Benefits Navigator Case Manager - STAR Center

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Days Off: Friday, Saturday

Shift: Day (9:00am – 5:30pm)

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

About the STAR Center:

DESC's STAR (Stability Through Access and Resources) Center is a time-limited, 24/7, behavioral health-focused non-congregate shelter located at 619 3rd Avenue and Cherry St in Seattle. The program works with unsheltered adults facing significant untreated and undertreated challenges related to mental health and substance use disorders, prioritizing the most vulnerable individuals in our community. The center will serve as an entry point for individuals with significant behavioral health disabilities to access a comprehensive range of services.

All services are provided through a Harm Reduction and Housing First lens. Services are strength-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed. Interventions focus on housing, medication for opioid use disorders, and other substance use issues, outpatient behavioral health services, and various social services. On-site staff will help guests navigate access to long-term housing and healthcare services, which will result in healthier outcomes for STAR Center guests and our city.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Benefits Navigator focuses on assisting STAR Center guests to acquire, navigate, and renew public benefits to meet their medical, financial, nutritional, transportational, and other relevant needs. Common program applications that the Benefits Navigator will work with clients on include Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Program (ABD), Social Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability (SSDI), Apple Health Medicaid, Medicare, and ORCA Lift. A strong applicant will be familiar with these resources, as well as other local housing, employment, and community resources relevant to STAR Center clients.

This position is part of a multi-disciplinary 24/7 team of professionals that works with behavioral health and other providers to meet the unique needs and circumstances of homeless and unstably housed individuals staying at the STAR. Collaboration is critical to the success of this role.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with STAR Center clients to acquire and renew public benefits. This includes (but is not limited to) ABD, SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, and ORCA Lift.
• Work with STAR Center clients to acquire documents necessary for obtaining housing and benefits (such as personal identification, social security card, birth certificate, etc).
• Support clients in scheduling and attending appointments related to benefits or benefit acquisition. This includes providing transportation or attending appointments with them as needed.
• Assist clients in navigating or troubleshooting benefits-related issues, such as contacting an agency, updating personal information, or connecting them with specialists for more in-depth support.
• Coordinate, communicate, and collaborate with other DESC programs, external community providers, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity of client care and successful transition of clients to long-term providers.
• Complete housing assessments with clients and assist with CEA housing nominations.
• Collaborate with Case Managers in the planning, creation, and implementation of detailed client-centered, goal-oriented, strength-based disposition plans focused on benefits and housing acquisition.
• Collaborate with intensive case management services and provide case management coverage when needed to ensure continuity of care and access to housing, physical and behavioral health care, financial assistance and vocational training or employment.
• Utilize motivational interviewing and other strength-based strategies to encourage client participation in services.
• Identify barriers to guest program participation and work with STAR staff and other DESC providers to mitigate barriers to client participation.
• Maintain timely service notes, client files, and other documentation in accordance with DESC’s documentation standards.
• Participate in crisis intervention and verbal de-escalation to maintain a safe, secure environment as needed.
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, and other events related to effective collaboration and service delivery.
• Provide on-site support to other DESC colleagues as needed, including milieu coverage and other duties related to maintaining a clean, safe, and orderly environment.
• Work with Outreach Case Managers to outreach potential clients in the community, including encampments and public areas, as assigned.
• Promote and maintain positive relationships with the surrounding neighborhood.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the effective operation of the STAR Center.

Requirements:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Washington Department of Health minimum credential as an Agency Affiliated Counselor or ability to obtain the credential upon hire.
• Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency-related business. A current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required.
• Experience working with adults experiencing chronic homelessness, severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or co-occurring conditions.
• An understanding of Housing First and Harm Reduction principles.
• A commitment to providing low-barrier, strength-based, person-centered, trauma-informed care.
• Willingness to be flexible and work cooperatively with coworkers to accomplish all responsibilities of the team.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills that meet DESC’s documentation and reporting standards.
• Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain client privacy with a high degree of professionalism.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff and clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients
• Ability to work flexible hours as required by program and staffing needs including evenings, weekends, and/or holidays as needed.
• Ability to pass Washington State Criminal background check.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Relevant Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science, OR
2. A combination of 1 year* of relevant paid work experience and demonstration of the ability to perform required job duties

*Internal applicants in direct, client-facing positions can substitute 6 months of experience in lieu of 1 year

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• SAMHSA SOAR Benefits training certificate
• Demonstrated professional experience assisting people with accessing benefits.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Knowledge of harm reduction strategies, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation skills.

Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.