Employment & Housing Senior Case Manager

Heartland Alliance – Chicago, IL

Employment and Housing Senior Case Manager – Neon Street Program

This position provides a broad range of case management services within guidelines established by the Organization. Neon Street is a transitional housing program for youth ages 18-21 who meet the criteria for being homeless. The program admits both male and female participants, participants who identify as LGBT, current or former substance users, youth with criminal backgrounds including those on probation, youth with mental heath issues, youth with no/ limited resources, and youth with no or a poor rental history. The participants served may have medical issues, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, anger management issues, legal issues, LGBTQA as well as other issues to be identified through assessment. The primary focus of the program is to assist participants in obtaining/ maintaining employment and moving into their own apartment. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.

Employment & Housing Senior Case Manager

This position is governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement for which the employee, as a condition of employment, shall be required to remit dues or fees to the Union for administration of the contract.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides case management services to homeless youth who are participants in the program.
• Completes all intake paperwork. Ensures that client meets HUD guidelines for services. Submits intake paperwork within contractual time frames. HUD and IDHS.
• Orients Participant to the program. Explains rules, rights and regulations.
• Completes discharge paperwork in time frames established by program.
• Makes referrals to outside service providers as necessary to meet service plan goals
• Thoroughly assesses participant’s strengths and deficits in the areas of vocational, educational and independent living functioning. Also assesses for health, mental health, substance abuse and legal issues. Gathers background information on family of origin and support system. Documents assessment by completing the Comprehensive Assessment document within required time frame. The Comprehensive Assessment document needs to be written in business/ proper English.
• Collaborates with client to develop a holistic services plan. Independently develops appropriate and well thought out goals and objectives for the following areas: Vocation, Education, Health/ Sexual Health, Mental Health/ Substance Use, Housing/ Finance, Independent Living Skills, Legal Needs, Family/ Support Systems as well as any other area that was identified either in the assessment or by the client. Completes service plan within required time frame and updates service plan every three months.
• Using the service plan to guide provision of service, meets with client weekly to assist them in meeting their service plan goals. This includes, but is not limited to, making appropriate referrals to outside providers, motivating clients to work on meeting goals, teaching independent living skills, independently verifying clients progress.
• Independently determines a weekly schedule including all weekly meetings with participants and ensures that all meetings take place.
• Uses Ansell Casey assessment to create individualized life skills teaching agenda.
• Teaches youth independent livings skills to increase Ansell Casey scores.
• Assists youth in obtaining employment, including resume creation, conducting mock interviews, teaching effective job search strategies, motivating participants to obtain employment, etc.
• Completes file reviews and other quality assurance activities as required.
• Completes and submits case notes on a weekly basis ensuring case notes document billable services.
• Enters participant information into Chicago HMIS, IDHS eCornerstone and all other relevant databases in timeframes required.
• Identifies public assistance programs that participant may qualify for and assists participant in applying for programs or services, such as LINK, SSI, SSDI, Section 8 etc.
• Assists participants in completing high school diploma/ GED through assessment of needs, linkages to schools or programs. Motivates participants to obtain high school diploma/ GED.
• Assists participants in college/ trade school registration/ application for financial aid through assessment of needs, linkages to schools or programs. Motivates participants to obtain college/ trade school degree.
• Assists participants in identifying and obtaining permanent housing.
• Supervises program participants individually or in groups.
• Conducts group sessions on identified topics.
• Helps program participant to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing understanding of self, personal problems, and program participant’s part in creating them.
• Completes accurately and in a timely manner all necessary forms, case records and statistical reports. Submits such documentation to the supervisor/manager within the designated time lines.
• Ensures that all files and documentation is in compliance with funder requirements through filing material in an accurate and timely manner, auditing files, and archiving files, among other duties.
• Participates and contributes actively in regular supervisory and team/unit meeting, in house training sessions, conferences, seminars and independent study.
• Adheres to professional standards as outlined by governmental bodies, NASW (and/or other appropriate professional associations), private funding sources, Organization plans/policies and program guidelines. Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and/or in-house and external staff training to ensure that he/she understands and continues to adhere to such standards. Initiates requests for assistance from Supervisor to address new issues or complex concepts affecting adherence to professional standards.
• Transportation of program participants and/or Organizational property may be required.
• In this residential program, household maintenance responsibilities may be assigned.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications: 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, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelors Degree and minimum of two years experience in residential care and case work, human services or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience. MSW preferred. Experience working with homeless youth, with both males and females, may be required.
• Language Skills: Must be able to communicate fully in standard business/professional English, including writing professional documents. Ability to read and interpret documents such operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Other Qualifications: A valid driver’s license may be required. Must be able to use Microsoft Word and Excel. Must be able to learn and become proficient in HMIS, eCornerstone and all other required databases.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual must demonstrate the following competencies.

• Job Development Knowledge – Demonstrated knowledge of resume preparation, specifically for individuals with little or no work history. Proficiency in varying job search techniques.
• Initiative and Time Management – Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, manage time and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Listening/Problem Solving – Ability to give full attention to what others are saying, asking appropriate questions to clarify as necessary.
• Life Skills Knowledge – Demonstrated ability to assess for and teach life skills to enable participants to live independently in the community.
• Rapid Engagement – Ability to rapidly engage participants in service planning and achieving goal outcomes.

Work Environment: Each YRS program site operates on a 24/7 basis, 365 days per year. To meet both the needs of our participants and contractual obligations, employees of YRS need to be willing to be flexible in regards to scheduling and in performing any duty that may be required due to the needs of the program.

• Three primary shifts are scheduled each day including weekends and holidays. Employees may be required to work any one of these shifts.
• All employees share responsibility for the cleaning and basic maintenance of our facilities.
• The employee may be required to remain on Organization premises during breaks and/or meal periods and may be required to stay on Organization premises until their replacement arrives.

• May be required to visit clients in their homes or in institutions.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

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