Outreach Case Manager

Outreach Case Manager at DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center)

Job Type: Full-time

Shift: Day (10:00am - 6:30pm)

Days Off:
Thursday, Friday

Insurance Benefits:
Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability

Other Benefits:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation:
This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC
DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.
As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

Job Definition
The STAR Center is a 24-hour 7 days a week shelter with a multi-disciplinary team that provides assertive engagement, intensive services and temporary shelter to people experiencing homelessness. The Outreach Case Manager provides outreach, engagement, and ongoing services to clients outside of the STAR Center. This position supports the case management team and the Neighborhood Coordinator in assisting individuals with obtaining temporary shelter through assertive engagement with those experiencing homelessness in the immediate vicinity of the shelter.

This position also supports clients within the shelter as needed. This position requires a high degree of coordination and collaboration with other DESC programs as well as outside agencies to ensure successful transition of ongoing care for shelter guests.

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team of a neighborhood coordinator, case managers, service coordinators, clinical staff, and peer support to provide a variety of services focused on accessing emergency services and stabilizing clients inside and outside the center.
• Be a welcoming presence and actively patrol both the interior and exterior of the STAR Center, assertively and positively engaging clients and individuals congregating outside the building to build relationships, discouraging loitering, and providing resources (as appropriate).
• Provide outreach and assertive engagement services to individuals experiencing homelessness or crisis in the immediate vicinity of the STAR Center.
• Assist in training clinic staff on de-escalation skills and leading crisis response drills.
• Intervene in crises and emergencies (medical, behavioral health, interpersonal) inside and in the immediate vicinity outside the building. Participate in both verbal and hands-on de-escalation in emergent situations and initiate action as required, including communicating with emergency response systems and facilitation a higher level of care.
• Help ensure cleanliness of lobby area and other common spaces within the building.
• Become certified in enhanced behavioral de-escalation training and maintain annual re-certification.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with DESC staff and other service and resource organizations to ensure full continuity of care for clients.
• Participate in educating staff and guests regarding community resources for homeless clients with mental illness/co-occurring disorders.
• Provide survival resources, hygiene products, and harm reduction supplies to meet basic needs and build rapport, as appropriate.
• Maintain a clean and healthy environment inside and in the immediate vicinity outside the building.
• Support clients with achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions in the shelter. This can include but is not limited to attending care conferences…