Faith Based Coordinator

Job Title:             Faith Based Coordinator
 
Program:             CES Systems
 
Reports To:         Adults Regional Coordinator
 
Valley Oasis Coordinated Entry System (CES) provides comprehensive services designed to address the root cause of poverty and homelessness within SPA 1 of Los Angeles County. Participants are homeless; may have mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse issues, chronic medical/physical disabilities, and exiting institutions.

The Faith Based Coordinator is responsible for supporting and enhancing the connections between the faith community and the Coordinated Entry System (CES) providers, including crisis and permanent housing providers to ensure clients have an opportunity to access and utilize CES housing resources to quickly return to stable and permanent housing. The Faith Based Coordinator will work to provide leadership and support to systems alignment initiatives between faith-based communities and the CES.

Essential Job Functions:
  • With direction and oversight of Supervisor, serve as the primary Faith representative for the Coordinated Entry System in SPA 1 to support the expansion of system partners and facilitate the ongoing utilization of the system
  • Oversees system pathways linking Faith Based Organization (FBO) referrals and services to interim and supportive housing resources
  • Explore and propose solutions to current challenges, barriers, and effective homeless services
  • Participate in building relationships with community partners and stakeholders to increase the availability and accessibility of supportive services and housing opportunities for participants experiencing homelessness
  • Provide strategic coordination between homeless services and the Faith community in order to ensure that participants gain greater access to homeless services and resources
  • Collaborate and partner with CES system or facilitate advocacy within homeless organizations as necessary to ensure most vulnerable are being matched to best-fit housing
  • Lead projects that test and implement new strategies that improve access to the CES and strengthen linkages with the faith-based communities
  • Provide regular written reports on regional coordination and aggregate data on clients being served by CES
  • Ensure timely and accurate submission of required funder reports
  • Regular engagement with other SPA-based Faith Based Coordinators and LAHSA’s Faith Based Coordinator
  • Participate in regional Case Conferencing meetings of service providers who are working with participants being referred to and from CES
  • Creates and maintains an ongoing relationship with executive administration and program staff at faith-based organization (FBOs), and coalitions.
  • Work continuously with community partners and stakeholders to increase the availability and accessibility of supportive services and housing opportunities for participants experiencing homelessness in the region
  • Supports the ongoing training and education of community partners and stakeholders within the CES system; including but not limited to: Accessing CES resources within the system
  • Conduct presentations for Faith Based providers on the Coordinated Entry System
  • Assist with the development and implementation of trainings that develop partner capacity
  • Maintain meeting sign-in sheets, agendas, and meeting notes to create a record of meeting content and attendance of community partners
  • Attend community events and resource fairs
  • Participate in Coordinated Entry System trainings and meetings to ensure accuracy of information distributed to partners
  • Create and maintain a SPA-Wide Referral Network of non-Continuum of Care (COC) funded services
  • Provide overall coordination for Faith activities in their respective regions. This includes coordination with CES for Single Adults, CES for Families, and CES for Youth
  • Identify and incorporate new resources into the SPA’s CES
  • Engage community-based organizations and social service partners in SPA 1 to assist in reaching program and participant goals
  • Support internal and external staff with identifying appropriate interventions to address and resolve housing crisis for participants
  • Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Interim Guidance, system components, best practices in homeless services, and regional resources.
  • Work in collaboration with staff to identify appropriate services for each individual or family's needs, and remove barriers, including placement in permanent housing and long-term housing retention
  • Provide crisis intervention, and appropriate advocacy on participants’ behalf, when needed
  • Facilitate inter-agency outreach and link participants experiencing homelessness to supportive services
  • Facilitate warm hand-offs from one provider to another, when required. This may include transport to providers, an introduction, and joint coordination of services
  • Play an active role in helping to continue and support a culture of best practices in SPA 1
  • Continue professional growth by updating knowledge of the intersection of faith community and homelessness, current legislation,  homeless services policies, and current outreach practices
  • Participate in staff meetings, individual and group supervision, case conferences and training as required
  • Ensure ongoing and consistent team, subcontractor and partner meetings and case conferences to provide program guidance, encourage collaboration, and share best practices
  • Maintain and distribute program resource materials to partner agencies
  • Assist with trainings that develop partner capacity
  • Maintain confidentiality of all participants
  • Document services provided within 24 hours
  • Be open and flexible to assisting other departments as needed
  • Engage effectively and constructively with Supervisor to make program refinements in the best interests of the program
  • Adhere to agency policies and procedures including confidentiality, child/elder abuse reporting, and code of ethics
  • Represent the Agency at various meetings held in the community; be an active participant in the community; act as a link to the community and the Agency
  • Additional tasks, projects and or responsibilities as assigned by Supervisor that are not outlined but which are an important part of the agency’s goals and/or program outcomes
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
  • Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of Harm Reduction, Trauma Informed Care and the dynamics of domestic violence
  • Knowledge of issues facing homeless domestic violence victims (e.g. substance abuse, mental health, sexual assault, human trafficking and immigration)
  • Knowledge of resources to assist homeless and domestic violence individuals throughout Los Angeles County
  • Knowledge of resources including legal, medical, housing, educational and social service agencies and other resources in the community
  • Ability to accurately enter client data and notes in HMIS (Homeless Management Information System)
  • Ability to respond quickly and effectively to individuals who may be ill, using substances, lack of personal care, in crisis situations and/or potentially hostile situations
  • Ability to work with a diverse population and provide culturally competent advocacy
  • Ability to deescalate aggressive/agitated individuals
  • Able to take appropriate steps to deal with emergency situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all participants
  • Must be able to exercise initiative, independent good judgment, flexibility, discretion, and solid decision making
  • Actively promote positive, nurturing interactions between participants
  • Must be able to successfully manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, adjust to changing; circumstances, and demonstrate confidence working with diverse stakeholders
  • Ability to handle common problems without supervisor intervention while knowing when supervisor participation is warranted
  • Work effectively under conditions of limited supervision, high stress and rapidly changing situations and circumstances
  • Promote cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and objective; collaborate with team members, sharing ideas and differences openly; be receptive to new ideas and adapt to change as necessary
  • Considers impact of personal and professional choices. Consistently make decisions in keeping with organizational values and Supervisor’s direction
  • Strict confidentiality must be observed as it relates to client information, agency business, program decisions and all other personal information
  • Excellent organizational skills and the ability to follow through from beginning to end on tasks
  • Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral; must communicate professionally and positively with participants, co-workers, management, community partners, employers, landlords, and other service providers
  • Proficient with office communication equipment and machines (telephone, copier, calculator, fax machine, personal computer, laptop, computer printer and scanner)
  • Proficient in use of laptop/desktop computer, Microsoft Windows and Office software programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google drive
  • Strong time management skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced environment, while exercising sound judgment.
  • Use of a personal vehicle may be required to travel in and around Antelope Valley and/or Los Angeles County and periodically transport participants
  • Maintain professional boundaries and work collaboratively with participants, volunteers and staff
  • Accountability – be on time for scheduled shifts
  • Be able to read and write English
  • Bilingual Preferred but not required
Qualifications & Experience:
  • High School Graduate or equivalent
  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Services preferred
  • Two year experience in social services setting; preferably working as an employee or volunteer in homeless services
  • Experience working within the Faith-Based community, highly preferred
  • Knowledge of the Coordinated Entry System and Programs
  • Experience with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
  • Education may be substituted by years of experience
Agency Requirements:
  • Must have a valid California Driver’s License
  • Reliable Transportation
  • Auto insurance
  • Clean Driving Record
  • Employee will be required to complete a TB Testing, background check, Drug Screen (Employment pending drug screen and background check), 72 hour Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault training and CPR &First Aid certification.
Work Conditions & Physical Demands
The following are work conditions that one may encounter in the course of performing their job duties:
  • May be in contact with individuals in crisis
  • May experience unpleasant sensory demands associated with an individual’s use of alcohol and drugs, and lack of personal care
  • May experience crisis situations and potentially hostile situations, must be ready to respond quickly and effectively.
An employee is required to:
Walk and climb stairs; Handle, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; extend both arms above the head and/or reach below the waist; Communicate ideas and information verbally and written word; Be able to move oneself quickly and easily from place to place; Repeat various motions with hands, wrists, fingers; Climb on stools, steps and/or ladders; Be subject to outside environmental conditions, including but not limited to: Rain, heat, wind.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. If accommodation(s) are required, employee must inform Human Resources by the first week of employment. If an accommodation is not required at the time of employment, but is later required, you must inform Human Resources at the time it is needed.

Benefits:
Health Employee Assistance Plan Paid Sick
Dental AFLAC Paid Vacation
Vision Cafeteria 125 Plan Personal Days
Acupuncture/Chiropractic Retirement Plan  
Life Insurance 14 Observed Holidays  
 
Schedule:
Monday – Friday 8am-5pm (hours may vary and may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends, holidays and/or on call status)

Salary Range:
$23.00 - $25.00 per hour

An Equal Opportunity Employer: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation
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