Participant Support Specialist
il y a 3 jours
Seattle
Job Description:\n\n PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION. Participant Support Specialist PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION. (PDA) PDA strives to build robust support for non-punitive, community-based solutions to many public safety issues.With neighborhood and public partners and in partnership with community members actively seeking to move past experiences of harm and injury, we design and deliver widely supported initiatives that promote safety, restoration, and racial equity. Who We Are Formed in 1969 as The Defender Association to provide high-quality legal defense for civil rights activists in Seattle, in 2013 we began to concentrate exclusively on alternative public safety models, when King County created an in-house public defense program. PDA remained independent to carry on the work of our Racial Disparity Project, which had helped to design LEAD, the nation’s first pre-booking diversion model for drug-related offenses. In 2021, we adopted a Co-Executive Director structure, recognizing the value of power-sharing, multiple voices, and perspectives at the leadership level. Our multicultural team of lawyers, organizers, project managers, social workers, direct service providers, and administrative staff blends professional and technical skills with lived experience of the systems we’re working to change. CoLEAD Background CoLEAD developed from the LEAD framework to provide intensive case management in non-congregate shelter facilities for people who are at high risk of exposure to the criminal legal system; all participants experience substance use disorder and high barriers to housing and establishing a lawful income source. CoLEAD connects hundreds of participants to primary care, prevents overdoses (no participant has died of an overdose since we launched in Spring 2020), establishes permanent housing plans, and provides legal system coordination under the LEAD model. Position Description: The Participant Support Specialist is a member of a care team responsible for providing outreach, engagement in our temporary lodging sites and intensive case management services to adults. Participant Support Specialist will have low caseloads and will provide companion-based services to ensure people are identified and assessed, supported in navigating the current Covid-19 landscape, including accessing and connecting to all necessary social services (behavioral health treatment, primary care healthcare, basic needs, entitlements, employment opportunities, and any services or appointments that are indicated) in an expedited and efficient manner, ideally before the participant has been in CoLEAD for six months as the program is a 6-12 month benefit period. Some staff members in this classification may make up a dedicated field team, and others may be assigned to work with the field team on an as-needed basis.Participant Support Specialists are involved in all aspects of participant placement/receiving at lodging sites, participant location in the field, intensive and progressive engagement, intensive case management services, overdose prevention and harm reduction-based engagement, creation and implementation of a permanent housing plan for each participant, referral to legal support as needed, reduction of barriers of all sorts, as well as coordination with other providers to assure successful transition of clients to on-going care after CoLEAD tenure, including any further follow up as needed after departure from CoLead lodging. This position also supports on a day-to-day basis participants living in CoLEAD lodging sites, and is responsible to ensure participants are following all CoLEAD Lodging Agreement rules and CoLEAD program rules per policy. This includes supporting participants with room cleaning, room moves, room inspections and overall activities of daily living, reduction of illicit activity that has a community impact, following CoLEAD Temporary Lodging Agreement rules and supporting behavior conducive to living in this communal (though non-congregate) temporary hotel lodging setting. This includes some group programming (in large outside common areas) to support participant community building within the program and promote positive social and community engagement. Participant Support Specialists may be reassigned to staff our AfterCare program. Essential Job Functions: Provide on-site residential support to support participant independent living skills development from a trauma-responsive approach. This includes individualized intensive living skills building with participants with complex needs. Support overall hotel-based lodging daily operations, including coordination with facility operations teams and reporting building/maintenance issues to ensure that the facility remains in good condition, to ensure that the facility remains in good condition, clean, pleasant, warm, affirming, attractive, and calm. When participants indicate concerns with lodging, Senior Participant Support Specialists will support the participant to initiate the grievance process; assist the participant in finding creative solutions; follow up with participants to ensure needs are met. Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with PDA, RHA, ETS REACH, LEAD prosecutorial liaisons, law enforcement, CoLEAD lodging site staff, and other relevant social services and resource organizations to ensure full continuity of care for participants. Provide services consistent with CoLEAD/PDA program policies and procedures. Provide intensive case management from day one of placement, as assigned, working with CoLEAD Director, Clinical Director, Participant Support Services Supervisors, Senior Participant Support Specialists, PDA Medical Director, CoLEAD Aftercare Housing Specialist, CoLEAD Housing Specialist Coordinator, Aftercare Supervisor and other team members. Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service training; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for participants on caseload. Ensure five meaningful case management appointments per week are completed for every participant assigned to your caseload. Also meet participant outcome metrics as set by PDA and the CoLEAD Model of Care Conduct intake evaluations and assess behavioral/physical health/economic survival needs in order to develop support and participant-centered goal planning with the greatest participant participation possible. Advocate for participants' access to community resources and services, ensuring that participants' needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care. CoLEAD Model of Care Legal Coordination and Support: Work with participants to reduce public safety impact within the community. Support staff on Harm Reduction based client centered care with the goal of participant problematic behavior change with the goal of reducing public safety impact within the community. Coordinate with PDA staff and partners as appropriate so changes are understood and felt to the benefit of the participant. Mentor Participant Support Specialists in their use of harm reduction based client centered care. Appear in court to support participants when needed, and share information with prosecutor liaisons according to LEAD program protocols. Basic Needs: Providing and/or coordinating the following: access to food, clothing, shelter, physical/behavioral healthcare, housing stabilization, harm reduction services and supplies, financial assistance, legal system coordination and legal advocacy, and public benefit benefits Safety and Wellbeing: Support participants who are experiencing mental health disabilities and substance use disorder to maintain their room in the temporary lodging situations, including room inspections and supporting independent living skills and sustaining lodging; overdose prevention measures as needed, and awareness of overdose risk and identification of overdose. Overdose Prevention: Provide a variety of care coordination activities focused on linkages to care to enhance participant stabilization, including, in all cases, a realistic permanent housing plan. Housing Readiness: Prepare participants for housing readiness by collecting current identification documents needed for housing such as: Social Security cards, state/tribal/shelter/other identification cards, income verification and other documents required to apply for housing. Housing Case Management: Support participants with identifying goals for housing within the first month of placement. Allowing for flexibility in evolving housing goals as the participant gains stability in lodging and support services. Collaborate with the Housing Specialist Coordinator to assess the participants identified housing goals through a housing assessment, identify housing readiness and housing pathways available for the participant. Community & Support: Advocate for participants' access to community resources and services, ensuring that participants' needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care. Data Management Utilize electronic case management system for case notes, documentation and ensuring accurate and objective documentation of services in electronic files for participants. Respond to feedback and requests from Quality Assurance Manager in a timely manner. Ability to do basic computer work in Google Suite (including appropriate and timely use of gmail, calendar, google drive), Zoom, Excel, Word, and other related programs to support the work of CoLEAD. Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain timely and complete participant records; comply with all applicable laws. Comply with applicable program data collection, as needed. Comply with operational duties such as but not limited to turning in receipts timely and completing required paperwork. Other duties as assigned.Professional Development & Advancement Participant Support Specialists can advance to Senior Participant Support Specialists. An employee who has shown a devotion to working with participants along with an increasing ability to work independently providing creative solutions can be considered for Senior Support Specialist. Other considerations for advancement include but not limited to: increased caseload; meeting participant objectives and problem solving difficult situations with creative solutions aimed at participant success; an advanced ability to anticipate and plan for future barriers and opportunities for participants and the program. Employee’s supervisor will work with the Participant Support Specialist to create a professional development plan to identify goals to address areas of needed growth. Promotion to Senior Support Specialist is not guaranteed. Any decision to promote will be based on a review of employee’s job performance and devotion to PDA’s mission. Participant Support Specialists will not be promoted based solely on years of experience.Occasionally, CoLEAD has other leadership positions available, and we carefully consider opportunities to promote exceptional line-level staff to these positions. There may also be advancement opportunities elsewhere at PDA. PDA often promotes from within the agency, and we are dedicated to supporting the professional development of line staff members. Essential Job Qualifications: (Any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience)Education: Formal and informal education, clinical background and lived experience, are all assets for this positionExperience: Interest or experience in working with participants who have difficulty engaging with traditional programs and participants with criminal legal system involvement Minimum of 2-3 years of case management experience Knowledge and Skills: Ability to implement harm reduction techniques within a participant centered framework, e.g. motivational interviewing, trauma informed care and low-barrier assistance Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds. Ability to work effectively with participants displaying a wide range of behaviors. Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for participants. Dedication to a philosophy of crime and disorder reduction through intensive application of Housing First, and harm reduction-based practices and advocacyPreferred Qualifications: Lived experience with criminal legal systems, including jails, law enforcement and courts Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP)/Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT) Three years of experience in work related to social work or outreach programs Academic training in the social service field and in the area of substance use disorder and mental health treatment Experience providing services from a harm reduction perspective to individuals experiencing behavioral health challengesLocation The PDA Office is in Seattle, WA. Benefits include: 401k match of up to 4% of salary, beginning after six months of employment Annual, 2% of salary, profit sharing contribution to 401k, provided in most years Generous medical and dental benefits for employees and family members Flexible Spending Agreement for both medical and dependent care needs 15 days vacation per year, increasing annually up to 20 days vacation per year, after 5 years 12 personal/sick days annually; Monthly $50 employer cell phone contribution if required by position This is a Fair Labor Standards Act exempt, at-will position; continuation in the position depends on both performance and funding. Equal Opportunity Employer PDA is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. PDA actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork, and productivity. PDA is committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board, and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual identity, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. People of color, those directly impacted by the criminal justice system, people who identify as queer, trans, lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact hr@ WeArePDA.org. How to ApplySubmit your cover letter and resume. Please Note: Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls, please.