Community Supports Specialist Housing Navigation Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Community Supports Specialist/Housing Navigation Specialist

Star Nursing is hiring Santa Cruz County and Monterey, CA

Position: Remote-Hybrid- in-person visits throughout the month

Hours: 9 am to 530 pm (PST)

Pay rate: $24/hr mileage reimbursement

For the most prompt response, please APPLY ONLINE www.starnursing.com/job-board or send your resume to jobs@starnursing.com.

Contact us today to learn more.

The Community Support Specialist works under the Director of Community Support to help clients connect to Community Support services, including Housing Navigation, Housing Deposits, Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services (HTSS), Respite Services, Nursing Facility Transition/Diversion to Assisted Living Facilities (RCFEs or ARFs), Community Transition Services/Nursing Facility Transition to Home, and personal homemaker services. The Intake Coordinator is crucial in guiding clients through the initial stages of service engagement and setting them up for long-term success.

About Community Supports

Community Supports through CalAIM is a holistic, community-driven initiative designed to enhance the well-being of individuals by addressing social determinants of health. This program offers various support services to improve access to housing, food, transportation, and other essential resources. CalAIM aims to promote stability, reduce health disparities, and support overall health and wellness by focusing on the broader needs of individuals and their communities. This comprehensive approach ensures that individuals receive the necessary resources and support to thrive daily, fostering a healthier and more equitable society.

Key Responsibilities

Client Interaction and Assessment

• Serve as the primary contact for new clients seeking housing and support services.
• Conduct comprehensive initial assessments to determine clients' needs and service eligibility.
• Collect sensitive and required client documents, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations.

Collaboration

• Work with ECM and other healthcare professionals to develop, implement, and coordinate care plans for clients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and behavioral health conditions.

Health Education

• Educate patients about health maintenance and disease prevention.

Care Transitions

• Facilitate care transitions between providers, partners, referral sources, and specialty care providers.

Housing Services Coordination

• Housing Navigation: Assist clients in locating and securing appropriate housing options.
• Develop housing support plans.
• Housing Deposits: Coordinate and manage resources for housing deposits to ensure clients can secure housing.
• Facilitate Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services to help clients maintain stable housing.

Support Services Coordination

• Respite Services: Arrange temporary respite care services for clients needing short-term relief.
• Transitions: Support clients through transitions between different care settings or housing situations.
• Personal Homemaker Services: Coordinate services to assist clients with daily living activities and household tasks.

Community Representation

• Represent the organization at community meetings focused on housing and support services for homeless populations.
• Educate the community on changes in housing policies and available resources.

Resource Development

• Research and identify affordable and supportive housing options, such as Section 8 and 811 Housing Project.
• Coordinate funding resources to assist clients in achieving long-term housing stability.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all client interactions and service coordination activities.
• Complete monthly data collection for program reporting and evaluation.

Staff Training and Collaboration

• Train and collaborate with other staff on housing programs and client needs.
• Work closely with Enhanced Care Managers to ensure comprehensive support for clients.

Advocacy and Support

• Advocate for clients to ensure they receive timely and appropriate services.
• Provide education to clients on the benefits of available services and Community Supports
• Make in-person and virtual client visits as needed to ensure ongoing support and engagement.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum of one year of experience in a healthcare, housing-related, social services, or public health field
• Experience with project management in housing or low-income settings preferred.
• Lived experience in areas such as homelessness, unstable housing, substance use disorders, mental health issues, abuse, family incarceration, foster care, exposure to violence, and financial instability

Skills

• Compassionate and caring demeanor with the ability to build rapport with clients
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organizational and coordination skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Bilingual in Spanish or another language preferred.

Education

• Medical Assistant (MA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Other Requirements

• Reliable transportation with a clear driving record.
• Knowledge of community and supportive services.
• Sensitivity to the needs of multicultural populations from various income levels.

Physical Requirements

• Able to sit, drive, and negotiate up and down stairways. Some lifting of office equipment/supplies up to 30 lbs.
• Able to listen and communicate verbally.

Patient Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all patient care information.
• Ensure all clients are treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Report and investigate all allegations of patient abuse and/or misappropriation of property.