Outreach Specialist - Emergency Room Enhancement

Compensation: $24.54/hr; $25.81/hr (QMHP)

The Outreach Specialist is responsible for providing assertive outreach and engaging individuals with severe and persistent physical and mental illnesses as well as substance use. The Outreach Specialist will work with an inter-organizational team to assist clients in gaining access to needed psychiatric, medical, alcohol and other drug, social, residential, financial, and other services that meet the clients’ needs. The Outreach Specialist networks with other community providers and delivers an enhanced safety net for the person served. The Outreach Specialist works to meet the needs of a client to improve health and/or well-being. This is accomplished by using outreach/engagement techniques, motivational interviewing, and an assertive case management approach. Services include housing acquisition, intensive case management, psychiatric rehabilitation, crisis intervention, resource acquisition (vocational, educational, rental and utility assistance, treatment for substance use, medication), service coordination and development of a natural support system. This position requires transporting individuals in personal automobile.
The Outreach Specialist will also have responsibilities with screening of Adapt of Missouri referrals, marketing, and other duties related to intake.

This is a full-time, benefit eligible position working Monday-Friday.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS – JOB SPECIFIC:

• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of outreach and engagement techniques while researching, accessing, and learning information about targeted individuals
• Resolves crises and/or de-escalating clients
• Utilizes good problem-solving skills and available tools to locate and engage clients in services
• Assures that outreach/engagement activities are reported accurately, comprehensively, and in a timely manner as outlined by policy
• Demonstrates understanding of trauma informed care, stages of change, and motivational interviewing.
• Assesses needs of individuals who experience a variety of co-occurring disorders
• Works collaboratively and respectfully with internal agency providers to make the best decision for service provision for the client; works collaboratively and respectfully with external interdisciplinary providers to build healthy partnerships and quality care
• Maintains positive work relationships, demonstrates cooperation with peers and supervisors, and contributes to a team environment
• Completes ongoing assessments of functional ability and mental status
• Maintains and initiates clear, concise, timely, and accurate communication with all referral sources involved in the service provision
• Completes follow up calls and documentation per program guidelines, maintaining contact with clients for increase success
• Attends weekly/monthly team meetings to discuss cases
• Safeguards Protected Health Information and maintains confidentiality
• Maintains a working knowledge of databases to assist with outreach and necessary data entry (e.g. CIMOR,
ETO)
• Engages families and/or support systems in the outreach process as necessary
• Provides individual assistance to clients in accessing a variety of public services, including financial and medical assistance, housing, including assistance on an emergency basis and directly helping to meet needs for food, shelter, and clothing
• Assists the client to access and utilize a variety of community agencies and resources to provide ongoing social, educational, vocational and recreational supports and activities
• Encourages and promotes recovery efforts, client independence/self-care, client responsibility and self-determination
• Develops and supports wellness and recovery goals in collaboration with the individual being served
• Performs job duties with an efficient use of time
• Responds to referral calls in a timely manner to screen for eligibility into the Adapt program and provide appropriate community referrals when needed
• Manages a wait list for client services when needed
• Works to solve waiting list problems and barriers to treatment
• Distributes information and making presentations of CMHC program; marketing materials to potential referral sources
• May perform other duties as assigned

Job Requirements: