Recovery Specialist

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Recovery Specialist is a position within a Critical Time Intervention team.

This position uses the best practice of Critical Time Intervention (CTI).  CTI is a structured program that provides supports to people who are homeless during and after a transition to community living from a shelter, hospital or other institutional setting. The CTI Specialist must be flexible and creative as well as comfortable working primarily in the community.  At the same time, they must be committed to following this focused model of care.

The program’s primary initiative is to locate and connect people to adequate, affordable housing units, and provide support as they transition from a homeless setting to a new residence.  Linkages to mental health services, collaboration with community providers, and development of natural support systems are additional supports provided by CTI.  During this critical time, CTI monitors and assesses these supports to ensure their effectiveness in maintaining an individual’s new residence and breaking the cycle of homelessness.

Work activities include: assist with street/shelter outreach; assist consumers in making critical transitions in their lives; assist consumers in creating linkages to long term community supports; assess and evaluate consumer strengths and needs;  work with other CTI fieldworkers in a team approach; work in the consumer’s community; mediate and advocate on behalf of consumers to help them obtain and maintain housing, health care, benefits, entitlements, and transportation; and monitor, record & track service delivery.

This is a full-time hourly position.  The standard for this position will be that the Recovery Specialist averages a 40-hour work week.

This position receives direction from a Recovery Manager to implement CTI program, the policies of the Board of Directors in carrying out NPI’s Mission Statement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and skill required.  Other duties may be required as needed.

Essential tasks include the following.

1. Assist tenants to establish long-term economic improvement essential for providing greater personal independence and additional housing choices

1. Implement NPI tenant/consumer programming (i.e. financial management, budgeting, parenting, & life skills).  Evaluate and modify these programs as needed to enhance the continuity of care for NPI tenants.

3. Mediate complaints and/or conflicts involving tenants/program staff; and make recommendations to supervisor for dispute resolutions.
4. Advise tenants regarding food stamps, child care, food, money management, sanitation, or housekeeping.
5. Report to supervisor all issues that have the potential of causing the eviction of the tenant(s) and recommend any solutions based upon tenant input.
6. Assist tenants and the local public housing authority to utilize Section 8 assistance (project-based vouchers and Housing Choice Vouchers).
7. Assist tenants and the local public housing authority with the annual recertification process.
8. Participate in housing retention meetings when necessary.
9. Counsel clients in individual or group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental or physical illness, poverty, unemployment, or physical abuse.
10. Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress with respect to treatment goals.
11. Interview clients, review records, conduct assessments, or confer with other professionals to evaluate the mental or physical condition of clients or patients.
12. Collaborate with counselors, physicians, or nurses to plan or coordinate treatment, drawing on social work experience and patient needs.
13. Counsel or aid family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting the client or patient.
14. Refer patient, client, or family to community resources for housing or treatment to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness, following through to ensure service efficacy.
15. Modify treatment plans according to changes in client status.
16. Educate clients or community members about mental or physical illness, abuse, medication, or available community resources.
17. Assist clients in adhering to treatment plans, such as setting up appointments, arranging for transportation to appointments, or providing support.

Property Activities

1. Inspect property to ensure conformance to established standards in areas such as cleanliness and maintenance, reporting required repairs for a work order.
2. Establish an expectation with tenants to keep their housing environment clean.
3. Work collaboratively with maintenance personnel to assure tenant safety and satisfaction with NPI units.

Specific ACF Activities (as assigned)

1. Conducts quality assurance visits to ACF to visually inspect physical environment, residential staff records and adherence to state licensure requirements.
2. Communicates quality assurance deficiencies to ACF operators in a timely manner via mail correspondence.
3. Maintain accurate spreadsheet of annual renewals pertaining to ACF records.
4. Conduct housing needs assessments for clients referred for ACF subsidy.

Administrative Activities

1. Maintain client files by daily logging of progress notes regarding issues raised and actions taken.
2. Submit reports (including personnel, critical incident reports, major unusual incidents, etc.) and review reports or problems with superior.
3. Assists with audits and program monitoring as required.
4. Completes utilization, grant, and other reports as requested.

Contract Management

1. Maintain client related data tracking systems, including case notes and complete HMIS entries.
2. Submit reports (including personnel, critical incident reports, major unusual incidents, etc.) and review reports or problems with superior.
3. Prepare case-related reports including outcomes, successes, and challenges.
4. Generate client data for monthly reports.  Assists with audits and program monitoring as required.
5. Maintain complete and accurate documentation of service objectives and outcomes as well as other services in accordance with federal, state, county, guidelines.
6. Complete follow-up and retention services and provide back-up documentation in client files.

Outreach and Relationship Management

1. Outreach to community, business owners, realtors, landlords, housing developers and other service providers to identify new and existing opportunities and build strong relationships to better assist clients in accessing resources, employment, supportive services, and housing opportunities.
2. Respond to community requests for street outreach intervention.
3. Mediate disputes between homeless persons and community members/neighborhood stakeholders.
4. Attend collaborative meetings.
5. Actively participate in staff meetings and trainings.
6. Network with other agencies, coalitions, and local community meetings.

Program Policy Development and Improvement

1. Participates in staff development.
2. Carries out policies and procedures of the NPI.
3. Participates in agency-wide projects.
4. Performs other related duties as requested.

 

Interested candidates should forward resume and cover letter to [email protected]

Neighborhood Properties, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.