POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Wellness Access Specialist

Supervisor: Veteran Support Services Supervisor

Location: Mount Scott Office

Hours: Monday - Friday; some weekend and evening work required

Wage: $23.97 hourly - Eligible for Language Differential

Benefits: Competitive Benefits Package

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This position provides services to assist participants to engage and effectively link to medical, mental health and substance use disorder providers. Working as part of a team of housing case managers and other supportive services to provide support to veteran participants and their households to successfully gain and maintain stable housing. This is a full time, non-exempt, union represented position.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide individual services to participants to support and facilitate connections to community support and resources.
2. Meet with participants in the community which could include shelters, public locations, provider offices, or the participant's residence.
3. Provide groups to engage, educate, and support participants to access physical health, mental health, and substance use disorder services where needed.
4. Develop comprehensive knowledge of community physical/ mental health resources and substance use disorder services and maintain effective relationships with these providers to assure service availability for participants. Maintain knowledge of available resources for low-income/homeless population and veteran specific resources.
5. Coordinate with case managers and other staff members to ensure services are participant-focused, effective, and efficient.
6. Maintain thorough documentation of participant services including case notes, logs and data collection systems such as Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
7. Provide transportation or assistance with accessing transportation for participants to meet their health and wellness needs.
8. Coordinate with the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) team to assist participants in obtaining the necessary connections to appropriate providers and medical records for the disability benefits application process.
9. Attend meetings as requested and other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Each Transition Projects employee must:

1. Acquire First Aid/CPR/AED certification within 30 days of hire and be retested biannually thereafter throughout employment.
2. Complete Bloodborne Pathogens and Narcan Training within 30 days of hire and be retested annually thereafter throughout employment.
3. Demonstrate effective communication skills by conveying necessary information accurately, listening effectively, and asking questions when clarification is needed.
4. Demonstrate reliability by being present at work as scheduled, arriving and leaving on time and taking breaks in expected time frames.
5. Interact effectively with people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
2. Hearing and vision adequate for interaction with clients, interaction with staff and interaction with the general public.
3. Hearing adequate for telephone work. Vision adequate for close work.
4. Hand and finger dexterity adequate to operate standard office equipment.
5. Ability to walk, bend, stand, sit, reach, stoop, pull, sit, squat, and climb stairs.
6. Sitting at a desk completing paperwork and working on a computer for lengthy periods.
7. Mobility to allow responsive traveling to client residences located around the metro area.
8. Reasoning ability to make decisions that reflect consistency with Transition Projects philosophy, policies and procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The right individual for this position has a passion for helping others and a desire to work in an organization that serves people who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.

1. Associates Degree in a related field OR one year of experience in social services required AND the ability to demonstrate understanding of the issues surrounding homelessness, chemical dependency, domestic violence and sexual assault.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of chemical dependency and mental health issues and appropriate treatment resources. Candidates possessing CADC or similar certification will receive priority consideration.
3. Demonstrated ability to engage people experiencing homelessness in a trauma informed manner.
4. Applicants who are themselves veterans will receive priority consideration. Bi-lingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
5. Demonstrated ability act as a broker with other agencies in developing and providing services to clients; including ability to advocate on behalf of clients for services with other agencies.
6. Up-to-date familiarity of community resources and services available to assist the homeless.
7. Demonstrated knowledge of services available to assist the homeless.
8. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team in the delivery of services to clients.
9. Computer literacy. Demonstrated ability to use word processing, database, spreadsheet, e-mail, and Internet programs.
10. Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and comprehensive client files.

Transition Projects, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, source of income, union participation or activities, or any other status legally protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.