Behavioral Health Assistant Coordinator

City of Boston Residency Required

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

DUTIES:

• Outreaches to and builds rapport with clients to engage them in immediate service needs.
• Provides emotional and practical support and case management to help clients with acute behavioral health and/or physical health challenges/disabilities succeed in their housing efforts.
• Helps identified clients navigate and stay up to date on alternative housing placements, including but not limited to domestic violence shelters, treatment facilities, safe havens, sober homes and nursing/rest homes.
• With social worker, completes intakes and assessments on clients to determine needs and eligibility for services.
• Documents clients bed stays at institutions such as psychiatric, substance use, correctional, and medical facilities to ensure clients' length of homelessness is accurately recorded and clients can access all appropriate resources.
• Assists clients in accessing basis needs such as income, disability benefits, SNAP, and MassHealth.
• Assists clients in obtaining all required documents and identification for housing placements
• Refers individuals to detox, and substance abuse treatment programs as needed. As directed, facilitates groups and workshops.
• Refers clients to external behavioral health services, housing services, detox, and substance use treatment programs, and health services for medical and mental health care as appropriate.
• Coordinates and delivers services with Social Workers and Housing staff, which include interdisciplinary case conferencing, following up on service delivery progress, and reinforcing key and consistent messages to clients.
• Facilitates workshops and support groups
• Connects clients to supportive services in the community of their housing placements and provides follow up contact with Boston area social service agencies
• Connect clients to specialized behavioral healthcare services/resources, including those for co-occurring substance abuse, especially when clients are no longer working with a social worker.

Department-wide responsibilities

• Engages all clients using a Housing First approach, delivers services using principles of trauma-informed care and harm-reduction, and promotes racial equity.
• Coordinates referrals and connects clients to key services to help them find and succeed in housing, including but not limited to external housing navigation services, benefits and income maximization, community-based resources, and stabilization services.
• Transports clients to critical appointments to find and/or maintain housing.
• Maintains up to date and accurate service plans, client files, and client records/documents, entering timely and accurate data into BPHC's and the City's HMIS databases.
• Actively coordinates with other departments to provide integrated services to guests.
• Participates in regular team meetings and trainings.
• Other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum one (1) year human services experience. College level course work equivalent to an Associate's degree with two (2) years human services experience or High School diploma/GED and three (3) years human services experience may be substituted for above requirement.
• Valid driver's license and good driving record.
• Previous experience working with homeless, diverse ethnic, racial or low-income populations with an understanding of mental health, substance abuse and recovery issues.
• Knowledge of Boston area housing resources and social service agencies.
• Experience in transitional housing or community residential programs helpful. Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Computer literacy preferred.

Additional Information

• City of Boston Residency Required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• This position requires direct client/patient contact and as a result of such direct contact, certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• This is a grant funded position.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• This position requires the Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.

Shift

Tuesday to Saturday 10am-6pm

Pay Range

$901.68 - $1,013.80 / week

Job Grade

1