Summary

This position exists to provide a method of access for homeless persons within the community into a health and social continuum of care. A provision of support and services to clients will be expected to maintain a connectedness within the continuum of care. The incumbent will assist clients with their needs by securing community/financial resources via the application of extensive knowledge of various human resources and homeless service providers. The position will furthermore provide psychosocial assessments, especially in the areas of mental health and substance abuse as well as short-term therapeutic counseling and crisis intervention to clients and their families.

Essential Functions

Referrals:

Receives referrals from internal and external sources, and serves on a two-person team while conducting street outreach to complete assessment and service delivery. Presents, promotes and encourages participation into the Homeless Initiative Program, other homeless providers and mainstream resources. Makes appropriate referrals according to the client's need(s).

Assessment:

Provides outreach services to shelters, transitional housing, and non-sheltered homeless persons as the triage system for our case management program. Responsible for conducting a thorough psychosocial assessment with the client. Determines if the homeless person best benefits from crisis intervention and/or longer-term care, and provides appropriate service(s). Assists the client with crisis needs, including follow-up with the client, until client is linked into case management. Assesses mental health, substance abuse and other immediate care issues and provides services or refers to an outside agency to meet those needs. Serves as lead member on the two-person team, and takes initiative to ensure appropriate service delivery is accomplished. Delivers basic, material supplies (blankets, clothes, food, etc.) to the client, as deemed appropriate.

Documentation:

Completes required and optional documentation on a weekly basis, unless notified.

Case Conferencing:

Participates in multi-disciplinary conferences designed to successfully implement treatment care plans and services for the client(s). Apply a minimum of one health literacy method when communicating with patients/clients.

The preceding essential function statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of tasks and functions for this position. Job descriptions provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents. Other tasks and functions may be assigned as needed to fulfill the mission of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

Requires Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field or five years of related work experience.

Requires current state of Indiana driver's license and proof of insurance.

Must have reliable transportation to travel to sites and other agencies in the city to triage client(s).

Requires ability to maintain professional relationships with clients; co- workers and community partners.

Requires ability to distinguish between crisis and long-term services.

Requires knowledge and skills in assessing mental health; substance abuse and other immediate care issues.

Requires strong communication skills to provide counseling and developing positive relationships with clients and member of the HIP team.

Requires knowledge about human behavior and principles of growth and development to perform assessments.

Requires awareness and understanding of available community resources and entitlement programs.

Requires knowledge of state of Indiana child protective legal mandates.

Requires ability to work in and with a team.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE:

The Triage Outreach Professional will receive annual performance evaluations that rate job performance in accordance with HealthNet vision, mission, policies and procedures. The evaluations may include, but not be limited to, performance of many of the specific skills and abilities noted above. The Triage Outreach Professional is expected to present an exemplary professional image; maintain a positive attitude toward work and HealthNet; display a willingness to accept and complete assigned job responsibilities and duties; demonstrate the ability to independently exercise judgment, supervise staff if applicable, and complete all phases of assigned tasks or projects; and serve as a positive role model for other HealthNet staff.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

HealthNet is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.