Intake Specialist SPA 2 Access Center TAY

About Us:

VOALA

Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities.  VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.

ACCESS CENTER SPA 1 

Access Centers are drop-in locations where persons experiencing a housing crisis can gain initial access to or continuing contact with the Los Angeles County Coordinated Entry System (CES). Access Centers must, at a minimum, have capacity to make entries into the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (LA CoC) Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

Access  Centers engage  in   diversion  and problem-solving efforts,  conduct  the   CES Initial Triage  and administer population  appropriate   CES  TriageTools,  make   emergency  services referrals,  participate  in   CES  case  conferencing meetings,  provide  case   management,  and  actively connect participants to resources including, but not limited to, health, mental health, substance use, and  mainstream   benefit  services.

This Access Center will serve Transition age youth (TAY).

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The Intake Specialist is the initial contact with the potential client seeking supportive services.  This position is responsible for intake processes including intake assessments, roster reporting, bed management, potential exit reporting while remaining in compliance with ethical standards of care, including HIPPA, supporting clinical efforts  through use of motivational interviewing, de-escalation, and crisis intervention techniques.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Completes intake and assessments on all new participants
  • Monitors status of bed availability
  • Greets clients, guests, and visitors; assigns client to a case manager, and directs clients to appropriate support staff.
• Assists clients with obtaining case management, benefits and Worksource services as well as other shelter services; assists with necessary paperwork
• Responsible for keeping records of incoming clients in logs and HMIS system, maintaining client file confidentiality
• Assists clients with clothing needs; distributes meals and meal tickets to clients
• Prepares and generates daily reports; analyzes data and prepares special reports as needed

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Valid California Driver’s License

EDUCATION: 

• High School Diploma or GED

EXPERIENCE:

• 1-year experience as an Intake Worker, or related social services work.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Program standards of operations
• Understand methods of clinical engagement
• Creating confidential case files 

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflict, including dealing with un-cooperative clients.
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards. 

COMPETENCIES:

• Build rapport with those encountered in all aspects the work day.
• Build trust, act trustworthy
• Active listening (reflective listening)
• Follow instructions and VOALA procedures
• Apply principles of client-centered, strength-based counseling (including the principles of the recovery model and trauma-informed practice)
• Able to identify successes, challenges, and barriers impacting the completion of plans prepared for clients.
• Apply principles of professional boundaries and ethics to on the job situations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 1-year of experience working or volunteering in social services.  Working with homeless, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health, trauma)
• US Armed Forces Veteran
• Experience working with database
• Associates Degree in social services related discipline. 

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form 1-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (OHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.