Special Initiatives Outreach Specialist

Job Description

This position provides direct support as an essential employee of the City of Philadelphia to the Behavioral Health Division’s Homeless Services Unit of DBHIDS.

The position responsibilities are centered around special initiatives relative to the behavioral health homeless population.

This includes, but is not limited to, initiatives within Homeless Outreach, Safe Havens, Journey of Hope programs, and Rubbish Fire follow up.

This position plays a key role in the unit by performing regular street outreach in areas identified as priority per the special initiative / department need and collaborates with external counterparts relative to special requests that are identified to and by the department.

In addition to other staff within the Homeless Services Unit, this role is responsible for ensuring participants are served in a coordinated, person-centered approach, particularly as their needs involve various city departments.

The position interfaces professionally with all levels of city staff and external partners and represents the Department in cross collaborative efforts on behalf of the behavioral health homeless population.

Regular contact with participants, external supports, professional and community groups, and the public is an essential function of the position.

Essential Functions

• Ability to perform regular street outreach and comfortability in working within all neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia.
• Ability to be mobile and on one’s feet for extended periods of time as well as sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work early morning, evening, and overnight shifts as part of a rotation or when supporting unit functions, as necessary.
• Valid driver’s license required and ability to operate company vehicle to transport individuals directly to services from the street.
• Necessary to be able to travel independently, take stairs as they present, and use public transportation as required.
• Ability to be outside’ in inclement weather for extended periods ( summer, winter, snow emergencies)
• Ability to lift 10 lbs.

Competencies

• Ensure that participants are served in a respectful and coordinated manner when their needs involve various city departments.
• Engage participants in various settings to assess the social, medical, and emotional health of an individual to determine needs and presenting concerns;

develop a planful approach to addressing those needs.

• Coordinate clinical care, housing assistance, resource linkages, and other supports for individuals who are recently homeless or housed in specific DBH programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal departmental and external system providers and officials.
• Coordinate clinical care, training, and outcomes for individuals who are recently homeless or housed in specific DBH programming and need assistance with connections and coordination to care.
• Develop programming to respond to the changing needs of individuals with behavioral health issues who are impacted by homelessness.
• Participate in cross collaborative workgroups regarding data tracking and outcome monitoring for Housing Support Services and Homeless Services programs.
• Function as part of a special forces cross system team to respond to special requests as it impacts the behavioral health homeless population.
• Develop recommendations for programmatic and operational modifications as necessary when working on special initiatives.
• Participate in the preparation and submission of reports on program activities and achievements and on progress toward overall goals.
• Assist with technical assistance and evaluation of training needs of the other outreach teams through regular street outreach with existing outreach teams.
• Participate in data entry functions as related to Outreach operations.
• Participate in all overnight street homeless counts as scheduled throughout the year.
• Participate in the unit’s after hours on-call rotation to support street outreach services.
• Function as back-up support for coverage of unit responsibilities ( safe haven admissions) of other staff who directly work with outreach services, the safe havens, and Journey of Hope programs.
• Other duties as defined

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders
• Experience in working with individuals and / or families experiencing homelessness.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the various resources and providers within the social services systems including the Office of Homeless Services and the Behavioral Health System
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to a varying work schedule and changing priorities in a fast-paced work environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, detail oriented
• Computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Ability to employ tact, diplomacy, and judgment in dealing with sensitive problems and hostile attitudes
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills and work well with people without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Qualifications

High school diploma with 5 years of experience in homeless outreach OR Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services / Social Sciences, Public Health, Healthcare.

Additional experience and credentialing in mental health and / or drug and alcohol is a plus.