Case Manager

Job Title: Case Manager, Atascadero

Supervisor: Operations Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 10:00am – 6:30pm

Pay Rate: $22.00 - $25.00/ hour DOE

Date: April 2025

Job Overview

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people’s lives? Join our team at the ECHO Atascadero shelter, where every day brings new opportunities to create positive change! Case Managers provide information, referrals, and case management; make decisions and act on behalf of the client, coordinating services for those who need permanent housing, health care, financial help and/or job training, all while supporting the client’s move towards self-sufficiency. They are responsible for developing strategies for engaging with clients, creating awareness about the program in the community, and developing a path to re-housing. The Case Manager coordinates and initiates services with other public and private agencies providing services to the unhoused population.

We are looking for a person who has a can-do attitude, is passionate about engaging chronically unhoused individuals and has experience with this population. This position is located at the ECHO Shelter, Atascadero site. We are looking for someone who can work Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00am – 6:30pm, with flexibility for nights and weekends. If you’re ready to work with purpose and drive meaningful outcomes, we invite you to be a part of our mission to transform lives and build a stronger community!

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide respectful engagement to adults with histories of chronic houselessness, serious psychiatric disabilities and co-occurring substance use disorders.
• Has the ability to keep accessible, low-barrier services and a trauma-informed approach at the forefront of all client interactions, policies, and decisions.
• Conduct interviews with all clients for the Coordinated Entry Program and HMIS and input information into the data systems in a timely manner.
• Work with other homeless services partners to develop strategies that help encourage homeless individuals to take steps leading ultimately to housing.
• Ensure that clients who have been at the shelter for at least five days are personally interviewed, assessed, and begin case management.
• Complete intakes and make assessments of client needs.
• Develop individualized case plans with long-term and short-term goals and objectives.
• Monitor compliance with goals through regular contact (weekly client meetings).
• Maintain a file and complete all paperwork in a timely manner.
• Provides relevant referrals to agencies and service providers based upon the goals and objectives mutually agreed upon with the client.
• Advocates for clients with agencies and service providers to minimize barriers to clients receiving needed services.
• Follow up with referrals to ensure that clients receive and access necessary services in a timely manner.
• Knowledge of all potential client resources, including attending meetings at relevant agencies and providers.
• Maintains a professional relationship with clients and conducts all business-related activity according to program policy and standards relevant to the Case Management field.
• Monitors client behavior regarding compliance issues and follow-up; provides consistent limits and expectations regarding program policies and goal achievement.
• Works with community partners to support efforts at locating and maintaining supportive permanent housing.
• Establishes relationships with local housing agencies, property management companies and private landlords to ensure success in securing and maintaining housing for clients.
• Assists clients in developing a savings and budget plan in preparation for eventual independent living. Communicates progress towards independent living with community partners, when appropriate.
• Maintain confidential files for each client comprised of all the details of the case management effort; communicate any relevant information to Shelter Manager, as appropriate.
• Assist in stabilizing the life of the client by determining what circumstances led to their arrival at ECHO.
• Examine employment history and prospects.
• Help clients adjust to life in housing or shelter, including but not limited to engaging clients around goals and aspirations, life skills, hobbies, and other activities that may be needed during the adjustment to housing.
• Work with the ECHO Case Management team to develop best practices that can be replicated with other clients.
• Maintain a client caseload of up to 30 cases at a time.
• Maintain an appointment calendar.
• Occasionally drive clients, in the ECHO vehicle, as needed to appointments.
• Ensures the safety of the residents, clients, volunteers, and shelter.
• Participate in weekly Staff Meetings and Case Management Team Meetings.
• Collaborate with other departments, taking a team approach to client relationships and advocacy whenever appropriate.
• Participate in the Coordinated Entry Program, HMIS, and CenCal which includes conducting interviews with all clients receiving any services at ECHO, making referrals as needed, entering interview information into a database, and attending monthly program meetings.
• Assists with supervision of the nightly dinner program, conducts client surveys, and addresses client issues that may arise during the program.
• Communicates with clients to de-escalate situations when needed.
• Driving to meetings and events is a required duty for this position.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Talents, & Abilities

• Provide respectful engagement to adults with histories of chronic homelessness, serious psychiatric disabilities, and co-occurring substance use disorders.
• Provide culturally competent support to a diverse population.
• Use de-escalation skills & trauma informed care approach when issues arise.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact with all departments/levels of the organization and outside third parties in a highly professional manner.
• Ability to work with diverse populations including those facing challenges in the areas of mental health, domestic violence, child welfare services, aging, trauma informed care, and low barrier shelters.
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills with the ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Calm demeanor; Able to work under pressure; Able to respond to a crisis situation, health or safety issue and take appropriate and immediate action.
• Able to maintain a high-level privacy and confidentiality of employees’, guests’ and clients’ information.
• Knowledge of universal precautions and what constitutes a medical or situational emergency.
• Understanding of mandated reporting laws.
• Must be professional, flexible, friendly, and work as a team player.
• Assume ownership for accomplishing assignments, requests and tasks.
• Intermediate knowledge of Office Suite, including WORD, EXCEL, and PowerPoint.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking is a plus. $0.50 bilingual pay differential is provided.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License.
• Must have a reliable vehicle, clean driving record, and proof of insurance.
• Must be willing to travel throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Echo's Cultural Norms

• Greet all people with a smile and kindness.
• Listen without judgment and consider matters from another’s perspective.
• Give everyone the chance to change and grow
• Treat one another with dignity and respect
• Be open to provide or receive feedback.
• Resolve conflict in a timely and constructive way
• Willingness to be adaptable

Education and/or Experience

• College degree or high school diploma/GED, depending on experience.
• Minimum of one to two years’ experience in health and human services

ECHO's Benefits Package

• Health Insurance – 70% of cost covered by ECHO
• Vision & Dental Insurance – 70% of cost covered by ECHO
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan with up to a 3% annual salary match for eligible employees
• 12 paid holidays per year
• 80 hours per year of vacation - accrual rate increases steadily with additional years of service
• 56 hours of paid sick time per year
• 3 Wellness Holidays per summer
• Family friendly work environment

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 may 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; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee often is required to stand and walk, including stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

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 may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Variable work environment; work is conducted both indoors and outdoors with varying environmental conditions; door to indoor facilities often kept open, so warm clothing is required when working at night. The Admin Offices are located upstairs, with only stairway access. Noise level varies from quiet office environment to very noisy shelter and dining hall.

ECHO is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, marital status, age, or any other protected status covered by federal or state law.

**No phone calls, please**

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22 - $25