Housing Support Specialist - M-F 12a-8a

Description

Position Summary:

Works directly with individuals in a supportive housing unit, assisting them in navigating the challenges of independent living while managing their behavioral health needs. This role combines practical life coaching, emotional support, and resource coordination to empower residents to build stable lives, improve mental health, and work towards long-term recovery goals. This role involves offering emotional support and assisting with problem solving. Collaborates with resident and case management, clinical professionals to create a comprehensive care environment for residents. Enables residents to keep a safe, clean environment. Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.

Position Responsibilities:

Clinical / Technical Skills (40% of performance review)

• Provide practical life coaching, emotional support, and resource coordination, e.g., applying for housing, financial assistance, and food assistance.
• Provides educational groups to address, for example, life skills, conflict resolution, and coping skills.
• Records on resident outcomes, participation in housing program, and any concerns or successes in accordance with SUN Behavioral Health policy.
• Provides client transportation, maintains log of client transportation, and mileage.
• Intermittently observes resident' behavior, mental status, and activities, notifies leadership of any rule violation, changes, or unusual occurrences.
• Demonstrates the ability to identify behaviors that require intervention such as coaching sessions, helping residents set personal goals, develop strategies to achieve goals, build self-confidence and/or notify clinical staff of additional support needed.
• Demonstrates ability to perform client vital signs, including vital sign, AED, CPR, and Narcan administration, as needed.
• Monitors patients when coming and going from the housing for activities, meals, visitation, work, and scheduled appointments.
• Able to perform patient safety checks at scheduled times, documents appropriately.
• Able to resident, utilize SCM techniques and adherence to policy and procedure to de-escalate crisis.
• Demonstrates the ability to set limits for residents and other de-escalation techniques.
• Documentation meets current standards and policies.
• Communicate in all venues in a professional manner and tone.
• Operates equipment safely and correctly, removes equipment from service and notifies maintenance and leadership as appropriate.
• Orients residents to the housing, and records intake on the EHR.
• Participates in treatment team meetings. Communicates appropriately and clearly to the clinical staff and leadership.
• Implements the orientation of new staff members.
• Teaches residents healthy coping mechanisms and techniques for managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms.
• Helping to resolve conflicts between residents, or between residents and staff, in a constructive manner.
• Monitor resident's compliance with rules and regulations of programming and housing.
• Provides general directions for   residents, assisting with meals, behavioral coaching, active listening, empathy, and validation during difficult moments.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Safety (15% of performance review)

• Strives to create a safe, healing environment for patients and family members.
• Follows all safety rules while on the job.
• Reports “near misses,” as well as errors and accidents promptly.
• Corrects minor safety hazards.
• Communicate with peers and management regarding any hazards identified in the workplace.
• Attends all required safety programs and understands responsibilities related to general, department, and job specific safety.
• Participates in quality projects, as assigned, and supports quality initiatives.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.

Teamwork (15% of performance review)

• Works well with others in a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.
• Responds willingly to colleagues and serves as an active part of the outpatient team.
• Builds collaborative relationships with residents, families, staff, and physicians.
• The ability to retrieve, communicate, and present data and information both verbally and in writing as required.
• Show listening skills and the ability to express or exchange ideas through the spoken and written word. 
• Demonstrates adequate skills in all forms of communication.
• Adheres to the Standards of Behavior

Integrity (15% of performance review)

• Strives to always do the right thing for the residents, coworkers, and the housing unit.
• Adheres to established standards, policies, procedures, protocols, and laws.
• Applies the Mission and Values of SUN Behavioral Health to personal practice and commits to service excellence.
• Supports and demonstrates fiscal responsibility through supply usage, inventory of supplies, and conservation of facility resources.
• Completes required training within defined time periods, as established by job description, policies, or hospital leadership.
• Exhibits professionalism through good attendance and a positive attitude, at all times.
• Maintains confidentiality of resident and staff information, following HIPAA and other privacy laws.
• Ensures proper documentation in all position activities, following federal and state guidelines.

Compassion (15% of performance review)

• Demonstrates accountability for ensuring the highest quality of resident support.
• Willingness to be accepting of those in need, and to extend a helping hand.
• Desire to go above and beyond for others.
• Understanding and accepting cultural diversity and differences

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Associate’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field. CPR and hospital-selected de-escalation technique certification.
• Preferred:   Bachelor’s degree in social work. Psychology, counseling, or related fields. Relevant certifications in life coaching, mental health, or behavioral health, e.g., Certified Nursing Assistant, Certification Peer Specialist, Recovery Coach.
• Maintains education and development appropriate for position.

Experience

• Required: Minimum of One (1) year of experience working with individuals with behavioral health challenges, ideally in a housing or support living environment. Valid driver’s license in state of employment, with fewer than two (2) moving violations on driving record within a three (3) year period. 
• Preferred:   Familiar with trauma-informed care principles and harm reduction strategies. Bilingual or multilingual skills are highly valued. Knowledge of collaborating with local community resources and service providers. Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to engage and motivate individuals from varied backgrounds and life experiences.