ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Protects the confidentiality of all participants, families and staff matters and records consistent with federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164 and federal regulations governing confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records, 42 C.F.R., Part 2, other grant required federal regulations, state laws and agency guidelines.
• Coordinates referrals for participants to available community resources, service providers, and available support systems. Advocates on behalf of the participants, closely monitors and follow-up on referrals as needed.
• Uses motivational interviewing and other professional techniques to assess the Supportive Housing Division participants’ bio-psychosocial history, problems, strengths, needs, and progress and makes recommendations. Develops individualized Independent Living Plans/Case Management Plans that address these areas. Intervenes effectively in crisis and safety situations, providing appropriate responses and working with other professionals and community agencies.
• Works with Supportive Housing Division participants and provides interventions as necessary to motivate them to establish realistic, achievable goals consistent with achieving and maintaining a drinking reduction and/or recovery lifestyle.
• Educates participants in life skills development, self-advocacy, self-sufficiency, employment topics, alcohol dependence, relapse prevention and intervention, and other related issues using lecture, video, written material, didactic and experiential strategies.
• Works with participants on addressing all barriers to independent living, and if an outside referral is necessary, acts as an advocate on behalf of the resident and closely monitors progress.
• Assists participants with housing search, purchasing and/or obtaining furniture and developing a housing budget.
• Assists participants in obtaining and maintaining a regular source of income, volunteer opportunities, and permanent housing through the use of motivational interviewing techniques and coordination of necessary supportive services.
• Works with housing proprietors to resolve tenancy issues as they arise.
• Supports participants in the development of interpersonal skills and reintegration into the community by means of regular home, employment and/or other visits to include organizing and participating in targeted reintegration activities.
• Assists participants discharging from the program in applying problem solving and coping skills in order to maintain independent living.
• Attends weekly case review meetings and Sitka Place staff meetings to review the participants’ status and overall program effectiveness.
• Maintains accurate records and files according to Division standards. Completes daily case notes and enters participant information into databases.
• Coordinates with program staff for adequate facility coverage.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides back up support/coverage to all positions, including outreach services and coverage of the front desk.
• Attends all relevant community meetings.
• Participates in program development activities.
• Generates, formats, and proofreads related spreadsheets and documents as needed.
• Develops report formats, graphs, charts, and spreadsheets for relevant programs.
• Tracks and reports progress of assigned tasks and/or projects.
• Maintains education and professional expertise through attendance at job related seminars, conferences and workshops.
• Selects and fosters a team approach with staff through regular meetings, collaborative problem solving, professional development, and the dissemination of information.
• Attends all relevant internal meetings, as required by Supportive Housing Supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Works with individuals experiencing homelessness to assess their barriers to housing and service needs.
• Develops and maintains cooperative and collaborative professional relationships with other agencies where individuals experiencing homelessness are served. Builds professional rapport with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative relationships with others; actively looks for ways to help people.
• Keeps up-to-date with changes in the field, seeks out, participates in continuing education, and applies new knowledge to job.
• Uses relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with current program standards, laws, or regulations.
• Maintains participant files, and enters information and daily case notes into agency databases.
• Provides information to participants, co-workers and others by telephone, fax, in written form, email, or in person.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to evaluate assessment information with a multi-disciplinary team to provide case management and program evaluation.
• Ability to handle intoxicated participants calmly and proficiently.
• Communicates effectively orally and in writing as appropriate for the needs of a diverse audience.
• Gives full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions as appropriate.
• Ability to deescalate aggressive or hostile participants.
• Ability to work independently in a residential and community based setting.
• Ability to remain alert during shift to respond quickly to participants’ needs and in emergency type situations.
• Communicates effectively orally and in writing as appropriate for the needs of a diverse audience.
• Ability to embrace a harm reduction model for addiction treatment and have a basic understanding of addiction and mental health issues.
• Ability to read, comprehend, research, and follow established policies and procedures.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers/supervisors and employees and to the public both face-to-face and over the telephone.
• Possesses judgment and decision making abilities to evaluate the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Possesses the ability to assess the value, importance, or quality of available services as they relate to the needs of the program participant.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and follow established policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage work time well, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to exercise good judgement, courtesy and tact.
• Ability to establish a good rapport with people of diverse cultures and belief systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Must demonstrate sound judgment, professional boundaries, ethics, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/JOB CONDITIONS:

• Agency is a mandated tobacco, drug and alcohol free workplace.
• General office environment, possible shared office space.
• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.
• Uses computers and computer programs effectively to enter data, create spreadsheets and process information, and, develop documents, program and training materials.
• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.
• Communicates with others outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, and other external sources in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail in keeping with current policies & procedures.
• Capable of maneuvering through the Sitka Place facility.
• Ability to maintain mental and physical alertness during shift.
• Ability to endure work fluctuation, deadlines, and interruptions.
• Must be capable of retrieving information from physical files.
• Must have the ability to operate the following equipment: desktop computer, telephone, copier, PC printer, and fax machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly to grasp, type, see, talk, hear, and lift and carry 50 pounds of weight by utilizing proper lifting techniques and working in a safe manner. This position will also be performing physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, bending, and handling materials.
• Regularly performs sedentary activities that require sitting for long periods and repetitive use of hands, wrists and arms for handling, positioning, moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Must be in good general health and free from serious physical, mental health and/or substance abuse problems.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

TRAVEL:

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Bachelor degree in Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, Social Work or other social service degree OR High School Diploma/GED AND at least four (4) years’ experience working with people who experience homelessness, substance abuse, behavioral health issues may be substituted for education OR Equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.
• Must successfully pass a State of Alaska and federal criminal background check, including fingerprinting.
• Must provide TB screening clearance within 30 days of hire and annually thereafter at employee’s expense.
• Experience, course work, or training in substance abuse treatment, addictions, or behavioral health.
• Knowledge competency and knowledge of case management (i.e., intake, assessment, independent living plan development, implementation, referral and follow up).
• Ability to process information from various sources and verify data.
• Capable of reading, understanding, researching and following written procedures and policies related to job responsibilities.
• Ability to manage work time well, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain professional behavior, recognize customer needs, and interact with diverse groups of people in a responsible and respectful manner.
• Responsible work ethic with reliable attendance.
• Must keep all matters concerning participants in strictest confidence as required by HIPAA privacy and the 42 CFR, Part II confidentiality regulations.
• Proven ability and willingness to be self-directed in problem-solving and decision-making and perform basic assignment with little or no direct supervision while also working effectively as a team member.
• Demonstrated intermediate level of computer skills necessary in order to use and create documents and reports, spreadsheets, workshop materials and slide presentations, and to enter data into intricate database programs and proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Must be able to provide own transportation to meet work schedule requirements.
• Must have a valid driver’s License and maintain a valid driver’s license throughout the course of employment. Must provide a copy of current driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles annually.
• Must have an insured vehicle, present proof of insurance, and maintain proof of insurance throughout the course of employment.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Certification as a Chemical Dependency Technician, Chemical Dependency Counselor I, Behavioral Health Technician, Behavioral Health Counselor I, or Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner.
• Experience working with homeless people and working with diverse rural/urban Alaska Native populations.
• Experience with Service Point, Adsystech, Medicaid Electronic Health Record and YARDI.

Preferred