Medical Case Worker II - DHS-HFH – Homelessness Prevention Unit (HPU)

SUMMARY

Housing for Health (HFH) is a program office within Health Services Administration, a division under the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS).

HFH was created and put into implementation in support of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative recommendations in response to and in support of the County’s effort to address and combat homelessness in the communities residing within Los Angeles County.

The Homeless Prevention Unit (HPU) is a new initiative on the Housing and Services Team of HFH. The HPU is a collaborative effort between the California Policy Lab (CPL), DHS-HFH, 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 the loss of their housing.

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 people experiencing homelessness while being flexible to meet the changing needs and demands of the program.

This position will serve as a case manager for the HPU. Working closely with the HPU Program Manager and other HPU staff, this position will be responsible for outreaching and engaging individuals identified as at risk of homelessness that are referred to the HPU and implementing appropriate interventions and linkages.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide outreach and engagement services to HPU clients in collaboration with other HPU staff.
• Triage and assess HPU clients to determine their immediate safety needs.
• Review DMH and DHS medical records / databases to determine service history and contact and coordinate with current service providers as appropriate.
• Identify potential interventions for HPU clients and link them to the resources needed to ensure housing retention including sources of income, short term rental assistance and assistance with arrears or utilities as well as medical, mental health and substance use providers as appropriate and food, clothing, transportation and vocational resources.
• Provide HPU clients with crisis intervention support as needed including assisting clients to access emergency and crisis stabilization services such as the DMH Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT), mental health urgent care services, medical and / or substance use disorder services.
• Collaborate with HPU clients and family members (when appropriate) to develop and amend treatment plan goals.
• Complete and submit all required documentation in a timely manner to ensure client progress is monitored and outcomes collected.
• Collaborate and coordinate with HPU management to identify and discuss programmatic and data needs as well as obtain consultation as needed on the appropriate level of interventions / services needed to support clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• 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.
• Demonstrated experience interviewing clients, individuals, and families to collect data to determine what services are needed.
• Demonstrated experience in collaborating with healthcare providers, multidisciplinary teams of mental health professionals, and / or community agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in linking clients, individuals, and families to specific healthcare, mental health and community-based programs.
• Demonstrated experience researching, compiling information, and preparing reports.
• 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 DHS and the homeless system of care, e.g., CHAMP, ORCHID, Clarity, Resource Management System, etc.

DESIRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, Nursing, Health Administration, or Human Services or in a discipline closely related to the core function of the Homelessness Prevention Unit.

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 clearing through the Live Scan process with the County of Los Angeles.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stand Frequently

Walk Frequently

Sit Frequently

Handling Occasionally

Reach Outward Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder Occasionally

Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend Occasionally

Lift / Carry Occasionally - Up to 15 lbs.

Push / Pull Occasionally - Up to 15 lbs.

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. Heluna Health is an Affirmative Action,