Wellness Access Specialist - Veterans Services

Wellness Access Specialist
- Veterans Services

Mt Scott MSO
- Portland, OR 97206

Salary Range $29.00 Hourly Position Type Full Time Category Wellness Services

Position:
Wellness Access Specialist Supervisor:
Veteran Support Services Manager

Location:

Mount Scott Office (7916 SE Foster Rd Portland, OR)

Hours:

Monday – Friday 9am-5pm; some weekend and evening work required Wage: $29.00 hourly – Eligible for Language Differential Classification:
Non-Exempt, Union Represented, Full-Time, Benefit Eligible GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES This position provides services to assist participants to engage and effectively link to medical, mental health and substance use disorder providers. Working as part of a team of housing case managers and other supportive services to provide support to veteran participants and their households to successfully gain and maintain stable housing.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide individual services to participants to support and facilitate connections to community support and resources.
• Meet with participants in the community which could include shelters, public locations, provider offices, or the participant's residence.
• Provide groups to engage, educate, and support participants to access physical health, mental health, and substance use disorder services where needed.
• Develop comprehensive knowledge of community physical/mental health resources and substance use disorder services and maintain effective relationships with these providers to assure service availability for participants. Maintain knowledge of available resources for low-income/homeless population and veteran specific resources.
• Coordinate with case managers and other staff members to ensure services are participant-focused, effective, and efficient.
• Maintain thorough documentation of participant services including case notes, logs and data collection systems such as Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Provide transportation or assistance with accessing transportation for participants to meet their health and wellness needs.
• Coordinate with the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) team to assist participants in obtaining the necessary connections to appropriate providers and medical records for the disability benefits application process.
• Attend meetings as requested and other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Acquire First Aid/CPR/AED certification within 30 days of hire and be retested biannually thereafter throughout employment.
• Complete Bloodborne Pathogens and Narcan Training within 30 days of hire and be retested annually thereafter throughout employment.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills by conveying necessary information accurately, listening effectively, and asking questions when clarification is needed.
• Demonstrate reliability by being present at work as scheduled, arriving and leaving on time and taking breaks in expected time frames.
• Interact effectively with people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Hearing and vision adequate for interaction with participants, interaction with staff and interaction with the general public.
• Hearing adequate for telephone work. Vision adequate for close work.
• Hand and finger dexterity adequate to operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to walk, bend, stand, sit, reach, stoop, pull, squat, kneel, climb stairs and ladders
• Sitting at a desk completing paperwork and working on a computer for lengthy periods.
• Ability to perform CPR and other emergency life-saving care with the assistance of teammates until emergency responders arrive.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Mobility to allow responsive traveling to client residences located around the metro area.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates Degree in a related field OR one year of experience in social services required AND the ability to demonstrate understanding of the issues surrounding homelessness, chemical dependency, domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Demonstrated knowledge of chemical dependency and mental health issues and appropriate treatment resources. Candidates possessing CADC or similar certification will receive priority consideration.
• Demonstrated ability to engage people experiencing homelessness in a trauma informed manner.
• Applicants who are themselves veterans will receive priority consideration. Bi-lingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a broker with other agencies in developing and providing services to clients; including ability to advocate on behalf of clients for services with other agencies.
• Up-to-date familiarity of community resources and services available to assist the homeless.
• Demonstrated knowledge of services available to assist the homeless.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team in the delivery of services to clients.
• Computer literacy. Demonstrated ability to use word processing, database,…