Caseworker - Access Services in Wheaton, Illinois at DuPage PADS

This position is responsible for creating a warm and welcoming environment for clients at DuPagePads’ overnight site.

This is a temporary position anticipated to run from mid-November through April, with the potential to transition into a permanent position.

We are hiring for six positions across the following schedules:

• Full-Time – 40 hours/week: Sunday–Thursday or Tuesday–Saturday, 4:00 PM–12:00 AM or 12:00 AM–8:00 AM
• 32 hours/week: Friday–Monday, 4:00 PM–12:00 AM or 12:00 AM–8:00 AM

Benefits are available to employees regularly scheduled to work at least 32 hours per week.

These positions have the potential to become permanent based on organizational needs.

Responsibilities: (to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation):

1. Operates within the DuPagePads Core Values, including providing trauma-informed care.

2. Client Care

• Manages the overnight site, ensuring safety for everyone.
• Provides feedback and direction to security and volunteers.
• Accepts donations
• Screens walk in clients and all calls that come into the Access line or in person
• Completes assessments in Calls
• Completes background checks
• Addresses higher level client needs including coordination of care with external providers (hospitals, therapists, jail, substance use disorder clinics), crisis intervention, and safety planning.
• Acts as client’s advocate to facilitate access to resources and services.
• Performs documentation expectations with client contact, accurate confidential case files, and contractual paperwork.
• Maintains confidentiality of privileged information and adheres to client privacy laws.
• Address the employment needs of our clients by collaborating with the Employment program.
• Ensures that all clients are regularly staffed including assessing for and addressing each client's individual needs.

3. Administration/Program Management

• Maintain a low-barrier, safe, and supportive environment for clients
• Helps to facilitate the triage, intake, and street outreach inflow and outflow of clients
• Participates in connecting clients to needed resources in/outside the agency
• Assists in conducting / coordinating external and internal audits.
• Collects and provides data and outcomes as requested for shelter program.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned by supervisor.

4. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent engagement and interpersonal skills
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Effective leadership skills
• Effective crisis intervention skills
• Knowledge of issues related to homelessness, poverty, mental health, and substance use
• Knowledge of cultural differences and equity issues.
• Ability to think conceptually, be creative, plan, and analyze work
• Ability to work independently and work as part of a team
• Ability to maintain accurate records in compliance with applicable regulations and standards
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Word and Excel

Qualifications:

1. Experience working with the homeless population or similar populations
2. Training, certification, or licensure in mental health, substance use, evidence-based practices, a plus.
3. Ability to meaningfully engage clients at all hours

Other:

Responsibilities: (to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation):

1. Operates within the DuPagePads Core Values, including providing trauma-informed care.

2. Client Care

1. Manages the overnight site, ensuring safety for everyone.
2. Provides feedback and direction to security and volunteers.
3. Accepts donations
4. Screens walk in clients and all calls that come into the Access line or in person
5. Completes assessments in Calls
6. Completes background checks
7. Addresses higher level client needs including coordination of care with external providers (hospitals, therapists, jail, substance use disorder clinics), crisis intervention, and safety planning.

h. Acts as client’s advocate to facilitate access to resources and services.

i. Performs documentation expectations with client contact, accurate confidential case files, and contractual paperwork.

j. Maintains confidentiality of privileged information and adheres to client privacy laws.

k. Address the employment needs of our clients by collaborating with the Employment program.

1. Ensures that all clients are regularly staffed including assessing for and addressing each client's individual needs.
2. Administration/Program Management

a. Maintain a low-barrier, safe, and supportive environment for clients

b. Helps to facilitate the triage, intake, and street outreach inflow and outflow of clients

c. Participates in connecting clients to needed resources in/outside the agency

1. Assists in conducting / coordinating external and internal audits.

e. Collects and provides data and outcomes as requested for shelter program.

f. Other duties and special projects as assigned by supervisor.

4. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

a) Excellent engagement and interpersonal skills

b) Effective written and oral communication skills

c) Strong organizational skills with attention to detail

d) Effective leadership skills

e) Effective crisis intervention skills

f) Knowledge of issues related to homelessness, poverty, mental health, and substance use

g) Knowledge of cultural differences and equity issues.

h) Ability to think conceptually, be creative, plan, and analyze work

i) Ability to work independently and work as part of a team

j) Ability to maintain accurate records in compliance with applicable regulations and standards

k) Computer literacy in Microsoft Word and Excel

Qualifications:

1. Experience working with the homeless population or similar populations
2. Training, certification, or licensure in mental health, substance use, evidence-based practices, a plus.
3. Ability to meaningfully engage clients at all hours

Other:

1. Be able to lift 50 pounds.

We are hiring for six positions across the following schedules:

• Full-Time – 40 hours/week: Sunday–Thursday or Tuesday–Saturday, 4:00 PM–12:00 AM or 12:00 AM–8:00 AM
• 32 hours/week: Friday–Monday, 4:00 PM–12:00 AM or 12:00 AM–8:00 AM

Benefits are available to employees regularly scheduled to work at least 32 hours per week.