Shelter Plus Care Program Coordinator Description

About Marin Housing Authority / Careers

Established: 05/17/94

Revised: April 2005

Definition

Under general direction, oversees, coordinates and provides mental health case management and assessment services to homeless mentally ill participants and disabled in the Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Program; assists participants in achieving desired outcomes in the coordinated case plan by making timely referrals to supportive services; provides guidance to professional case management staff; coordinates programs administrative processes; refers the participant to other available community services; and performs related work as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This position reports directly to the Director of Supportive Services Programs. Provides lead direction and acts as a case coordinator for the Shelter Plus Care Case Managers.

Class Characteristics

This is the single position professional class within the Shelter Plus Care Program responsible for clinical supervision of staff and daily monitoring of the program. The incumbent performs complex diagnostic and treatment case management work necessary for working with mentally ill, terminally ill, disabled persons, and the chronically homeless; coordinates services with all types of mental health, drug and alcohol, AIDS, and other support agencies; provides direction and acts as a resource for S+C Case Managers.

Examples of Duties (Illustrative Only)

• Conducts sustained outreach activities toward eligible persons who have a nighttime residence that is an emergency shelter or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (e.g. persons living in cars, streets and parks).
• Conducts outreach to the target population, formulates a housing and coordinated case plan with each participant, and connects participants to low-cost housing and supportive services.
• Conducts mental health assessments with potential candidates.
• Oversees screening and eligibility determination of potential participants to determine their interest in and eligibility for the Shelter Plus Care program.
• Assists program participants in the Section 8 application process and eligibility procedures, explains how Section 8 works, and describes participant rights and responsibilities under both the Section 8 and the Shelter Plus Care program.
• Works closely and actively with the participant to obtain and maintain entitlements; develops ongoing consultation with available family members and intervenes to avert crises as permitted.
• Provides flexible support and life skills training to participants as needed; may provide assistance in doing housing searches and in the actual task of moving participants into their apartments.
• Acts as an advocate and buffer between reluctant landlords and participants with poor rental or credit histories.
• May provide general life management assistance to participants such as money management, shopping, cooking, and mediating disputes with neighbors and landlords.
• Represents the program in various community meetings.
• Collects data for the purposes of monitoring participant and program success; prepares evaluation reports for policy makers.
• Perform other related work as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles, procedures, techniques, trends and literature of the mental health field and community mental health.
• Administrative principles and practices, including basic budgeting, program planning and evaluation.
• Dynamics of human behavior; social aspects of mental and emotional disturbances; nature of problems calling for the use of public or private community resources.
• Scope and activities of community health and welfare agencies and community resources available for assistance to individuals suffering from mental and/or emotional problems, disabilities, or severe illness.
• Methods and techniques of crisis intervention, individual/family/group counseling, case management and social rehabilitation.
• Counseling techniques and community resources available for people suffering from mental illness, disabilities, substance addiction and/or with HIV positive status or AIDS.
• Supported housing models and current issues regarding independent living with support services for special needs populations.
• Principles and techniques for engaging homeless mentally ill people, doing assessments, interviewing and recording and tracking case plans.
• Local area community agencies and social services providers; and federal and state public assistance and social service programs.

Skill in:

• Performing and providing direction in clinical assessments of clients; evaluating personal and psychological factors in the individual's and/or family situation and making recommendations on appropriate treatment/services plan.
• Interacting dynamically and relating well with homeless mentally ill people (as documented in references).
• Assisting in the formulation of policies and procedures and applying existing rules, regulations and policies.
• Interpreting social services programs to applicants and participants and case management staff.
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in written form including effective use of interviewing techniques.
• Working collaboratively with criminal justice, mental health services, and human service agencies to assure the provision of comprehensive and coordinated services.
• Operating standard office equipment, including job-related computer hardware and software applications, facsimile equipment and multi-line telephones.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work. 

Educations and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent of a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, public administration, or a closely-related field and five years of professional social casework experience including crisis intervention and extensive experience working with the Shelter Plus Care target population.

Masters degree from an accredited school in psychiatric nursing, psychology, counseling, social work or closely related field preferred, but experience on a year-by-year basis may substitute for education.

License and Certification:

Must possess a valid California class C driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record. Licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Clinical Psychologist, or Marriage, Family Therapist (MFT) is required.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time, talk and hear within standard ranges. The employee is required to walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or computer controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Work is performed in a field setting or a normal office setting with moderate noise levels and includes extensive travel to client residents throughout the County.

Marin Housing Authority is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.  Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and for religious reasons.