EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Staff needed for day and overnight positions at shelter for women experiencing homelessness in Luzerne County; all positions prefer knowledge of and experience with issues pertaining to women and homelessness, individual and family counseling, mental health and substance abuse issues and coordinating and collaborating with area agencies serving the same population.

OUTREACH WORKER

REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s Degree or minimum 2 year degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology or related field. Valid PA Driver’s License.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Outreach Worker is responsible for assisting homeless and chronically homeless persons unable or unwilling to access the social service system. The Outreach Worker will arrange and coordinate the provision of emergency, twenty-four hour emergency sheltering services at Ruth’s Place Women’s Shelter and coordinate ongoing case management activities with the Case Management Staff at the Commission on Economic Opportunity. This job will include working nontraditional (i.e., night and weekend) hours at the shelter.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
a.        Outreach efforts to the homeless and chronically homeless population who are in need of emergency services but may be unable or unwilling to access the services system.
b.        Arrange for provision of necessary sheltering services.
c.        Provide coordination with sheltering services for intake, shelter rules and procedures, and security.
d.        Complete all necessary shelter paperwork including but not limited to intake form, MetSYS intake, nightly shelter guest sign in log, timesheet and all necessary documentation for program reporting requirements.
e.        Meet the scheduling needs of the shelter as assigned by the Shelter Coordinator, including overnight and weekend duties.
f.        Protect homeless individual’s confidentiality, but sharing needed information within the emergency service network when it will benefit the individual.
g.        Track homeless individuals who are “hidden” or “isolated” from community social service system.
h.        Engage homeless and chronically homeless individuals to develop a relationship that will lead to acceptance of case management and housing services.
i.        Provide advocacy when needed to ensure satisfactory delivery of requested shelter services.
j.        Review shelter intakes and shelter logs for accuracy and completeness of information.
k.        Identify homeless and chronically homeless individuals who may be eligible for enrollment in one of the HUD funded Permanent Supportive Housing Programs for persons with disabilities.
l.        Initiate and maintain ongoing referral process with CEO Case Management Program via email or text messaging to arrange daily case management appointments for participants to ensure appropriateness of supportive services.
m.        Work in conjunction with the identified members of a community team to refer and provide ongoing supportive services as homeless persons identify, move to and retain permanent housing including participation in Case Management Team Meetings on a minimum of at least once per week.
n.        Meet regularly with the Shelter Coordinator and participate in ongoing training.
o.        Maintain progress notes including outcome reporting for case files and MetSYS.
p.        Timely completion and submission of timesheet
q.        Other duties as assigned.

Send resume and 3 references to:

Personnel Committee

Ruth’s Place

P.O. Box 254

Wilkes Barre, PA 18703

or e-mail to personnel@ruthsplace.com 

Ruth’s Place is an equal opportunity employer.