Career Opportunities

Case Manager - Bilingual - Malden

Position Summary
The full-time bi-lingual in Spanish Case Manager, (M-F 8-4pm with some 11am-7pm shifts) reporting directly to the Program Manager, will provide comprehensive, professional case management services to program participants based in multi-unit sites in Revere and scattered site units located in Everett, Revere, Malden and Chelsea in order to:
• encourage, promote and develop residents’ positive life skills;
• meet their emergency and long-term needs; and
• foster an atmosphere of support and cooperation among staff, volunteers, families and allied organizations.

• encourage, promote and develop residents’ positive life skills;
• meet their emergency and long-term needs; and
• foster an atmosphere of support and cooperation among staff, volunteers, families and allied organizations

Skills Needed

• Ability to handle fast-paced environment
• Ability to multi-task
• Desire for self-reflection
• Ability to communicate directly and openly with residents, colleagues and supervisors
• Ability to maintain a positive work environment
• Ability to set limits in a positive, gentle yet firm manner
• Ability to remain calm and professional
• Ability to work independently and as a team player
• Desire to empower rather than "take care of"
• Ability to see strengths in situations that have complex issues
• Willingness to enforce "required" services

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake assessment with prospective program participants.
• Conduct monthly house meetings with residents.
• Assess the needs of the family, and develop a service plan that meets the need of each individual incorporating both voluntary and mandated services.
• Meet with families weekly to provide support and to discuss progress, goals and resources. This will require about 50% - 75% local travel.
• Participate in basic shelter operations - answer phones, doors, etc.
• Secure needed services for program participants from community agencies.
• Report any breach of policy or procedure immediately to your supervisor or the Shelter Director.
• Communicate program rules to residents and enforce rules as necessary.
• Participate in intra-agency meetings designed to address resident/case management issues or continuity of services.
• Fill in for shifts as needed or as scheduled. Participate in on-call coverage on a rotating basis.
• Meet with supervisor weekly to review caseload, identify issues and concerns, and receive feedback and support.
• Work with staff and residents to ensure that units and each facility is maintained in a clean, safe and attractive manner.
• Responsible for unit turnovers as directed by supervisor (i.e. scheduling maintenance, conducting and scheduling inspection)
• Track entrances and exits.
• Complete chore chart and ensure chores are completed.
• Follow all agency and mandated guidelines related to security, safety and confidentiality.
• Maintain and update case files on a regular basis.
• Complete Service Point Assessment and send to Administrative Assistant in a timely manner.
• Read and log pertinent information regarding residents and fax log to other shelters each morning as needed.
• Submit accurate timesheets on a timely basis.

Position Requirements

• A BA in social services or other related field or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 1 year case management experience
• Valid drivers license
• Ability to follow shelter guidelines on confidentiality, safety, handling emergencies, etc.
• Ability to deal with drug/alcohol, mental health, and/or low-income families in crises
• Bilingual in Spanish a necessity
• Ability to work with a diverse team
• Ability to enforce rules in a compassionate manner
• Ability to plan, organize and think independently; detail oriented
• Positive attitude with a "can do" approach
• Have enthusiasm that is contagious
• Prefers a daily schedule that is unpredictable
• Flexible in a dynamic work environment
• Strong written and communication skills
• Proficiency in using Word processing and Spreadsheet software
• Have familiarity with neighborhoods/community resources in the greater Boston area

Salary and Benefits
Competitive with benefits.

To apply for this position, please specify “Case Manager Bi-Lingual” and submit a cover letter and resume to: Jim Goebelbecker, Director of Administration at careers1@housingfamilies.org or fax to 781-322-9292. No phone calls please!

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Clinical Case Manager - Shelter

Position Summary
The full-time Clinical Case Manager reporting directly to the Director of Housing & Stabilization Services will support up to 15 families moving from shelter into permanent or transitional housing. The Clinical Case Manager’s goal is to help the most complex families stabilize in permanent housing by addressing their unique needs and issues. In collaboration with the Director of Housing and Stabilization, the Clinical Case Manager will also provide support, consultation, and training on difficult client issues to other members of the Housing and Stabilization team as well as the Shelter team on occasion.

Responsibilities

• Support a case load of up to 15 families who face issues such as mental illness, substance abuse, physical disability, history of trauma and/or domestic violence, poverty, and homelessness who are transitioning from shelter into their own homes. Tasks will include providing support and referrals to these families as well as ensuring regular contact with other service providers.
  
• Assist the Director of Housing and Stabilization Services in identifying and assessing families whose level of need requires the support of a Clinical Case Manager as opposed to our traditional Stabilization Services.
  
• Provide clinical insight, support, and training to other members of the Housing Families team in crisis situations or as needed.
  
• Coordinate with Housing Search Staff to help families with substance abuse and mental and/or physical health issues address all moving issues prior to client’s move into housing. Moving issues may include managing the difficulties inherent in transition to permanent housing, changing service providers, planning for the physical move, obtaining furniture and financial resources and planning for other household needs.
  
• Engage each family in creating a service plan that reflects and prioritizes the goals of the family and that addresses each family member’s needs. The service plan will be reviewed with each client on a quarterly basis to evaluate progress towards their goals and changes in the plan will be made as needed.
  
• Contact client as needed by phone, home visit, or office visit. Home visits must be conducted weekly.
  
• Maintain quarterly (or more frequent if necessary) contact with landlords to address any significant barriers to maintaining housing.
  
• Work as part of a team that supports a variety of services for the family; Participate in weekly team meetings, monthly staff meetings, and other meetings as required.
  
• Organize and maintain up-to-date client files including progress notes and current documentation for each family member.
  
• Collect and report on statistical information as requested by Director of Housing and Stabilization.
  
• Provide direct housing search services as needed.
  
• Work closely with Housing Families Inc’s Children and Family Program, referring children in target families for after-school counseling, therapy groups, and tutoring services and helping parents and HFI staff to advocate for children’s learning needs in school.
  
• Create and facilitate workshops for families on relevant topics including budgeting, parenting, stress management, tenant rights, etc.
  
• Assist with limited after hours on-call rotation as assigned.

Position Requirements

• A Masters degree in social work, psychology, counseling or other related field or a Bachelors degree with equivalent work experience
• Experience and knowledge of substance abuse, mental health, homelessness, poverty, trauma, and dual-diagnosis issue
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus
• Ability to advocate on behalf of clients
• Ability to work with a diverse team and client population
• Ability to remain calm under pressure or when faced with crisis situations
• Ability to plan, organize and think independently; detail oriented
• Positive attitude with a "can do" approach
• Flexible in a dynamic work environment
• Open to feedback and learning
• Strong written and communication skills
• Proficiency in using Word processing and Spreadsheet software

Salary and Benefits
$15.38-16.35 per hour ($32K-$34K/yr) plus competitive benefits
To apply for this position, specify "Clinical Case Manager" when submitting a cover letter and resume to: Jim Goebelbecker, Director of Administration at careers1@housingfamilies.org or fax to 781-322-9292. No phone calls please!

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Direct Care, Relief and Overnight Staff

Position Summary
Provide essential support services to program participants based in multi-unit site shelters that promote clients’ emergency and long-term needs, and foster an atmosphere of support and cooperation among staff, volunteers, families, and allied organizations.

Responsibilities

• Greet residents in a friendly, professional manner.
• Accept and organize donations, and fax In-Kind donation form to the Administrative office.
• Communicate shelter rules to clients and enforce rules as necessary.
• Respond to questions and concerns from residents in a professional manner and refer complaints to the appropriate staff.
• Report any breach of policy or procedure immediately to your supervisor or the Shelter Director.
• Check to ensure clients have completed their chores, if not completed as scheduled, fill in as necessary and report to case managers.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings.
• Follow established procedures related to scheduling and staffing issues.
• Meet weekly with Supervisor and address any job related issues and receive feedback and support.
• Perform other related duties as needed or as directed.
• Facilities/Maintenance- and Security-based Responsibilities:
• Follow established procedures related to visitors.
• Maintain all public areas (offices, stairs, hallways, etc.) in a clean orderly manner.
• Maintain the sidewalk and other walk ways, shoveling snow and salting as necessary.
• Address emergency situations (electrical outages, storms, violence) as necessary.
• Follow all agency and mandated guidelines related to security, safety and confidentiality.
• Maintain overall office area and notify supervisor if jobs are not completed.
• Sort and distribute mail and faxes.
• Review all log entries and new memos posted on a daily basis.
• Log all relevant information in the appropriate format in daily log.
• Submit accurate timesheets on a timely basis.
• Answer phone and door and ensure accurate messages are delivered to the proper staff.
• Greet and assist volunteers with maintaining an orderly environment.

Position Requirements

• Work experience: Demonstrated timely and consistent work history
• Education/training: Minimum High School diploma
• Skills: Effective oral and written communication. Ability to follow shelter guidelines on confidentiality, safety, handling emergencies, etc.

To apply for this position, please specify "Direct Care" and submit a cover letter and resume to: Dianne McAuliffe, Program Manager at dmcauliffe@housingfamilies.org or fax to 781.322.5262. No phone calls please!

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Educational Specialist/Advocate 32 hours/week (September to June)

Position Summary
The Educational Specialist/Advocate will bring knowledge of special education methods, best practices and teaching to the Children’s Program at HFI. S/he will also support parents and HFI staff with school advocacy including ensuring that children are getting their needs met through Individual Education Plans (IEP’s). This person will train staff and volunteers on tutoring methods and school systems, such as IEPs. In addition, the Educational Specialist/Advocate will work with the children in the after school program. The after school program provides tutoring to each child 1-3 times per week for 50 minutes each session.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, warm, positive atmosphere for children who are facing the struggles of homelessness and may have low self-esteem or problems at school.
• Evaluate each child for learning and behavior needs initially by tutoring or observing a tutoring session.
• Tutor school age children and preschoolers in the after school program with more intensive learning and/or behavioral needs.
• Create tutoring plan for all children to help address individual children’s learning styles and academic needs. These plans will be conveyed to the tutors by the
• Volunteer Coordinator and through written notes in each child’s tutoring folder.
• Train staff and volunteers as needed.
• Implement assessment tools to ascertain program impact on participants as well as overall agency utilization of services related to education, emotional support, and health and wellness.
• Contact teachers and parents of all children and coordinate with schools to ensure that children’s academic needs are being met including special education services when necessary.
  Attend school meetings, including IEPs.
• Lead the beginning check-in with the children each hour of the afternoon program.
• Provide back up for the Volunteer and Tutoring Coordinator as needed.

Success Factors
We believe that in order to be successful in this position, it is crucial that the candidate be able to honestly assess his/her strengths and determine that they include being:

• Sincere with a desire to make learning engaging, fun and rewarding for the children; a love for the children and supporting their potential is crucial.
• Comfortable doing the best work as possible with the children even though the tutor contact is limited to roughly one to two 50 minute tutoring sessions per week with each child.
• Open to learning and willing to ask questions.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
• Interested in a fast-paced environment where the design of the tutoring may need to quickly change to meet the needs of the children and the agency.
• Ability to stay calm in crisis.
• Resilient, that is, set-backs do not discourage you to the point of not being able to provide high quality service.
• Creative approach with the children, with advocacy on behalf of the children, and program design.
• Energetic, having plenty of energy to support this successful Children’s Program
• A person who wants to enhance a current program by matching new ideas and this new position into a pre-existing operating program.
• Extremely flexible.

Qualifications

Applicants should preferably have a BA minimum, teaching experience (special education preferred), or other experience in a school setting, using techniques and tools which stimulate an interest in learning.  Applicants who are bi-lingual and have experience working with families from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

Hours

The person is expected to work 32 hours per week 10 months a year; 32 hours includes 14 hours of tutoring, 18 hours of tutoring preparation, agency reporting and acting as school liaison. The Educational Specialist/Advocate will tutor during the after school program which runs Mondays through Thursday 3-6pm.  In addition there may be two hours of preschool tutoring to be determined.  The remaining hours will be scheduled with the Director of Children & Family Services. 

Compensation

To apply for this position, please specify “Educational Specialist/Advocate” and submit a cover letter and resume to:
Barbara Schwartz, Director of Children & Family Services at

barbaras@housingfamilies.org

or fax to 781-322-9292

No phone calls please!

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