Job Description

Full job description

Position Title: Diversion Specialist, CES Encampment Resolution Program
Candidate: TBD
Department: CES Programs
Supervisor: Associate Director CES Program
FLSA: Full Time/Hourly/Non-Exempt
Salary Range: $30 per hour
Effective Date: T B D

OUR IMPACT

For over 50 years, Samaritan House has been leading the fight against poverty in San Mateo County. We’re the
only organization that delivers the full breadth of essential services and personalized support to the working poor.
By ensuring our clients are fed, clothed, healthy, and housed, we help them create their own stability and remain
an active, successful part of our community. After all, an enduring community is only possible when every person
has the resources they need to live.

OUR CULTURE
We’re passionate about providing our employees with a supportive work environment and experiences that help
them grow. We offer excellent opportunities for individuals with proven strong, creative, results-driven leadership
skills and stellar work ethics. We welcome candidates who love working with people of diverse backgrounds and
want to make a difference by fostering community care for our neighbors in need.

YOUR IMPACT
Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of Coordinated Entry Services (CES) Program, this position
will provide Diversion and Coordinated Entry System (CES) services to individuals and households eligible to be
served through the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) grant. ERF clients will be defined as homeless
individuals and households (families with children, adults, and youth) currently or formerly residing in the Critical
Homeless Encampment Zone (CHEZ). The CHEZ includes 26 identified encampments situated along the
transportation corridors of US Route 101, Interstate 280, Highway 1, and State Route 92 in San Mateo county
cities include: Burlingame, Menlo Park, Half Moon Bay, San Bruno, San Mateo, and South San Francisco.


Services include providing initial screening of households experiencing homelessness; providing Diversion to
households found to be homeless; completing a standardized assessment with all households who have received
Diversion and who cannot identify an alternative housing resolution and placing households into available
emergency shelter/interim housing based on the results of the assessment; and coordinating with the San Mateo
County Human Services Agency’s (HSA) matching and referral process for housing interventions.


The goal of CES-ERF program is to create an additional pathway and increase access to CES by providing mobile
assessments to ERF clients. This program is in alignment with the overall goal of CES to help San Mateo County
advance its goal of reaching functional zero homelessness by coordinating access into the programs available
through the homelessness response system. CES creates a standardized process that ensures that households
with the greatest needs are prioritized for available resources while providing Diversion to support as many
households as possible in securing a housing solution without entering a shelter or other homeless system
program.


Position will use an evidence-informed tool to objectively determine the acuity of needs and services best
designed to meet the client’s needs, unless the individual or family can be successfully diverted from services
altogether through effective problem-solving and access of formal and informal networks they may have for
support.

BHCC CUG REV 09.24.2024

CES Diversion Specialist will manage a caseload of approximately 50 clients (25% intense daily work and 75%
ongoing as needed). While this position is employed by Samaritan House directly, it will work closely with the
other seven Core Network Agencies in San Mateo County to provide diversion services both onsite and offsite
using assigned technology as needed. This position is expected to maintain all facets of the job including all
programmatic and electronic and non-electronic administrative responsibilities in a timely fashion and within
audit compliance. The Diversion Specialist for the CES Encampment Resolution Program will provide support to
the CES program as assigned, ensuring that criteria and programmatic goals are met.


Position will require travel between Agency, Core Network sites and Encampment Sites located in various
municipalities within San Mateo County. The CES Diversion Specialist will work within all federal, state, county,
municipal, agency and other local regulations and policies.


Funding has been secured for two years; position will continue so long as funding exist.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Please note our preferred and in some cases required qualifications for this position:



EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social or human services or related field. Masters in Social Work strongly desired.

In some cases, related and comparable work experience may be considered in lieu of education
requirements.

EXPERIENCE:

• Two years Human Services Field experience including advocacy or case management services
• Two years’ experience effectively working with individuals in high risk populations including but not

limited to people who have experienced vulnerability, trauma, economic poverty, incarceration,
substance use, developmental delays, compromised mental wellness, brain injuries, literacy and
numeracy issues; victims of violence, domestic violence or trafficking and/or, other conditions, mental
health issues or situations that have impacted housing stability for them

• Two years of experience working with homeless or at –risk families and individuals in crisis.
• Experience working with issues faced by low-income populations is essential.
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bilingual and Bicultural English Spanish strongly preferred. Must be able to read, write, translate and

effectively communicate in both English and Spanish.

• Must have understanding and ability to comply with complex governmental (all levels) and agency

regulations, policies and procedures demonstrated through comprehensive document compliance
efforts and activities.

• Clear understanding of professional boundaries with high-risk clients under all circumstances as well as

the ability to ensure and maintain confidentiality in all aspects of work

• Excellent interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills and required. Must be able to regularly interact

effectively and empathically with all constituents of diverse back- grounds and in various states of
tension.

• Ability to maintain professionalism and deliver excellent client service at all times. Must be able to

maintain and build relationships with new and current constituents. Ability to work independently and
with teams.

• Excellent Initiative and ability to proactively identify challenges. Must have a solutions-based approach

to challenges. Must be able to manage and de-escalate problem situations successfully.

• Excellent computer proficiency: experienced with all programs in Microsoft Office Suite and Windows-

based operating systems; ability to learn new computer databases. Familiarity with HMIS, Clarity and
related data entry is highly desirable.

• Strong and timely data entry, management, and reporting skills. Excellent mathematical skills for data

management and reporting.

• Strong administrative, adaptive and organizational skills. Strong attention to detail and ability to produce

excellent and timely quality work is required. Ability to successfully multi-task, prioritize, or alter
methodology in a fast paced and ever-changing work environment.

• Ability to conduct all business within agency values, professionalism, high level of ethics and high

integrity; ability to exercise appropriate judgment and timely decision making under various conditions
is required.

BHCC CUG REV 09.24.2024

• Excellent written and verbal Communication Skills required. Candidate must be able to consistently,

regularly, effectively and clearly communicate with Samaritan House constituents of diverse
backgrounds and in various arenas of business. The ability to present information in small or large group
settings.

• Excellent initiative and ability to work independently and to successfully collaborate with teams.

Resourceful and solutions-based approach to challenges; ability to identify and resolve issues without
direction when needed. Solutions based approach to all business.

• Candidate must be able to regularly travel between the Agency’s various sites, Core Agency locations or

client’s homes as needed; valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, good driving record and a registered
vehicle required.

• Flexible schedule required to work early mornings, days, evenings, weekends or holidays as the program

necessitates and as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND BACKGROUND CHECK
References will be conducted by Samaritan House prior to employment. All staff will undergo back ground checks
prior to start. You must have the physical, visual and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the
job, ensure a safe/secure work environment and respond to any emergencies with or without reasonable
accommodations. Work involves travel. Regular and repeated use of motor coordination and hand motions for
computer data entry and writing. Candidate should have the physical ability to occasionally lift and/or move
items (approximately 15 lbs.). Occasional sitting, walking on uneven surfaces, carrying, reaching, speaking,
listening for extended periods of time. Work environment can be high stress and fast paced due to crisis
intervention. This position will require use of company mobile devices which will be provided.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB
1. Travel to assigned San Mateo County encampment sites to deliver quality services.
2. Provide excellent quality and timely services to constituents with safety, respect, and effectiveness. This

includes sustained professional boundaries with all constituents. Engage directly with clients seeking
homeless and housing services from each of the CORE Network Agencies or Encampments of San Mateo
County.

3. Perform intakes, screenings and assessments of homeless clients to determine if diversion from a shelter
is a feasible option. Provide crisis counseling, develop plans and support to reach a timely resolution of
housing crisis

4. Coordinate with Assistant Manager for Shelter Placement
5. Ensure usage of San Mateo County’s chosen formal diversion and assessment tool with clients. Maintain

objectivity in factually determining acuity and whether there is a match between the individual’s needs
and the services of the organization or elsewhere in the community.

6. Communicate effectively with all including prospective clients on the results of their assessment and the
rationale for a proposed course of action (or inaction)

7. Divert homeless clients from entering the homeless arena by providing services, referrals and mediation
to resolve barriers to housing stability and prevent homelessness.

8. Act as a Housing Navigator, fostering and developing housing leads and landlord contacts through
outreach activities. Collaborate with other staff to develop and identify housing resources leading to
client’s housing stability.

9. Provide advocacy, mediation and dispute resolution services with landlords, family or friends to secure
or stabilize housing.

10. Coordinate rental/utility assistance strategies and necessary applications. Work with clients who are able
to re-house rapidly with financial resources and other resources to help them achieve housing stability.

11. In addition, provide options for non-rental assistance line items such as transportation costs, education
related materials, applications or holding fees and other costs related to maintaining housing.

12. Provide information and referrals regarding program and other community services available upon
successful diversion from shelter. Assist clients with navigation to mainstream and community-based
services, including but not limited to: Department of Housing, San Mateo County Human Service Agency,
San Mateo County Medical Services; financial counseling, energy assistance, community resources for
food, clothing, legal, employment and/or education services.

13. Review and monitor progress, act as a liaison/advocate for the client. Connect clients “in the moment”
with health care services, mainstream employment, medical and financial benefit services, as well as
Rapid Re-Housing services as appropriate.

BHCC CUG REV 09.24.2024

14. Strengthen the capacity within the team of assessment and diversion specialists by collaborating
effectively with others on the assessment and diversion team and staff in other departments and
agencies.

15. Maintain operational understanding and effective collaborative relationships with other community
resources

16. Maintain all administrative duties including but not limited to: maintaining current all documentation of
assessments and diversions in real time. Maintain complete, compliant, accurate, timely and organized
client files, both physical and electronic files. This includes but is not limited to closing out files in a timely
manner and maintaining files according to gov’t and industry standards and regulations. Timely entry of
client data into Salesforce or other system.

17. Perform data entry and reporting-Collect and coordinate assessment data and records to ensure all
clients are tracked and that services & measurable outcomes are identified and documented in a timely
and thorough manner. Assist in preparing weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual statistical reports.
Assist in the production and analysis of reports to assess the effectiveness of case plans and client
progress. Ensure data quality standards are met.

18. Ensure confidentiality at all times including client assessment information related to all relevant
legislation

19. Assess personal safety in each interaction and undertake due diligence in maintaining personal safety
with clients that may be experiencing an adverse life circumstance, trauma, and/or exceptional
emotional response to homelessness or risk of homelessness

20. Conduct all business and work within federal, state, county, municipal, industry and agency regulations,
policies and procedures. Advocate for the mission of the organization and uphold the agency's values.

21. Engage effectively and constructively with Supervisor to handle client concerns/issues as needed.
Provide recommendations for policy/procedural changes for case management.

22. Provide active support to clients, staff and volunteers.
23. Meet regularly with staff as needed to discuss case management operations, keeping them informed

and allowing for input related to case management.
24. Demonstrate and work within Samaritan House values in all dealings with all Samaritan House

constituents including but not limited to clients, staff, leadership team, etc.
25. Represent the organization in a professional and courteous manner at all times internally and externally.
26. Remain a resource to entire organizations, CES Program/Case Management/Social Work team to assist

in debriefing client cases, providing coaching/mentoring on coping mechanisms and resiliency.
27. Support Lead, Assistant Managers and Associate Director of CES Program and CES Data Quality team as

needed.
28. Report and complete any necessary incident reports within 24 hours. Review the incident report(s) and

discuss with Client Services Supervisor, as needed.
29. Attend trainings and meetings as assigned including, but not limited to, case management meetings,

staff meetings, and meetings with other service providers in the community as required.
30. Other duties as assigned.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates for this position will be required to submit a cover letter and resume to:


SAMARITAN HOUSE HR Specialist/Recruiter

4031 Pacific Blvd. San Mateo, CA 94403
E-mail: jobs@samaritanhousesanmateo.org Via facsimile: (650) 294-4336


No phone calls, please! Samaritan House is an equal opportunity employer. Because of the volume of
applications Samaritan House receives, we regret we are not able to respond to every applicant
individually. If your skills and experience are a good match for this position, we will contact you for an
interview.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Holiday work, Full time, Work experience placement, Interim role, Local area, Flexible hours, Weekend work, Afternoon shift, Early shift,

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