Supportive Services Specialist

Job Description

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SPECIALIST

PATTERSON POINT (GOLETA)

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

OVERVIEW: The Supportive Specialist plays a crucial role in meeting the diverse needs of residents living in HASBARCO properties, performing a wide range of supportive services, office, and administrative tasks. This position is key to assessing resident needs, providing comprehensive case management, and assisting residents in achieving established goals for lease compliance, wellness, recovery, and socio-economic independence. By offering practical strategies aimed at reducing potentially harmful consequences for residents engaging in risky behaviors, this role contributes significantly to stabilizing housing and promoting individualized goals for enrichment and stability.

Responsibilities include a high volume of public and telephone contact, making resource information readily available, linking residents to essential services, and ensuring personal choices support stabilized housing. The specialist is also responsible for enhancing community life through essential services and support, targeting a diverse demographic including seniors, adults, families, and youth. Duties extend to report preparation, record keeping, and contributing to the development, implementation, and administration of resident services programs. This position demands a compassionate and committed individual, dedicated to cultivating a positive living environment and facilitating the development of skills and attitudes essential for successful aging in place or socio-economic independence.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Receives immediate direction and supervision from the Supportive Services Manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS – Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

HASBARCO is considered a public district, and all employees are designated as disaster service workers (DSWs). Signing the California Loyalty Oath and fulfilling its obligations is a condition of employment.

Community Engagement and Support:

Fostering Community: Organize and host events and workshops to build a strong community spirit among residents. This includes regular communication to keep everyone informed and involved.

Liaison with Resources: Act as a bridge between residents and external services, such as healthcare, education, and financial assistance, ensuring residents have access to necessary support.

Program Delivery: Implement and oversee educational, wellness, and recreational programs at assigned locations, ensuring they meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.

Outreach Initiatives: Engage in direct outreach (door-to-door, phone, email) to inform residents about available services, increasing their participation and awareness.

Housing Stability and Support Services:

Help tenants understand and follow tenancy rules to increase housing stability and minimize any impact on other residents, the property, and neighborhood.

Provides basic life skills information including housekeeping, menu planning and food preparation, consumer education, leisure-time activities, transportation, and information for obtaining vital documents (Social Security card, birth certificate, etc.).

Promotes sobriety by utilizing a Harm Reduction approach to drug and alcohol treatment to help the participant with making decisions that lessen the negative impact of their drug and alcohol use on their housing stability, health, and general well-being.

Provides tenant education and housing stability services or access to services by referral or through mainstream resources.

Work with property staff, families, and community agencies to identify and address resident problems before they reach crisis proportions.

Participant Case Management and Assessment:

Case Management:

Conduct interviews and counseling sessions with residents, understanding their background, skills, and needs.

Provide individualized case management to program participants on a regular and consistent basis as determined by the individual’s needs and goals.

Utilize motivational interviewing, counseling, skill building, and strengthening of protective factors to achieve desired client outcomes.

Personalized Service Plans: Develop tailored Individual Training and Service Plans for residents, focusing on addressing their specific needs and improving community welfare.

Needs Assessment: Regularly evaluate the needs of residents, assessing the impact and effectiveness of provided services to ensure they are meeting their goals.

Crisis Intervention:

Respond to and manage crises, providing necessary interventions and follow-ups in various scenarios, including situations like child or adult abuse.

Work with property staff, families, and community agencies to identify and address resident problems before they reach crisis proportions.

Program Implementation and Monitoring:

Program Oversight: Ensure that all assigned programs are implemented effectively and align with the organization’s standards and objectives.

Service Effectiveness Monitoring: Continuously evaluate the success and impact of services offered to residents to ensure they meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.

Collaboration with Local Agencies: Work closely with local community agencies, ensuring a coordinated approach to service provision. This includes direct outreach (door-to-door, phone, email) to inform residents about available services, increasing their participation and awareness.

Educational and Employment Advancement: Provide access to employment and educational advancement opportunities, such as GED preparation and attainment, post-secondary training, and vocational education.

Comprehensive Support Services: Provide access to full-service wrap-around services, including representative payee if needed, to support the overall wellbeing and stability of residents.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Language Proficiency:

Excellent reading, writing, and verbal communication skills.

Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred.

Specialized Skills:

Teach independent living skills to individuals with severe mental illness; engage in strategies to address mental illness and support self-directed recovery.

Understand current social and economic programs, the recovery process, and signs and symptoms of mental illness.

Community Engagement and Support:

Anticipate needs and develop treatment/care plan; accompany clients to assist with accessing community resources.

Desire to work with high needs and untapped populations, showing empathy and understanding of their unique challenges.

Organizational Skills:

Demonstrate good organizational skills and attention to detail; maintain accurate records; sort and file documents.

Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to work independently and efficiently.

Communication and Relationship Building:

Communicate effectively orally and in writing; maintain impartiality, objectivity, and confidentiality.

Demonstrated customer service orientation with strong relationship-building skills.

Technology Proficiency:

Use computer systems and programs effectively. Experience with client management systems, preferably Family Metrics and Yardi.

Effective use of technology tools such as Outlook, Teams, Zoom, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Adaptability and Flexibility:

Perform duties independently; thrive in a high-pressure environment; adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.

Demonstrate flexibility, patience, and tolerance; excel in public relations and deliver excellent customer service.

Professionalism:

Establish and maintain professional working relationships; effectively interact with persons from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Promote positive working relationships; committed to high integrity and ensuring confidentiality of client data.

Program Interpretation and Implementation:

Clearly interpret and convey details of resident services programs, ensuring understanding among staff, residents, and partners.

Interpret and explain programs; adhere to and execute established policies and procedures.

Efficiency and Task Management:

Organize work for timely completion; prioritize tasks while maintaining meticulous records.

Clerical and data entry proficiency, including preparing correspondence and utilizing various administrative software.

Background Check: Satisfactorily pass required background check.

Experience and Training Guidelines - Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three years of experience in social services, community outreach, or a similar role. Prior case management experience is highly desirable.

Training: Associate degree or higher in psychology, education, or a related field.

License or Certificate: Must possess a valid California Driver’s License and driving record acceptable to HA insurance carrier required. Successfully complete Essentials for Providing Services Training and Certification Series within the first 90 days of hire and Trauma Informed Approaches for Housing and Supportive Services Providers Training and Certification within the first 6 months of hire.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Schedule Flexibility: Must be available to work from 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, and every other Friday from 7:30 AM - 4:15 PM.

Extended Hours Requirement: Availability for one to four evenings until 7 PM each month is required, with occasional weekend work. On these days, hours will shift to 9:30 AM – 7 PM.

Travel Capability: Ability to travel between properties as needed.

Environmental Conditions: This job operates in a professional office environment and work in the field. This role routinely requires commuting between properties outside of standard business hours, uses standard office equipment such as computers, laptops, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Conditions: Stationary position 70%. Moves about inside the office to access file cabinets and office machinery. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery. Operates a motor vehicle. Frequently communicates with others. Moderate to light lifting and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

100% employer paid life policy worth 1-1/2 times the employee’s annual salary;

Company paid retirement contribution of 12.5% of salary;

Employer match up to 5% of salary in the voluntary 457 tax-deferred or ROTH retirement plan;

Company paid Long Term Disability coverage for the employee;

Voluntary medical, dental, and vision group insurance;

Flexible Spending Account employer match up to the IRS limit.

Step Salary Advancement: Salary advancement upon completing the provisional period and at one-year intervals thereafter.

Vacation Leave: Accrued at 12-24 working days per year based on years of service.

Sick Leave: Accrued at 12 working days per year.

Holidays: Thirteen paid holidays per year.

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara makes reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental disabilities of otherwise qualified applicants or employees with handicaps, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the Authority's programs.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Most staff positions work a 9/80 schedule during regular business hours between 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM.

Full-time