Community Support Specialist

Overview

Position: Housing and Community Support Specialist

Department: Elders Living at Home

Schedule: Full Time

Position Summary

Boston Medical Center’s Living Well at Home Program (LWAH) provides high-quality housing case management services to support clients in obtaining and maintaining tenancy and living healthy lives in independent housing. Boston Medical Center and its affiliated providers and Community Health Centers serve tens of thousands of patients who face housing issues or are experiencing homelessness. New initiatives across the health system have led to the expansion of LWAH services, including the formation of a new Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals.

As part of the LWAH team, the Housing and Community Support (HCS) Specialist will provide case management services to high-risk patients with behavioral health diagnoses who are experiencing long-term homelessness. The HCS Specialist will help patients access and obtain and stabilize in independent housing. HCS Specialists are responsible for engaging and enrolling complex patients into services; providing advocacy and case management services;

providing specialty services to support a member in becoming “housing-ready”; supporting patients in the process of identifying and obtaining housing opportunities; supporting the development of an interdisciplinary care plan based on identified patient needs; facilitating access to social service resources; monitoring the patient’s progress; and problem-solving with patients to accelerate and enhance access to housing and community-based supports. As part of an interdisciplinary team, the HCS Specialist provides community-based one-on-one support in collaboration with family, social supports, and their health care team, both pre- and post-tenancy.

Education

• Engage and enroll complex patients into services; provide advocacy and case management.
• Provide specialty services to support a member in becoming “housing-ready.”
• Support patients in identifying and obtaining housing opportunities.
• Develop interdisciplinary care plans based on identified patient needs.
• Facilitate access to social service resources and monitor patient progress.
• Problem-solve with patients to accelerate and enhance access to housing and community-based supports.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team and family/social supports pre- and post-tenancy.

• Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health or related field OR Two years of relevant work experience OR lived experience of homelessness or behavioral health conditions.

• Driver’s license and access to a car preferred. Will be required to complete community visits across Greater Boston region in a timely manner.

• Minimum of 2 years prior healthcare, public health, or social services work in a community-based setting.
• Prior experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness preferred.
• Prior experience working with individuals impacted by mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or chronic health conditions preferred.

• Basic knowledge of housing systems and a passion for serving individuals who are unhoused through a non-stigmatizing, patient-centered approach.
• Knowledge of community resources and healthcare systems commonly used by the patient population; preference for knowledge of Boston area resources.
• Understanding of social determinants of health impacting this patient population and importance in addressing them (housing, food insecurity, transportation, etc).
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in a courteous, pleasant, and professional manner with families, patients, staff, and others.
• Ability to identify, communicate, and problem-solve issues in patient cases to improve overall care in support of patient goals.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrated prudent judgment and professional presence and demeanor.
• Ability to adapt to changes in care delivery at local and systems levels.
• Reliability and commitment to setting and meeting goals.
• Exceptional organizational skills;…