Outreach Specialist

ihshawaii; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

The Institute for Human Services (IHS) in Hawaii seeks an Outreach Specialist to provide outreach and interim case management for homeless individuals with serious mental illness. You will engage clients and initiate pathways to formal mental health services, shelters, and supportive housing.

Regular full-time position with daytime hours Monday–Friday, some evenings, weekends, and holidays. Starting pay from $20.00 per hour, with compensation commensurate with experience; benefits and

Qualifications

• Knowledge of homelessness and related issues.
• Strong written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent time management and self-motivation skills.
• Integrity, patience and commitment to mission.
• Flexible and able to multitask in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate excellent customer service consistent with the organization's standards.
• Advocate for and refer homeless individuals to IHS for shelter and services; collaborate with shelter and staff for placement and retention.
• Complete HMIS intake, VI-SPDAT, and other documentation per program standards within timelines; submit AMHD Service Authorization Requests when applicable.
• Refer and connect homeless individuals to community resources, healthcare access, and mental health services.
• Maintain the integrity of clinical records and documentation per IHS standards; enter encounters into SAMi and HMIS.

Skills

Homelessness knowledge

Mental health awareness

Written communication

Time management

Integrity

Patience

Multi-tasking

Education

High School diploma or GED

Driver's license

Experience in direct/supportive services

Job description

The Institute for Human Services (IHS) is Hawaii's most comprehensive human services agency dedicated to ending and preventing homelessness. For over 45 years, we've been at the forefront of creating tailored solutions for those in crisis, offering a continuum of care that includes emergency shelters, housing programs, health services, employment assistance, and outreach.

The Outreach Specialist provides outreach and interim case management for the homeless persons with serious mental health illness. This position will effectively engage homeless consumers and initiate outreach efforts to engage consumers into receiving formal mental health services.

Compensation:

Starting from $20.00 hourly, actual pay commensurate with experience.

Essential Functions:

1. Demonstrate excellent customer service consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization.
2. Working safely in the field, advocate for and refer homeless individuals to IHS for immediate shelter and services; Collaborate with the shelter staff and specialty houses staff to ensure clients entering IHS shelters to provide successful placement and retention.
3. Complete HMIS intake, consent, VI-SPDAT, and other documentation with consumers per program standards of documentation within the specified timelines; complete AMHD Service Authorization Requests for submission to AMHD when contractually applicable.
4. Refer and connect homeless individuals to community resources, legal aid, healthcare access, substance abuse treatment and mental health services and partner organizations for such services, linkages and support as appropriate.
5. Responsible for the integrity of the clinical record and files including the completion and maintenance of all required clinical and administrative documentation according to IHS standards; accurately enter encounters and data into SAMi and HMIS, including using the VI-SPDAT as part of Coordinated Entry.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

1. Knowledge of homelessness and the issue associated with it; mental health and substance abuse issues.
2. Strong written communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on conflict resolution.
3. Excellent time management and self-motivation skills.
4. Possess personal qualities of integrity, patience and commitment to mission.
5. Flexible and able to multitask; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment.

Required Education and Experience:

1. High School diploma or GED equivalent.
2. Direct or supportive services experience working with homeless or other disenfranchised individuals.
3. Valid Driver’s License and clean traffic abstract.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Regular Full-Time classification. General business hours, Monday through Friday, including some evenings, weekends and holidays. Hours and days may vary based on the needs of the organization.

IHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, maintains a Drug and Alcohol-free Workplace, and is proud to be an employer of national service.