Housing Case Manager

The Montgomery County Coalition; North Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Montgomery County Coalition seeks a Housing Case Manager to work with clients who need housing-first and trauma-informed care. The role requires using Motivational Interviewing to help remove barriers and move clients into permanent housing as quickly as possible.

Responsibilities include managing an 18-client caseload, assessing needs, developing service plans, coordinating housing placement, referrals, transportation, medication coordination, and thorough HMIS documentation.

Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred in Social Work or Human Services; Bachelor's with experience acceptable.
• Minimum 2 years' experience providing clinical or case management services to people experiencing homelessness or low-income individuals.
• Knowledge of Housing First, Motivational Interviewing, Harm-Reduction, and Trauma Informed Care.
• Ability to negotiate and maintain positive relationships with co-workers and clients.
• Ability to comprehend and follow guidelines of grants and contract agreements.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active caseload of 18 clients focused on housing.
• Assess clients' needs and implement service plans.
• Assist clients in moving to permanent housing through intensive case management and rapid move-out goals.
• Provide referrals, life skills training, and access to community resources.
• Arrange transportation for medical and social services appointments.
• Coordinate medications and pharmacy refills as needed.
• Complete Acuity Scale, VI-SPDAT, FULL-SPDAT, IHP, and HMIS data.
• Assess clients in crisis and develop interventions.
• Collaborate with Housing Team and other navigators to ensure service delivery.
• Maintain and review clients' charts and progress in HMIS.
• Meet with clients weekly and document Case Notes in HMIS.
• Attend Montgomery County Coordinated Entry meetings and staff trainings.
• Build relationships with on-site providers of primary and behavioral health care.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Job description

Description

General Description:

The Housing Case Manager has a dynamic role working with clients that require an individual with housing first and trauma informed care knowledge. This position requires a skilled worker in motivational interviewing and ability to meet clients where they are to help remove barriers to housing and move clients quickly into permanent housing.

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain an active caseload of 18 clients who need housing-focused individualized case management.
• Assess client's needs and appropriate services and assist in implementing service plans.
• Assist clients with moving onto permanent housing by providing intensive case management services and utilizing the MCCH structured rapid move-out model, with the goal of assisting clients to move out within 30 days, when possible.
• Follow all MCCH and NSES policies and procedures regarding case management service delivery including, providing a wide variety of client services such as: providing referrals, access, and resources; providing life skills training to clients such as managing a budget, diet, health maintenance, and legal issues; and (if needed) providing referrals to community health services, psychiatric services, vocational, educational, and substance use treatment programs, and to various housing options.
• Arrange transportation services for clients to scheduled medical and/or social services appointments.
• Coordinate prescribed medications for clients including arranging refills with pharmacy, addressing pharmacy coverage issues with insurance.
• Complete, and update, when necessary, Acuity Scale, VI-SPDAT, and FULL-SPDAT for assessments and the Individual Housing Plan (IHP) and maintain all pertinent client paperwork. Also, complete client data for reporting purposes including accurate and complete data in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Assess clients in crisis and resolving conflicts. Develop interventions to resolve problematic behaviors.
• Work closely with the entire Case Management Team, including the Manager of Housing and Supportive Services, Lead Housing Case Manager, Housing Support Navigator, Employment Support Navigator, Benefit Support Navigator, and Client Care and Operations Team to ensure effective operation of the program and facility and the integrated delivery of case management services.
• Maintain and reviews clients' charts and files on a regular basis to monitor progress and assist with moving clients on to permanent housing quickly.
• Meet with clients at a minimum of once every week and document these meetings (Case Notes) in HMIS.
• Attend and participate in the Montgomery County Coordinated Entry bi-weekly meetings, clinical team meetings, monthly NSES staff meetings, and other meetings and staff trainings as necessary.
• Responsible for building and maintaining relationships with other service providers, including coordinating client service delivery with on-site providers of primary and behavioral health care and understanding of community housing and supportive services.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Advocate for homeless population.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Master's degree preferred in Social Work or Human Services field. Bachelor's degree accepted with additional experience.
• Minimum 2-years' experience (without Master's degree, or one year with Master's degree) providing clinical or case management services to people experiencing homelessness or persons earning low income, to a population with mental health needs, substance use, or co-occurring disorders, or a population needing assistance with employment and vocational literacy.
• Knowledge of Best Practices including Housing First, Motivational Interviewing, Harm-Reduction, and Trauma Informed Care along with their methods of service delivery.
• Ability to negotiate and maintain positive relationships with co-workers and clients.
• Ability to comprehend and follow guidelines of grants and contract agreements.
• Valid driver's license and a clean driving record preferred.
• Advocate for homeless population.