The Service Coordinator is primarily responsible for evaluating and accepting participants into a community based rapid re-housing program, welcoming and orienting new residents to the program, providing crisis intervention and safety planning, developing an individualized intervention strategy, support system, and connection to programs, and providing follow up with program participants.  In addition, this position is responsible for developing relationships with area landlords and facilitating communication among program partners involved in the project: Safe Homes Strong Communities.  Offsite and home visits are part of the job.  This position is also responsible for providing rotating coverage on the 24 hour hotline.  Participants in the Safe Homes Strong Communities program are all victims of Intimate Partner Violence and have experienced complex traumatic events that shape how they interact with the people around them.  The Service Coordinator must have a firm understanding of trauma, the effects of trauma, engaging traumatized people, and must be comfortable working in a Voluntary Services program model.

Primary Responsibilities:

·         Provide six to nine months of comprehensive and culturally sensitive coordination of services for a caseload of approximately 20-25 participants partially or fully enrolled in the Safe Homes rapid re-housing project.  Participants are referred from the HRM 24 hour hotline, other HRM departments, and self referral through walk -in. 

·         Work with participants to make introductory contact within 24 hours of receiving case assignments, provide a thorough assessment of needs through a modified bio-psycho-social assessment, create a comprehensive and culturally appropriate service plan with timeline for completion, coordinate with internal and external providers of services, and provide three months of follow up with participants after closing of case file. 

·         Assess safety needs, make recommendations for action to improve or maintain safety.

·         Gather and synthesize information on participant from agency sources and from significant recent and current community support systems.

·         Work with participants to clearly identify support people in the participant’s life and how they might contribute to the participant achieving goals.

·         Guide and support participants to increase self-sufficiency skills, safety, education on domestic violence, and problem solving.  Educate immigrant participants on American processes and systems including teaching self-advocacy skills and advocating on behalf of participants when necessary to achieve participant goals.

·         Works collaboratively with community partners to provide comprehensive and unduplicated services.  Coordinates with program partners to ensure accurate and timely communication and documentation of work.

·         Maintain paper and electronic case files in keeping with program standards. 

·         Assist Program Manager and Director in compiling necessary statistical data and narrative for grant reports and applications.

·         Assess participant’s mental health and substance abuse needs, make recommendations for further treatment and coordinate a plan for addressing those needs that respects the cultural beliefs of participants.

·         Coordinate participant’s use of agency and community services to provide comprehensive and unduplicated services that maximize participant success, including organizing team meetings as necessary.

·         Arrange for interpretation services as necessary.

·         Visit participants in home environments that have been determined to be safe, including temporary hotel placement.

·         Participate in Service Coordination Team meetings and make recommendations concerning individual participant’s length of stay in the program and eligibility for financial assistance, including recommendations on distribution of stipends.

·         Assist participants in planning for exit from program, including connecting participants with other agency services and outside local resources.

·         Provide admissions screening for participants seeking to enter HRM Residential programs and make recommendations for admissions decisions, including placement assistance for Risk One victims who may require emergency shelter.

·         Educate residents on community and agency resources and help make connections to said resources.  Shares resources with Service Coordination team.

·         Provide one on one counseling for participants in crisis and to help participants resolve conflict.

·         Distribute material goods in accordance with program procedure such as clothing, bus tokens, and personal hygiene supplies.

·         Provide relief and back-up coverage in emergency and urgent situations if required.

·         Answer 24 hour hotline as part of rotating team of staffing.

·         Other Duties as assigned.

Experience/ Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services field or three years experience providing counseling, case management, or victim centered advocacy. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of local human services programs/ agencies and housing resources.
• Excellent oral and written interpersonal skills with a strong ability to relate to a diverse range of individuals including victims, children, donors, business leaders, and human service providers.
• Demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and timelines.
• Clean driving record, current state driver’s license, and reliable personal transportation.
•  Ability to understand intimate partner violence and how it affects the client population.
• Must pass Criminal Background Check.