Case Manager, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)

City of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 56,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Pittsburgh seeks a dedicated Case Manager for the LEAD program within Public Safety. The role focuses on outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges, delivering intensive case management and connection to social services to reduce recidivism and improve quality of life.

The position is grant-funded for one year, with potential for continuing funding depending on grants and program needs.

Qualifications

• Three years of full-time experience in social services, criminal justice, healthcare street outreach, or related field.
• Residency in City of Pittsburgh required prior to employment and throughout employment.
• Education/training substitution allowed on a year-for-year basis to meet total three-year requirement.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach and intensive case management per program policies.
• Engage with participants on the street and at service facilities to build relationships.
• Assess needs (chemical dependency, housing) and connect to services (medical, mental health).
• Assist with access to funding, housing, food, budgeting, and other supports.
• Develop ISP addressing needs and update as goals change towards autonomy.
• Maintain participant files per program, contract, and state requirements.
• Advocate for participants within the criminal justice system and accompany to appointments.
• Foster collaborations with health care, housing, and community providers.
• Identify gaps in resources and advocate for systemic changes.
• Attend regular meetings and perform related duties.

Skills

Outreach

Intensive case management

Social services coordination

Crisis support

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field preferred

Job description

Position Summary

The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) initiative for the City of Pittsburgh will provide people with substance use disorder and mental and behavioral health challenges with person-centered social services and intense case management focused on harm reduction and compassion in lieu of criminalization. These individuals will be engaged in supportive services with the goal of reducing legal recidivism and improving quality of life. This position is critical to the LEAD program by providing engagement and intensive case management services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental/behavioral challenges, in active drug use, and suspected of low-level drug offenses, non-violent crimes, and/or prostitution. The Case Manager will provide direct outreach, long-term engagement, and supportive services for participants through intensive case-management activities and collaboration with LEAD partners, service providers, housing providers, and other community organizations.

The Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) initiative for the City of Pittsburgh will provide people with substance use disorder and mental and behavioral health challenges with person-centered social services and intense case management focused on harm reduction and compassion in lieu of criminalization. These individuals will be engaged in supportive services with the goal of reducing legal recidivism and improving quality of life. This position is critical to the LEAD program by providing engagement and intensive case management services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental/behavioral challenges, in active drug use, and suspected of low-level drug offenses, non-violent crimes, and/or prostitution. The Case Manager will provide direct outreach, long-term engagement, and supportive services for participants through intensive case-management activities and collaboration with LEAD partners, service providers, housing providers, and other community organizations.

This position is grant-funded for one (1) year. Future years of funding are contingent on grant availability and other funding sources

Department: Public Safety, Office of Community Health & Safety
Salary: $62,670 per year.
Posting Type: Announcement
Union: None, this is a non-union position.
Civil Service Classification: Exempt

Requirements

You must submit or show proof of all the following at the time of application (unless otherwise indicated below) or your application will be disqualified. Disqualifications based on any of these General Application Requirements are not subject to a Civil Service appeal.

• Applicants must submit a complete application, including education, work experience, a resume (if applicable), and completed supplemental questions.
• Applicants must become residents of the City of Pittsburgh prior to employment and must remain a resident throughout employment.
• A current, valid Pennsylvania Class C Driver's License (or out-of-state equivalent) is required prior to appointment and must be maintained throughout employment. The Department of Human Resources & Civil Service will consider individual written requests for accommodation based on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act

NOTE: The City of Pittsburgh, as a matter of policy, conducts pre-employment and promotional background investigations on all candidates being considered for positions. The background investigation includes, but is not limited to, criminal background, driver's license, and City of Pittsburgh real estate tax payments. Candidates may be disqualified from consideration based on the results of their background investigation, as it relates to the job for which the applicant is being considered.

NOTE: Candidates being considered for employment must submit official transcripts verifying post-secondary education (college/university, trade school, etc.) prior to hire.

Qualifying Requirements

Your work experience and education/training will be evaluated to determine if you meet the qualifying eligibility requirements listed below for this position . You will receive notice of your eligibility status.

• WORK EXPERIENCE: The application must clearly show three (3) years of full-time experience in social services, criminal justice, healthcare street outreach, or a related field. (Less than full-time experience will be calculated on a pro-rated basis.)
• EDUCATION/TRAINING: The application must clearly show a high school diploma or equivalent. A bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, direct care, criminal justice, or human development is preferred.
• EQUIVALENCY: Education/training and/or work experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis if the application clearly shows the required number of years to meet the Total Qualifying Requirement for this position (based on the sum of work experience and education/training listed above). The Total Qualifying Requirement is three (3) years. (See NOTE under the General Application Requirements Section above regarding verification of education/training.)

Civil Service Examinations

If you meet the qualifying requirements listed above, you will be sent a letter of admission (when applicable) for the following examination(s). You must pass the written and/or performance examination(s) in order to have your name placed on the official Civil Service eligibility list for this position. Candidates who receive job offers must pass a medical examination (when applicable) prior to start date.

• Written: None required for this position.
• Performance: None required for this position.
• Medical: None required for this position.

Position Duties

• Provides outreach and structured intensive case management services consistent with program policies for assigned participants.
• Engages with participants on the street and at social service provider facilities to establish working relationships and offer services.
• Assessments participants for severity of chemical dependency and housing status , and determines need for other services, e.g., medical, mental health.
• Assists participants in gaining access to a variety of programs and services, e.g. funding, housing, food, budgeting.
• I mplements Individualized Service Plans (ISP) which addresses the needs of the participants for food, clothing, shelter, health care, substance use disorder treatment and/or reduction/elimination of drug/alcohol use through self-change methods, updates ISP as needed to reflect changing goals and needs and helps participants move toward the achievement of autonomy.
• Develops and maintains participant files for assigned caseload according to program, contract and state requirements.
• Provides advocacy and support for participants within the criminal justice system, including court appearances and written communication.
• Accompanies participants to appointments as needed and/or requested.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationship s with providers of physical and mental health care, shelter and housing, chemical dependency treatment, and other community programs which may support participants.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with LEAD partners including Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Courts, and Public Defenders Office.
• Identifies gaps and barriers in available community resources and advocates for systemic changes.
• Attends regularly scheduled workgroup, team, and staff meetings .
• Performs other related tasks and duties as assigned or required.