Decision Support Project Specialist jobs in Philadelphia, PA

Job Summary

The Program Support Specialist acts as a member of the floating shared services team which provides mobile support throughout Project HOME's residential programs. They will provide coordinated coverage across Project HOME's 24-hour staffed Permanent and Entry-Level sites, including our respite and safe-haven programs. The position requires staff to quickly engage with staff and residents, understand site operations, and provided necessary programmatic support. This could include assisting existing staff with daily programming, completing new resident intake/discharge, and responding to on-site incidents. The Program Support Specialist must maintain a flexible schedule and be able to work independently. This staff person must engage individuals experiencing homelessness in an authentic and compassionate manner. Schedule: Full-Time -40 Hours (Evening position approximately 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist residents with coordination of supports and resources:
• Provide initial support, orientation, and engagement to new residents to assist them in transitioning from homelessness and establish a sense of trust and well-being.
• Understand, anticipate, and respond to the issues, expectations, and special needs that each resident may have, becoming familiar with resident's needs, desires, and the barriers they may be facing.
• Work with residents to design and implement recovery plans that encompass short and long-term goals, action plans and means for evaluation and revision.
• Work with team, residents and peer supports to assess and address crises.
• Assist residents with coordination of supports including referrals, linkage meetings and advocacy in the following areas: recovery, housing, benefits, employment/income, education, medical, behavioral health, wellness, budgeting, natural supports, and accessing supportive services. Assist residents with medical and psychiatric referrals. 
• Plan and facilitate groups, house meetings and recreational activities for residents to support community building and develop recovery capital. Assist residents on-site with increasing their self-esteem and sense of self-efficacy, including ADLS, life skills curriculum, and involvement in site-based and Project HOME resources and programming. 
• Assist residents with maintaining lease/program obligations as well as completing applications for other housing, including transfers, vouchers, permanent supportive housing applications, and gather required documentation for the application. Collaborate with resident and other supports to create appropriate discharge or moving plans.

• Maintain resident records as required in a timely and thorough manner, including case notes, goal plans, and assessments as required. Utilize electronic records system for all documentation.
• Attend meetings and training, including supervision, staff meetings, community meetings, team meetings.
• Work closely with Property Management, Street Outreach and other departments within Project HOME as needed and all other tasks as assigned.
• Serves as point person on site in the absence of the Program Manager/Assistant Program Manager. 

SITE SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS APPLICABLE

• Assist and support meal preparation with residents - at sites with kitchens or meal services.
• Medication monitoring and support the organization of the medication room - at sites with medication-monitoring duties.

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job. Management may, at its sole discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Project HOME offers a competitive compensation package which includes health, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at minimum cost to our employees, company funded life and disability insurances, paid parental leave, spending accounts, and 401Kplan with 100% matching contributions up to 5% of compensation. Additionally, we offer generous PTO accruals which includes paid sabbatical leave.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Experience

• High School Diploma or GED and 4 years' experience working with the population; or an Associate's Degree and 2 years' experience; or Bachelor's Degree
• Experience working with recovering persons (homelessness, mental illness, drug/alcohol, dually diagnosed persons).
• Availability for evening and weekend hours.
• Valid Driver's License.

Preferred Experience

• Bi-lingual

Core Skills

• Good verbal and written communication, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Strong computer skills and ability to learn computerized case management system. 

Physical requirements

• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.

Project HOME provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Project HOME prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.