Medical Case Worker II (Housing and Linkage Coordinator) N392

Salary Range: $24.33-$35.11 per hour

SUMMARY

The Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH) consolidates our countywide response to homelessness. The driving force behind HSH is increasing accountability and transparency, improving care for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and streamlining collaboration with partners including services providers, the County’s 88 cities, and unincorporated areas to deliver high-quality, life-saving care.  Staff schedules are based on business need and may include the option of a hybrid work schedule where employees work remotely and from the office.

The Homeless Prevention Unit (HPU) is a collaborative effort between HSH, California Policy Lab (CPL) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH). The HPU proactively identifies individuals who are most at risk of homelessness through predictive analytics and provides them with flexible, early interventions to resolve issues that might lead to loss of their housing. HPU is expanding to serve young adults between the ages of 18-24 in need of proactive homelessness prevention resources. The HPU has significant interactions with several County departments to address challenges navigating service systems and/or to connect or re-connect individuals to services to ensure housing stability; therefore, the ideal candidate will be knowledgeable in mainstream and specific programs and services tailored to young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness while being flexible to meet the changing needs and demands of the program and this population.

The Medical Case Worker II (Housing and Linkage Coordinator) position is a full-time position reporting to the Linkages Program Manager and will serve in a supportive role on the HPU by aiding with housing navigation and retention services to people who are in the process of transitioning between housing placements. Additionally, this role will support in developing and cultivating relationships with partner agencies and resources across Los Angeles County deemed vital to clients’ housing stability. The Housing and Linkage Coordinator will work directly with tenants, case management staff, service providers and landlords/property managers to ensure that clients successfully retain their housing over time and provide support with making referrals and warm hand-offs to partnering agencies. The Housing and Linkage Coordinator may be required to ensure tenant wellbeing and unit habitability by conducting home visits. The Housing and Linkage Coordinator will collaborate with every case manager creatively to prevent eviction, solve other housing-related issues, and collaborate on linkages for HPU clients.

The Housing and Linkage Coordinator is an excellent verbal and written communicator, problem solver, and analytical thinker with the ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders and understand and respond to their needs in rapidly changing environments. They are highly organized and can manage multiple overlapping timelines.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Linkages and Resources

• Identifying pathways to vital Los Angeles County resources such as mental health providers, medical providers, legal services providers, housing assistance programs, educational resources, employment opportunities, benefits programs, etc. that will stabilize housing for individuals or families at risk of losing their housing.
• Collaborate on trainings for Case Management Teams on external resources, partner agencies and best practices when making referrals.
• Assists with maintaining a database of resources and programs that will increase housing stability and improve overall health for HPU clients.
• Supports with linkage case conferencing for Case Managers and assists in navigating existing pathways identified for clients.
• Supports clients in connecting to resources by making warm hand-offs over the phone or in the field and coaching them through the process of connecting to providers.
• Assists Linkage Program Manager with coordinating and facilitating regular meetings and communications for HPU and program partners to ensure efficient and thorough processes to promote integrated, seamless and coordinated systems of care.
• Network with other service providers, coalitions, and local community meetings
• Actively participate in staff meetings and, on occasion, support/lead trainings

Housing Navigation

• Routinely make home/field visits and phone calls to program participants to support with the search for housing, address housing concerns, and support with landlord/tenant mediation if necessary.
• Assists program staff and clients to obtain all benefits and entitlements available based on client’s eligibility when needed.
• Assist clients with housing applications, complete supportive and subsidized housing paperwork, survey rental market for affordable housing, and advocate for clients with prospective landlords.
• Support in coordinating housing transitions for HPU clients, including unit identification, client move-ins and move-outs.
• Maintain thorough and accurate progress notes, files, and correspondence while maintaining confidentiality of tenants, staff, and organizational information always and exercise appropriate boundaries with tenants.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

One year of experience as a Medical Case Worker I - OR - A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of professional casework experience interviewing, counseling, and assisting patients/clients with social problems.

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• Successful clearance of the Live Scan process with the County of Los Angeles.
• Health clearance required.

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Knowledgeable of community, mental health, and mainstream systems and the variety of programs offered by each to assist those most at risk of experiencing homelessness.
• Highly motivated self-starter, with proven ability to develop creative solutions.
• Ability to coordinate projects and competing priorities in a high-pressure, face paced and time sensitive environment.
• Ability to interact and work closely with a diverse clientele.
• Demonstrated experience interviewing clients, individuals, and families to collect data to determine what services are needed.
• Demonstrated experience in linking clients, individuals, and families to specific healthcare, mental health and community-based programs.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices such as trauma informed care, motivational interviewing, de-escalation and cognitive behavioral interventions.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a professional manner, with courtesy and tact, and maintain confidentiality and security of documents and information.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary professionals and partners both internally and externally.
• Must possess strong organizational skills initiative and follow-through.
• Computer literate and skilled in use of MS Windows-based programs, including MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Knowledgeable of data systems utilized across HSH and the homeless system of care.
• We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals who share lived experience with the communities we serve. In particular, we welcome applicants who have been impacted by or have experience with the foster care system and applicants who have experienced housing insecurity, homelessness and/or economic inequity.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stand: Frequently

Walk: Frequently

Sit: Frequently

Reach Outward: Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder: Occasionally

Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: Occasionally

Lift / Carry: Occasionally - Up to 15lbs

Push/Pull: Occasionally - Up to 15lbs

See: Constantly

Taste/ Smell: Not Applicable

Not Applicable = Not required for essential functions

Occasionally = (0 - 2 hrs/day)

Frequently = (2 - 5 hrs/day)

Constantly = (5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• General Office Setting, Indoors Temperature Controlled
• The HPU operates in a hybrid work environment. Team members are expected to work from the HSH office, Downtown Los Angeles, a minimum of twice per pay period, with additional in-person meetings, events, and client field-based meetings as needed.

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer), AIDS or HIV, genetic information or characteristics, veteran status or military service.