ACT Team Housing Specialist

$10,000 Sign on Bonus

Job Title: ACT Team Housing Specialist

Department: Behavioral Services

Reports to: Director of ACT Team Revision Date: 7/10/2020

Grade Level: 24 Status: Non-Exempt

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Director and their designee, in accordance with the objectives, policies and procedures of the ACT Team department and established professional clinical treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, and community support services designed to promote recovery by improving psychiatric symptoms, preventing relapse, teaching skills, providing direct assistance and securing community resources necessary for successful functioning in work, school, home and social relationships. Effectively interacts with patients, families and healthcare members while maintaining standards of professionalism.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides therapy to those with chronic, persistent mental illness in the community on an outreach basis.
• Participates in an on-call rotation, team must provide continuous coverage 24 hours a day, every day, including weekends and holidays.
• Assist clients in maintaining existing housing or finding affordable housing.
• Teach empowerment/self-help. Encourage and assist consumers to participate in self-advocacy.
• Teaches problem solving, coping and relationship skills to clients and their natural supports.
• Educates clients and their natural supports about mental illness.
• Teaches client to identify relapse triggers and develop a relapse plan.
• Service Planning: Develop with clients a comprehensive, individualized service plan that is goal oriented. Identify strengths and weaknesses, needs and goals. Identify risk factors regarding harm to self and/or others.
• Provide crisis counseling when necessary, including weekends and holidays through the rotating on call process
• Be the lead staff member when dealing with finding safe and affordable housing for ACT clients; coordinate services with housing programs available in the county; train ACT staff in the area of housing; develop housing options for clients, i.e. respite, rooming houses, apartments, crisis housing, etc.
• Helps Clients schedule routine and acute medical and dental care appointments. Accompany clients to appointments if necessary.
• May have access to patient medications to assist in their filling of medication bar.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with local landlords, property managers and other potential sources of housing and understands proper referral and/or application process.
• Identifies appropriate rental housing in the community for clients served.
• Researches and tracks potential rental options and availability within the county.
• Provides assistance with housing placements and assignments.
• Assists with housing and tenant related issues/emergencies as needed.
• Educates community members about the housing needs of ACT Team clients.
• Identify and educate clients on the housing services that are available.
• Assists clients with supportive housing and HUD applications when appropriate.
• Educates and monitors client’s behaviors to sustain long term housing. Coordinates transferring of client belongings during moves and identifies their individual needs when necessary.
• Housing specialist must be cross trained to other specialty roles in the ACT team to best support clients.
• Prepare and process routine correspondence, process incoming and outgoing mail, and fax information for social workers and others as assigned.
• Schedule patient appointments to meet the needs of customers; maintain unit calendar of appointments; request and obtain past medical records for patients upon admission.
• Assist with discharge planning by making appointments with other agencies and Out-Treatment.
• Complete Release of Information by obtaining data from discharge releases and other agencies.
• Maintain case management list, complete reports as assigned, prepare information packets and discharge packets, and complete special ordering through purchasing as needed.
• Complete OH and COBRA transfer forms as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Skills/Abilities (Unit Specific)

• Ability to use computer programs, including order entry per policy as assigned.
• Ability to complete documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
• Ability to accurately identify information to properly file, collate, or report data.
• Excellent organizational skills for maintaining charts and files in a systematic order.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, counseling or related field.
• Minimum two years of professional experience with mental health services required.
• Valid Driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable vehicle required.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Position requires the ability to drive frequently and the use of a personal vehicle.
• Requires the ability to sit and type at a computer frequently.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk frequently.
• Ability to climb flights of stairs, ability to lift a minimum of 40 pounds (or more) using proper body mechanics for personal and patient/client safety.
• Requires cross-training to other specialty roles in the ACT team to best support clients.
• Actively participate in-service programs, Quality Assurance and CQI; attend all mandatory classes, meetings and committees as required; complete department-specific requirements/competencies.
• Complies with DOH requirements for annual health assessments and required immunizations.
  
  

Pay Range: $23.00-$26.00/hr

Employee salary is based on commensurate experience and other qualifications.

The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system that was established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to continue to be one of Oswego County’s largest employers. More than 1,200 employees spread throughout its 17 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 164-bed community hospital with a brand new Medical Surgical Unit, a 32-bed state-of-the-art psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community. The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services; and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, Oswego Health includes the Oswego Health captive professional corporation, Physician Care P.C., providing physician services in orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, audiology, general surgery, bariatrics, and primary care.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Oswego Health is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment-related matters, without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), creed, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, age, marital or familial status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, citizenship status, ancestry, arrest/conviction record, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, reproductive health decision making, relationship or association with a member of a protected category, or any other legally protected characteristic. Decisions affecting your position including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, training, tuition assistance, leaves of absence, disciplinary action, layoff/recall, and terminations will be made in accordance with this policy.