purpose, structure and constraints of the agency
- Ability to maintain poise and control and to be effective even under extreme stress and unexpected crises
- Ability to prioritize and budget time and duties efficiently
- Ability to manage position with minimal supervision
- Ability to assume responsibility for own learning
- Ability to promote teamwork among co-workers and project participants.
Core Values of Staff
Compassion. We act with compassion toward others and work for the good of others by respecting people as the authors of their own lives.
Customer Service. We work to delight our customers, both internal and external
Integrity. We act with the integrity that promotes the highest confidence, trust and accountability
Leadership. We demonstrate leadership in our organization and the community.
Teamwork. We work as a team, achieving more collectively than individually.
Job Related Training
- Orientation
- Ongoing staff in-service in related fields
- Monthly Agency Staff meetings, program delivery meetings and program area meetings
- Initial and ongoing training in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault as required by the LA Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) and the LA Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA)
Principle Duties and Responsibilities
- Determines nature of client’s situation by:
- Assessing participant’s needs and determining the nature of the situation through the intake process.
- Initiate a housing and budgeting plan.
- Connect clients to resources (mental health, employment, government assistance, etc.).
- Connect to housing location.
- Establishes course of action by:
- Preparing an individualized comprehensive housing plan for program participant/family, which is developed, negotiated and agreed upon by the client and program staff and which identifies services and
- Assistance necessary to achieve the participant’s stated goals.
- Obtains assistance for client by:
- Accessing and mobilizing resources to meet the client’s needs. (Example: advocating on behalf of client with Social Security office, Office of Community Support, Food Stamp Office, housing, employment and job training.)
- Establishing a rapport with other agencies.
- Fosters client’s action or adjustment by:
- Interpreting attitudes and patterns of behavior.
- Reviews and highlights new options.
- Empathetic listening.
- Maintains record of case by:
- Documenting client’s situation and client’s own actions.
- Documenting advocacy for client.
- Assuring that records are updated in the HMIS in a timely manner.
- Assuring that financial records and closed files are sent to Data Monitor in timely manner.
- Monitors planned actions by:
- Periodic follow-up.
- Reassessing client goals as needed.
- Maintains operations by:
- Following policies and procedures.
- Participating in quality reviews.
- Completing paper work in a timely manner.
- Following safety procedures at all times.
- Completing all required reports accurately and timely.
- Maintains client confidence and protects operations by:
- Keeping information confidential
- Contributes to team effort by:
- Communicating effectively
- Exhibiting a willingness to help other staff
- Demonstrating flexibility and accommodating change
- Encouraging and supporting others
- Engaging in amenable and cooperative contacts
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Performs other duties as related to the position and as assigned
- Work non-traditional hours and/or alternate schedule during special projects or to meet agency deadlines