Advocate – Outreach Harm Reduction Specialist

Job Description

Job Title: Advocate – Outreach Harm Reduction Specialist Dept: Harm Reduction Status: Non-Exempt

SUMMARY

The Advocate – Outreach Harm Reduction Specialist is charged with increasing community awareness and access to HIV/AIDS and HCV testing and care through harm reduction education, HIV/AIDS prevention or disease management, and linkage to primary care. Through street outreach and community events, the Advocate will engage homeless adults to determine their HIV/AIDS risk and/or status and need for additional services and/or housing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide targeted case management; coordinate and implement primary health care, mental health and/or recovery support services with from 12-24 members diagnosed with or at risk of HIV/AIDS

2. Coordinate HIV/HCV testing events every other month

3. Conduct weekly HIV/AIDS groups focusing on education, harm reduction, prevention, and disease management

4. Provide street outreach to homeless individuals with the objective of engaging them, as appropriate, in HIV/AIDS testing, support, harm reduction behaviors, and linkage to primary care

5. Develop effective, trusting relationship with members utilizing motivational interviewing to encourage engagement, with a focus on facilitating independence and procuring needed services and housing

6. Respond to community referrals from sources including, but not limited to, 211, BID, and LAPD

7. Assist in the recruitment, screening, assessment, and enrollment of members into the HOPWA program, including orientation to program policies, community resources, and goals

8. Collaborate with each member to develop an individual service plan and review and update the plan quarterly and upon completion of goals

9. Maintain a current, thorough knowledge of community resources and utilize them to provide comprehensive, wrap-around services to members

10. Work cooperatively and cohesively with other members of the HOPWA and emergency and transitional housing teams, including participation in staff meetings and trainings

11. Maintain up-to-date, accurate, and complete data, progress notes, and files that include all information required according to agency and regulatory service standards

12. Ensure that all member paperwork and data collection is complete and up to date in the agency database

13. Produce monthly and quarterly reports (e.g., HOPWA, HMIS)

14. Complete all documentation of services evidencing a minimum of 65% of work hours in direct member service provision

QUALIFICATIONS

1. High School diploma or GED; Associates or Bachelors degree preferred

2. Minimum of four years’ experience working with homeless or formerly homeless individuals, preferably those living with mental illness, substance addictions, or HIV/AIDS

3. Current, valid California Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record

4. Able to work with minimum supervision

5. Detail oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, and computer skills

6. Able to obtain and maintain CPR/1st Aid certification

7. Minimum 30 WPM typing speed preferred

WORK ENVIRONMENT

1. Combination of field and office environment

2. Regularly required to walk or drive to different local sites throughout the day

3. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend and occasionally lift or carry up to 35 pounds

4. May necessitate working in busy and loud environments

5. May be exposed to elements like cold, heat, dust, noise and odor

6. May need to bend, stoop, twist , and sit throughout the day

RESPONSIBILITIES COMMON TO ALL AGENCY EMPLOYEES

1. Maintain a safe work environment and confidentiality at all times

2. Be proactive, creative, and flexible in determining, evaluating, researching, and resolving issues

3. Organize and prioritize multiple activities to meet all external and internal deadlines

4. Maintain professional demeanor that reflects positively on the agency

5. Demonstrate respect and courtesy toward others

6. Able to thrive in a work environment emphasizing teamwork and collaboration

7. Respond in a timely manner in all aspects of communication

8. Work with minimum supervision

9. Perform other duties as assigned

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Employee Incumbent Name_____________________________________

Employee Signature__________________________________________

Date__________________________________________________

Chief Executive Officer Name ______________________________________

Chief Executive Officer Signature______________________________

Date______________________________________________

Nurse (Skid Row)
Lamp Community ends homelessness of Los Angeles' most vulnerable individuals, primarily adults with mental illness, through a continuum of services and housing, enabling them to reach their highest level of self-sufficiency and community integration.
The Nurse will take a leadership role in medication and health issues at the Lodge and Frank Rice Access Center and will ensure the quality and adequacy of nursing services provided to members at these sites.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Document all services provided in clinically-appropriate progress notes Provide medication management to individuals including but not limited to medication administration, treatment and monitoring of side effects, monitoring and supportive services to increase compliance, etc.; inform psychiatrist, case manager, and mental health provider, as appropriate, of medication concerns/issues

Coordinate Lamp psychiatric services and appointments by working closely with psychiatrist and providing follow-up consultation to members

Train and provide indirect oversight of medication staff leads at Lamp sites

Prepare and ensure proper completion of the Nursing/Psychiatry Initial Intake documentation, including: Initial Medication Support Service form, Outpatient Medication Review form, Completion of psychiatrist MED goal on CCCP with doctor signature, Completion of nursing goal with signature (if applicable), Change of diagnosis (if applicable), Case management notes, Lab requisition requests and other associated documents, as requested,

Maintain medication logs and Lodge and FRAC medication storage in compliance with safety standards and industry standards of care

Provide medication consultation to staff and members as requested

Develop and conduct Health/Wellness and Medication Management groups

Develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records Coordinate medication support services with staff and provide direct linkage and/or support to advocates to ensure that members attend medical appointments for psychiatric medication monitoring, blood work, and obtaining psychiatric medications when prescribed

Maintain confidentiality of member files per HIPAA and all applicable guidelines

QUALIFICATIONS
Proof of graduation from an approved nursing program with an associate’s degree or equivalent
California license as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse
Minimum two years’ psychiatric nursing experience working with clients experiencing chronic homelessness and substance abuse
Able to manage multiple tasks, projects, and priorities effectively while working independently
Detail oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, and computer skills
Able to demonstrate acceptance toward members and a high degree of cultural sensitivity to their needs
Able to develop patient care programs within the clinical policies and program objectives and relating them to the funding requirements
Current, valid California Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record
Able to learn quickly and work effectively with a wide range of constituencies and with minimal supervision
Experience completing medication logs to accepted industry standards
Excellent customer service skills
Minimum 30 WPM typing speed preferred
Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred

Lamp is located in the Skid Row area of downtown and offers a competitive salary and benefits. Lamp is an Equal Opportunity Employer and herein reiterates its policy of Equal Opportunity for all qualified individuals without distinction or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran status, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

To Apply:
Please send salary history, cover letter, and resume to:
Lamp Community, Human Resources
526 San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Please indicate "NURSE" in the subject line.
Web: www.lampcommunity.org 
Fax: 213.542.6549
email: jobs@lampcommunity.org

Advocate Outreach Case Manager (Skid Row)

Lamp Community ends homelessness of Los Angeles' most vulnerable individuals, primarily adults with mental illness, through a continuum of services and housing, enabling them to reach their highest level of self-sufficiency and community integration.

The Outreach Advocate will work with unsheltered homeless, mentally ill members, including those with co-occurring disorders, to obtain services needed to overcome the cycle of homelessness and the impact of barriers to housing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Provide street outreach to homeless with the objective of engaging individuals to determine their eligibility for street-to-permanent housing utilizing the vulnerability index 2. Build a relationship with client utilizing motivational interviewing to encourage engagement with needed services and housing 3. Respond to community referrals from including but not limited to: 211, BID and LAPD, and DMH 4. Work with a partner at all times during street outreach and spend the majority of the outreach shift working various hours as needed to engage the most vulnerable homeless 5. Assist in the screening, assessment, and enrollment of members, including orientation to program policies, community resources, and goals 6. For enrolled members, develop and review an individual service plan for each member to be reviewed and updated quarterly and upon completion 7. Assist management and other team members with ongoing program evaluation and with fairly and effectively enforcing policies and rules 8. Maintain a current, thorough knowledge of community resources and utilize these to provide comprehensive, wrap-around services to members 9. Work hands on in involving members in daily activities and scheduled appointments, budgeting, facilitating socialization, health maintenance, sense of community, and progress in mental health and recovery 10. Work cooperatively and cohesively in a multi-disciplinary team, including participation in daily staff meetings and trainings 11. Work in partnership with multiple service and housing providers toward the goal of placing 65% of individuals identified and engaged in services in permanent housing

  QUALIFICATIONS 1. High School diploma or GED and some college coursework; Bachelors degree preferred 2. Minimum of four years experience working with homeless individuals, preferably those living with mental illness and or substance addictions, or an equivalent combination of education and experience 3. Current, valid California Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record 4. Able to work with minimum supervision 5. Detail oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, and computer skills 6. Able to obtain and maintain CPR/1st Aid certification 7. Minimum 30 WPM typing speed preferred

Lamp is located in the Skid Row area of downtown and offers a competitive salary and benefits. Lamp is an Equal Opportunity Employer and herein reiterates its policy of Equal Opportunity for all qualified individuals without distinction or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran status, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

To Apply:
Please send salary history, cover letter, and resume to:
Lamp Community, Human Resources
526 San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Please indicate "OUTREACH" in the subject line.
Web:  www.lampcommunity.org 
Fax: 213.403.6609
email: jobs@lampcommunity.org

Benefits Specialist (Skid Row) Lamp Community ends homelessness of Los Angeles' most vulnerable individuals, primarily adults with mental illness, through a continuum of services and housing, enabling them to reach their highest level of self-sufficiency and community integration.

The Benefits Specialist assists Lamp Community members in obtaining and maintaining all benefits to which they are entitled. This position works with the department supervisor to maintain their case load, ensure that each member’s benefits are up to date, and educate and assist the community in referring people to the program or applying for benefits directly.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Initiate and maximize any and all benefits to which each individual member is entitled

2. Monitor current members’ benefits for eligibility, and continuously assist members in maintaining benefits

3. Work with members to resolve benefits issues

4. Assist staff in identifying and coordinating the implementation of entitlement resources for individual members

5. Assist with all required documents, protocols, and procedures

6. Maintain all required applications and forms for benefit processing

7. Maintain individual members’ case files and benefits documents

8. Conduct internal and external group presentations

9. Perform outreach services

10. Conduct internal and external training sessions on Benefit services and MMA

QUALIFICATIONS 1. High School diploma or GED and some college coursework; Bachelors degree preferred 2. Extensive knowledge of SSI and Medi-Care applications 3. Must be computer literate with MS Word and database management skills 4. Current, valid California Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record 5. Detail oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, and follow-through skills 6. Experience working with homeless individuals, preferably those struggling with mental illness and or substance addictions preferred 7. Minimum 30 WPM typing speed preferred

Lamp is located in the Skid Row area of downtown and offers a competitive salary and benefits. Lamp is an Equal Opportunity Employer and herein reiterates its policy of Equal Opportunity for all qualified individuals without distinction or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran status, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

To Apply
Please send salary history, cover letter, and resume to:
Lamp Community, Human Resources
526 San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Please indicate "BENEFITS SPECIALIST" in the subject line.
Web:  www.lampcommunity.org 
Fax: 213.542.6549
email: jobs@lampcommunity.org