SUMMARY:

Under the supervision and direction of the Program Supervisor, the Outreach Worker team (2) will identify, assess and refer homeless individuals in Santa Clara County to appropriate housing programs and services. The team will address a persons mental health, substance use disorder and/or medical needs by building trust with the individual or family and identify opportunities through which services can be provided. The teams responsibility is to build some level of rapport with the individuals over a period of time, help the individuals seek services that, at a minimum, would address their basic needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct street outreach to areas frequented by street youth, adults and families, including high priority encampments.
• Respond to calls from the Consumer and Environmental Projection Agency (CEPA), the Office of Supportive Housing (OSH) and other County departments in advance of clean up activities and/or in response to community concerns.
• Utilize motivational interviewing skills to build trust and engagement with individual or family.
• Coordinate connections to temporary and emergency housing through Here4You hotline.
• Provide clients linkages to mental health and substance abuse services when applicable.
• Conduct VI-SPDATS intakes and assessments in accordance with the current HMIS standards in the County.
• Document activities and client services per agency protocols and adhere to HMIS standards.
• Develop a robust knowledge of community resources.
• Coordinate services with county-wide community based agencies serving the unhoused population.
• Identifying, encouraging and helping clients connect to social support networks.
• Assist clients with transportation needs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform all essential duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

High School diploma or equivalent. Knowledge of homelessness, lived experience or education and experience related to Social Services field. Ability to work independently, utilize data base for all data entry and demonstrate non judgment and empathy to all callers.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Good communication skills required. Ability to speak effectively before groups of clients or employees of organization.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Driving is a requirement of the job (valid California drivers license with access to a personal vehicle that can be used for company business and current personal automobile insurance). Current CPR and First Aid Certification required (or complete within 30 days of hire). Fingerprinting/background check as required by the Department of Justice and/or Title XXII regulations. TB test required. Required to be fully vaccinated with booster against COVID-19 (if eligible or agree to receive booster at the time of eligibility)

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with basic mathematical concepts as required for reporting.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software. Internet research skills are a plus.

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. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.