Engagement Specialist

The Engagement Specialist provides direct client supportive services to residents who have been diagnosed with behavioral health, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. The Engagement Specialist will assist tenants with housing stabilization, independence, recovery and resiliency. Perform other duties as assigned.

The Engagement Specialist is an individual in recovery with a lived experience and journey in receiving services and supports from mental health, substance use disorder, and/or housing/homeless service providers. Under general supervision of the Supportive Services Manager, provides ongoing intensive mental health, chemical dependency and trauma related interventions to formerly homeless persons with severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance abuse.

Completes and maintains progress notes, service logs, and other pertinent documentation according to agency and regulatory service standards.

• Establish and maintain a professional rapport with the population housed; utilizing personal experiences with recovery to offer hope, encouragement and reassurance. Role modeling and providing support while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Provides an array of community based services that address the individualized mental health needs of persons who have a severe and persistent mental illness, chemical dependency and who were formerly homeless. Services include, but are not limited to, ongoing assessment of needs, coordination of services, linkage, symptom monitoring, advocacy, and skill development. Services may be provided face-to-face or by telephone.
• Provides and/or ensures the provision of all necessary community support services as identified on the individual service plan.
• Initiates appropriate action and crisis intervention with individuals/clients or situations through prompt utilization of community resources. Takes appropriate action to deal with emergencies and provide crisis intervention.
• Ensures the engagement of clients by providing services in a trauma sensitive manner.
• Ensures compliance with productivity and documentation/record keeping standards as set by the agency in accordance with funding and accreditation requirements.
• Promotes recovery and increases the client’s capacity to positively impact his/her own environment by assisting clients in the development of interpersonal and community coping skills, and self-management techniques.
• Provides assistance to clients in maintaining housing, entitlements and other basic resources, and establishes and maintains regular contact and follow-up requirements as specified in Housing Stabilization Plans/ Service Plans.
• Advocates for participants so they can obtain services specified in their action plan.
• Provides outreach in order to engage participants who do not follow through with appointments and case management.
• Conducts visits in the client’s unit to ensure compliance with lease and program rules. Enlist the support of property management as appropriate for wellness checks and work orders.
• Lead/Co-Lead monthly tenant meetings. Provide groups, activities, and services including educational and recreational activities. Activities can be on site or off site.
• Keep and maintain accurate and up to date client files. This includes data in HMIS and client’s physical file.
• Participate in on site and off site trainings and meetings, as needed.

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

• Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, goals and objectives with a willingness to respect, understand and promote the mission, values and goals of the agency.
• Knowledge of state and local rules, regulations and laws pertaining…