Participant Support Specialist Primary Case Manager

Wearepda; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Profit sharing

Medical and dental benefits

Flexible Spending Account

Vacation and personal days

Sick days

Shift holidays

Job summary

We Are PDA in Seattle is seeking a Participant Support Specialist (Primary Case Manager) to provide engagement and intensive case management at temporary lodging sites, maintaining a small caseload of 12–15 participants and linking them to housing, health care, and social services.

You will support day-to-day participant needs, coordinate with partners, ensure compliance with lodging agreements, and participate in ongoing training and supervision.

Qualifications

• Experience providing intensive case management for housing, health, behavioral health, and basic needs.
• Trauma-informed care and harm-reduction approaches are essential.
• Strong written and verbal communication across diverse populations.
• Experience with motivational interviewing and de-escalation in fast-paced settings.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple agencies and service providers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate relocation of residents to equivalent housing.
• Provide intensive case management to meet housing, health, and basic needs.
• Offer on-site residential support to build independent living skills.
• Coordinate lodging operations and report maintenance or safety issues.
• Assist with lodging concerns and grievance processes as needed.
• Develop housing plans and connect participants to social services.
• Attend court hearings and liaise with legal teams when required.
• Ensure compliance with Lodging Agreements and PDA policies.
• Complete intake, housing paperwork, and required documentation.
• Participate in supervision, meetings, and ongoing training.

Skills

Case management

Community outreach

Trauma-informed care

Motivational interviewing

De-escalation

Communication skills

Google Suite

Housing and homelessness

Criminal justice familiarity

Team collaboration

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Participant Support Specialist Primary Case Manager

1. FTE 8hr position

8 days ago Requisition ID: 1050

Salary Range: $77,587.00 To $110,440.00 Annually

PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION.

Participant Support Specialist (Primary Case Manager)

PDA strives to build robust support for non-punitive, community-based solutions to many public safety issues.With neighborhood and public partners and in partnership with community members actively seeking to move past experiences of harm and injury, we design and deliver widely supported initiatives that promote safety, restoration, and racial equity.

Who We Are

Formed in 1969 as The Defender Association to provide high-quality legal defense for civil rights activists in Seattle, in 2013 we began to concentrate exclusively on alternative public safety models, when King County created an in-house public defense program. PDA remained independent to carry on the work of our Racial Disparity Project, which had helped to design LEAD, the nation’s first pre-booking diversion model for drug-related offenses. In 2021, we adopted a Co-Executive Director structure, recognizing the value of power-sharing, multiple voices, and perspectives at the leadership level. Our multicultural team of lawyers, organizers, project managers, social workers, direct service providers, and administrative staff blends professional and technical skills with lived experience of the systems we’re working to change.

CoLEAD Background

CoLEAD developed from the LEAD framework to provide intensive case management in non-congregate shelter facilities for people who are at high risk of exposure to the criminal legal system; all participants experience substance use disorder and high barriers to housing and establishing a lawful income source. CoLEAD connects hundreds of participants to primary care, prevents overdoses (no participant has died of an overdose since we launched in Spring 2020), establishes permanent housing plans, and provides legal system coordination under the LEAD model.

Position Description:

The Participant Support Specialist (PSS) Primary Case Manager is a member of a care team responsible for providing engagement in our temporary lodging sites and intensive case management services to Program Participants (PTs). Primary PSSs will maintain small caseloads of 12–15 participants, and will provide companion-based services to ensure participants are connected to all necessary social services such as behavioral health treatment, primary care healthcare, basic needs, entitlements, employment opportunities, and any services or appointments that are indicated. Ideally this is done before the participant has been in CoLEAD for six months and moves into housing.

Primary PSSs are involved in all aspects of participant placement at lodging sites including, intensive case management services, overdose prevention, creation and implementation of a permanent housing plan for each participant, referral to legal support as needed, reduction of barriers, and coordination with other providers, including follow up after departure from CoLEAD lodging. This position also supports day-to-day participant needs living in CoLEAD lodging sites, and is responsible to ensure participants are following all CoLEAD Lodging Agreement rules and CoLEAD program rules per policy. This includes supporting participants with room cleaning, room moves, room audits, and overall day to day activities. Primary PSSs work with Participants to reduce illicit activity that has a community impact. Responsibilities further involve coordinating communal activities to cultivate a sense of belonging and encourage constructive social interaction between participants. Furthermore, PSS staff members may receive reassignments to the AfterCare phase based on programmatic needs. This position will report to the Hudson House Program Manager.

Available Schedule:

• Hours: 8am – 4pm

**This schedule reflects current openings; please note that all assignments are subject to change to meet evolving programmatic needs.**

Essential Job Functions:

• Coordinate and support the relocation of current residents of the building to equivalent housing locations, in alignment with the relocation plan.
• Collaborate with staff, participants, and contractors to build a positive, productive, and inclusive work environment.
• Provide intensive case management to ensure Participants meet housing, health, behavioral health, financial, security, hygiene, nutritional, and basic needs.
• Provide on-site residential support to build participant independent living skills using a trauma-responsive, harm-reduction approach.
• Support overall lodging operations, including coordinating with facility teams and reporting maintenance issues to ensure the facility remains clean, pleasant, warm, affirming, attractive, and calm.
• Assist participants with lodging concerns, helping them find creative solutions and facilitating the grievance process if needed.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with PDA, RHA, ETS REACH, law enforcement, and other service organizations to ensure continuity of care.
• Support participants who have legal obligations by going to court hearings, addressing the court when appropriate, coordinating with their legal team, making referrals to LEAD legal when necessary, assisting them with quashing warrants, attending case conferences with the PAO and SCAO, and supporting them with whatever court orders they may be ordered to complete.
• Ensure service compliance with CoLEAD and PDA policies, including supporting participant adherence to the Lodging Agreement through coaching and redirection.
• Provide intensive case management, including conducting intake evaluations, housing paperwork, supporting document acquisition, assisting with planned/unplanned exits which may require packing up rooms and completing exit paperwork, establishing
• meaningful weekly encounters, and developing participant-centered goals.
• Advocate for participants by connecting them to community resources.
• Manage administrative and operational tasks, including completing documentation, incident reports, timesheets, and expense submissions.
• Participate in ongoing learning, including regular supervision, program meetings, and required training.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Essential Job Qualifications:

Knowledge and Skills:

• Human-centered approach to service provision that promotes a healthy, positive, and productive work environment.
• Includes and utilizes the strengths, insights, and experience of staff, peers, and PTs.
• Basic computer skills, including experience working with Google suite programs.
• Experience with motivational interviewing, trauma informed care,harm reduction, and low-barrier assistance
• Ability to de-escalate crisis situations and maintain composure in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Experience supporting individuals who face barriers engaging with traditional systems, including those impacted by homelessness, behavioral health challenges, substance use, or the criminal legal system.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff and participants from various backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with participants displaying a wide range of behaviors.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for participants.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated with strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Team oriented person that invests in being a strong member in a fast paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Lived experience with criminal legal systems, SUD, or living unhoused.
• Three or more years of experience providing case management to people experiencing homelessness. Related experience in the field may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience in non-abstinence-based service provision for individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges.
• Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP)/Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT).
• Formal education or training in the field of mental health.

Location

Located in Capitol Hill in Seattle. PSSs may be required to cover other locations as needed which are located in North Seattle. Working offsite to accompany participants for support is also required. You will need to have a vehicle for this position and you will be reimbursed for your mileage while on shift.

Benefits include:

• 401(k) match of up to 4% of salary, beginning after six months of employment.
• Annual, 2% of salary, profit sharing contribution to 401(k), provided in most years
• Generous medical and dental benefits for employees and family members
• Flexible Spending Agreement for both medical and dependent care needs
• 15 days of vacation per year, increasing annually up to 20 days of vacation per year, after 5 years
• 12 personal/sick days annually.
• 12 shift holidays annually (in lieu of agency-wide holidays).

This is a Fair Labor Standards Act non-exempt, at-will position; continuation in the position depends on both performance and funding.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PDA is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. PDA actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork, and productivity. PDA is committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board, and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual identity, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. People of color, those directly impacted by the criminal justice system, people who identify as queer, trans, lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact [e-mail].