The Village - Service Coordinator - Volunteers of America Northern California & Northern Nevada, Inc.

WHO WE ARE: Established locally in 1911, Volunteers of America Northern California & Northern Nevada (VOA NCNN) is one of the region's largest providers of social services. Our professional staff operates more than 40 locally managed and delivered programs. Services include food and shelter, counseling, independent living and parenting skills, substance-abuse treatment and rehabilitation, and job training. Currently, VOA NCNN provides shelter or housing to over 3,500 men, women, and children every night.

OUR MISSION: To change individual lives, instill hope, increase self-worth and facilitate independence, through quality housing, employment, and related supportive services.

PROGRAM AND LOCATION: VOA is recruiting a full-time  Service Coordinator at The Village on Sage Street in Reno, Nevada. The Village is primarily designed to serve working people earning minimum wage, or those with other income sources such as social security or disability, as a low-income housing option. Full-time employees (working 30 or more hours a week) are eligible for a benefits package that includes paid holidays, vacation, health, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance coverage.

The Service Coordinator is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a case management plan including assessments, coordination of community services, follow-up and monitoring for individuals residing in Volunteers of America affordable housing programs. Work is performed in a cost effective and service oriented manner as it relates to established organizational standards.

OBJECTIVES/ACTIVITIES:

A. Responsible for performing daily work requirements to achieve established objectives of the program.

1. Provide general case management (including application appointment) and referral services to all lodgers needing such assistance.
2. Routinely assess service needs in response to changing circumstances, i.e., working through Individualized Service Plans with clients to assure their working towards specific goals while providing them with direct service support.
3. Conduct assessments for all lodgers participating in the program on an annual basis or as needed.
4. Provide formal case management (i.e., evaluation of health, psychological and social needs, development of an individually tailored case plan for services and periodic reassessment of lodger’s situation and needs) for a lodger when such service is not available through the general community, if needed.
5. Establish links with agencies and service providers in the community; shop around to determine/develop the “best deals” in individualized, flexible, and creative services for the involved lodger(s).
6. Assemble a directory of community services and providers and for any lodgers.
7. Refer and link the lodgers of the project to service providers in the general community, including, but not limited to, case management, personal assistance, homemaker, home delivered meals, transportation, counseling, occasional visiting nurse, preventive health screening/wellness, and legal advocacy.
8. Monitor the delivery of services to lodgers to ensure they are appropriate, timely and satisfactory.
9. Meet with service providers as needed in a professional manner.
10. Report all suspected abuse situations to the appropriate agency.
11. Provide training to project lodgers in the obligations of tenancy or coordinate such training to ensure their success in becoming a long-term renter as needed.
12. Educate lodgers on service availability, application procedures, client rights, etc. providing advocacy as appropriate.
13. Set up volunteer support programs with service organizations in the community, as needed.
14. Help the lodgers build informal support networks with other lodgers, family and friends.
15. Educate other staff on the management team on issues related to service coordination, as needed.
16. Assist clients in getting on the Reno Housing Authority (RHA) lists for upcoming units and/or housing vouchers upon entering the program.

B. Responsible for additional administrative and clerical duties as assigned.

1. Document contact with lodgers through case notes in a professional and appropriate manner.
2. Enter lodger data into all relevant databases in an appropriate and timely manner (included but not limited to: OneSite, HMIS) within 2 business days of the time of service with a minimum 90% accuracy rate.

3. Create and maintain case management files on each lodger, which will include personal information, educational and job skills, short and long-term plans to become self-sufficient, outcomes of all referrals to outside agencies, and documentation of the lodger’s progress and assistance in removing obstacles to set goals.
4. Complete documentation and reports to comply with contractual agreement and Volunteers of America requirements, including but not limited to lodger demographic statistics, regulatory and funding source requirements, support services provided and referrals accepted, with copies given to the supervisor, quality assurance administrator, and the Community Administrator in an accurate and timely manner.
5. Pursue avenues for additional services through private, local, state, and federal sources.
6. Operate as a liaison for lodgers and the Reno Housing Authority.
7. Reports any lodger issues relevant to the lodger’s program success to the City of Reno representative within 48 working hours.
8. Work in tandem with outreach works and shelter case managers for appropriate lodger placement into the program.
9. Will stay current with all Federal Fair Housing Trainings and Regulations.
10. Provide records and services in compliance with agency policies, regulatory, and funding source requirements.
11. Perform other reasonable related duties as assigned by the Community Administrator.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Gerontology, Psychology, Counseling, Public Health, or Therapeutic Recreation is preferred. At least two years of experience conducting supportive service needs assessments and using such assessments to identify and locate specific services that address individual lodgers needs. Demonstrated working knowledge of services available in the community, with particular knowledge of services that are provided for the population living in the facility. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of trauma informed practices, motivational interviewing and fair housing. Awareness of eligibility for and procedures of federal and state entitlement programs. Awareness of legal liability issues related to providing service coordination. Knowledge of the process of referring individuals to the services that they require, as well as the ability to build relationships with said service providers and provider agencies. Experience building relationships with local service providers, community institutions, and local government agencies demonstrated by extensive ties to the community. Demonstrated ability to advocate, organize, problem-solve, and achieve results for the population being served. Ability to establish trust, listen, and assist lodgers in defining their problems, while identifying possible solutions and resources and helping lodgers decide the best course of action. Ability to seek input from lodgers, research possible service vendors, negotiate special arrangements, evaluate services delivered and adjust, if needed. Demonstrated ability to advocate, organize, problem solve and provide results for residents served. Valid Nevada driver license and ability to meet organization’s insurance carrier guidelines required.

SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED:

Excellent communication, writing, and problem-solving skills
Ability to assist and motivate other people
Organizational skills
Analytical and decision-making ability
Statistical and mathematical skills
Computer skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Lift and move up to 20 pounds
Stand, walk and sit frequently
Climb stairs as needed
Bend and stoop occasionally