Community Health Worker II, Encampment Outreach Program - Dorothy's Place

Community Health Worker II, Encampment Outreach Program 

EXEMPT: Non-exempt, full-time 

REPORTS TO: Program Director  COMPENSATION: $17/hour 

SUMMARY: The Community Health Worker II (CHW II) is responsible for ensuring a supportive, compassionate, and  empowering experience of our consumers, most of which are experiencing chronic homelessness, all of which are living in  outdoor encampments or vehicles. This position requires entering encampments with a team of social and health  professionals as their paraprofessional assistants. Responsibilities include coordinating/supporting other agencies that are  collaborating in outreach; staff development for the shift’s advocates, conducting intakes in the Homeless Management  Information System (HMIS); conducting assessments in the Coordinated Assessment and Referral System (CARS); assisting healthcare professionals in data collection and recording; reporting outcomes to the program manager; staff  training & mentorship; volunteer development; consumer assistance including transportation; and conflict de-escalation  and resolution. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following as well as other duties that may be assigned:  

• Understand that Trauma-informed Care is our prime directive and is a treatment framework that involves  understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects on our consumers of all types of trauma. 
• Treat all consumers equally, with respect, and according to the guidelines and staff rules. Our standard is one of  graciousness and kindness. When misbehaviors occur, respect the consumer and divert the behavior if possible. 
• Train and mentor CHW I’s. 
• Perform HMIS consumer intakes and CARS consumer assessments. 
• Maintain HMIS with suitable data integrity. Provide data reports that demonstrate accurate outcomes. 
• Maintain collaborations and supportive relationships with social services, medical, and mental health providers  that are helpful to our consumers and partnering agencies.  
• Coordinate consumer appointments and transportation as required. Drive consumers to appointments as needed.
• Meet regularly with program manager or director for coordination, mentoring, and reporting outcomes. 
• Ensure the accurate and timely collection of statistical data for all operations.  
• Resolve grievances by program participants through the use of the grievance procedure. 
• Serve as a mediator and finds positive ways of responding to conflicts between consumers and staff. 
• Inventory supplies, including ensuring that donations and supplies are used appropriately, that needs for  donations are reported to Development, and that supplies are purchased when needed.  
• Consistently educate our consumers about ethics and communication and model good behaviors to our  consumers consistently, mindful of the long term goals and objectives of the program. 
• Attend weekly staff meetings, staff in-service and other trainings. CPR and First Aid training are required with the  expectation that each staff member can perform CPR if necessary. 
• Meet regularly with program manager or director for coordination and mentoring. 
• Be available to work odd hours and weekends to better serve consumer needs. 
• Complete a local course to receive a certification in CHW practice from a local college. 
• Communicate immediately with the program manager or director concerning any issues that impact the safety of  consumers and staff, including any incidences that result in incident reports. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

GENERAL JOB PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 

• Knowledge of Work: Possesses and utilizes organizational skills and knowledge of the issue of people struggling with  homelessness. Has knowledge of local resources. 
• Professional boundaries: Has ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with consumers and potential consumers. Quantity of Service: Accomplishes an appropriate volume of satisfactory service under normal conditions.  
• Quality of Service: Consistently demonstrates accuracy, thoroughness, maturity, and dependability. Serve with minimum  supervision.
• Workplace Relationships: Establishes and maintains cooperative and respectful workplace relationships. Serve as a  team member. 
• Timeliness: Completes assignments on or ahead of schedule. 
• Ability to Learn New Duties: Interprets, analyzes and responds appropriately in new situations.  
• Training: Keeps core competencies current by participating in skills training. Trains staff and Community Members. Judgment and Common Sense: Decisions/actions are sound, including safety and risk management. Cooperation: Willing to serve with others toward common goals. 
• Respect for diversity: Interacts courteously and tactfully with people of diverse backgrounds and interests. 
• Respect for staff and consumers: Maintains respect and support of fellow staff members and volunteers in support of  staff. Sensitive to inappropriate remarks or actions that make staff, volunteers or consumers uncomfortable, and  demands proactive correction of those behaviors on the spot. Zero tolerance for harassment of staff, volunteers,  consumers or potential consumers. 
• Communications: Demonstrates relevance and clarity of written and oral expression. Effectiveness in exchanging ideas  and information.  
• Initiative: Has ability to originate, develop and create new ideas or take steps to get things done.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and evaluates alternative solutions and selects the most appropriate course of action. 
• Attendance and Punctuality: Shows daily ability to reliably meet scheduled appointments, arrives on time and prepared  to serve, respects others’ time, and sets an example for others. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in social work, counseling, or psychology or equivalent  combination of education and experience OR four years of lived experience of street homelessness and ability to  learn and thrive in an administrative environment. 
• Previous experience and proven consistent success in working with people transitioning out of homelessness 
• Previous experience working with people with multiple disabilities  
• Previous management, administrative and/or supervisory experience (preferred) 

Language and Communications Skills: 

• Ability to effectively present information both orally and in written format and respond to questions from staff,  consumers, residents, government entities, accountancy authorities, service partners and the general public. 
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to quickly learn additional applications if required  (such as medical billing software). 
• Well organized, self-starter 
• Possesses excellent telephone, computer (MS Office), written, and verbal communications skills  
• Speaking and writing both English and Spanish is required. 

Mathematical Skills: 

• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations. 

Reasoning Ability: 

• Ability to define and solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables. Ability to interpret a  variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• A deep sense of compassion and understanding for homeless and marginalized individuals 
• A dedication to and practice of social justice  
• Must be mature, even-tempered and team spirited, respectful of the challenges of others, and have tempered  judgment of others  
• Possess passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra  
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and make sound independent decisions 
• Comfortable and knowledgeable in consensus-based decision making and practice of non-violent communication 
• Acts ethically, responsibly, and with utmost integrity 
• Must be sensitive and understanding of multicultural needs 
• Must be Trauma Informed
• Ability to work flexible hours 

PHYSICAL & SENSORY REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ability to easily climb stairs to a second story 
• Ability to read and comprehend administrative documents as well as data on a computer screen 
• Ability to hear normal conversations and answer phones

Please send resume and cover letter to Jill Allen, Executive Director, jill.allen@dorothysplace.org