Field Service Coordinator at DIVERSIFIED CARE MANAGMENT,LLC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

We are seeking a Field Service Coordinator to serve as the point of contact into the Allegheny County Continuum of Care (CoC), for unsheltered residents. Coordinator will be responsible for identifying, engaging, providing information/assistance, and flexible case management to individuals experiencing homelessness. Incumbent will serve as a liaison between these residents and the County?s Coordinated Entry System for the CoC, and will maintain a presence in the community in places such as emergency shelters, day drop-in centers, homeless encampments, and other locations where people experiencing homelessness might also be in order to streamline their access to the services available to them. Due to the nature of the position, it will at times require evening and weekend hours.  As this unit continues to grow and evolve, Incumbent must possess a significant level of flexibility and a commitment to supporting the people being served.

Field Service Coordinators are subject to long hours on their feet in an outdoor street environment that may frequently include physical conditions such as inclement weather or temperature extremes and interpersonal contact. Coordinators will conduct outreach in public places, under bridges, near abandoned buildings, and in other outdoor areas to engage residents in a non-threatening way. Additional responsibilities will include:

• Identifying and engaging individuals experiencing homelessness and connecting them to the resources and services needed to achieve and maintain safety and stability.


• Following the principles of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and recognition of the value and dignity of all people.


• Maintaining a creative, team-building approach and demonstrating a constructive, solution-focused orientation in all efforts.


• Conducting outreach in the community to engage individuals experiencing homelessness, focusing on those most vulnerable.


• Identifying immediate needs and assisting with addressing those needs.


• Providing preliminary eligibility screening for all known publicly and privately funded programs in addition to the presenting need.


• Educating person on program options available to them, assisting with application and referral when appropriate, and conducting follow-up efforts to ensure the needs were met.


• Conducting the screening for the Coordinated Entry System and actively participates in the referral process, ensuring people are supported as they move through it. 


• When needed, empowering the persons served to advocate for themselves, and when appropriate, advocating on their behalf.


• Advocating on a system level to ensure timely access to services and supports for persons served and acting as a liaison between providers and persons served to ensure connections are made.


• Assisting in and/or providing crisis intervention with follow-up, as well as appropriately implementing mandated reporting policies and procedures.


• Documenting interactions and services delivered.


• Supporting the broader outreach and homeless services community of providers.


• Informing the larger system on positive outcomes, unmet community needs, and helping to shape best practices.


• Seeking innovative approaches to meet the unique needs of everyone served.


• Constantly striving to ensure that those who are otherwise not accessing the Coordinated Entry System via the established channels are able to access that system via the Field Unit.


• Working collaboratively with other providers toward the goal of the best outcomes for persons served.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to conduct self-directed work as primary job duties are independent and community-based.


• A passion for ending homelessness.


• Embracing a ?whatever it takes? attitude toward meeting the needs of people served.


• Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of all local, state and federal health and human services programs, with an emphasis on resources often utilized by people overcoming housing crises.


• Ability to quickly establish rapport and trust with persons served who come from very diverse life experiences.


• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing.


• Capacity to build positive partnerships with a wide range of individuals and organizations.


• Ability to learn and utilize web-based and PC software and email to develop reports and document services provided.


• Strong time-management skills and ability to work well under pressure while maintaining confidentiality and professional conduct.


• Solid organizational and problem-solving skills, as well as sound judgement.


• An understanding of the principles of Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed Care and Housing First, as well as experience in implementing services guided by these principles.


• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and engagement skills with a population that can be challenging and in non-traditional work conditions.

Education/Experience Requirements

Master?s/Bachelor?s degree, from an accredited college or university, in a field of study related to social services, with 1-2 years of experience in fieldwork related to social services. Position will involve frequent travel, so a valid driver?s license and access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Salary: $47,250

If hired for a position, candidates would work for Allegheny County, Department of Human Services and be employed by Diversified Care Management.

About Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS)

DHS helps children grow up safer and healthier, older adults remain able to live independently, and neighborhoods to thrive?with the overall goal of improving the health and well-being of people in Allegheny County.

DHS is the largest agency in Allegheny County government, with a budget of nearly $1 billion. It serves more than 200,000 people a year through its staff and a large network of provider organizations. Its services include: Preventing unnecessary nursing home stays and supporting older adults in living safely and healthfully; protecting children and youth from abuse and neglect and preventing future occurrences of maltreatment; improving child wellness through family support, home visiting, early intervention and in-home services; providing treatment for behavioral health issues such as substance use disorders and mental illness; managing the care of adults with intellectual disabilities; and services that prevent homelessness and provide shelter and housing for families and individuals.

Why DHS?

It is innovative. Most recently, the national attention and awards we?ve gotten are for how DHS integrates data and uses them to improve the safety and well-being of children through tools that support front-line staff in making decisions (using predictive analytics).

DHS is diverse, but we strive to be even more inclusive. Our director has made it his top priority that DHS is ?the kind of place where a diverse group of talented people want to come, grow and do their best work.? This includes equity in hiring and advancement, as well as in unleashing the creativity and ideas of staff at every level of DHS.

It has strong, assertive leaders. We do not hire yes-people.

You can make a big impact here. We stand out as one of the best human services organizations in the country. But we need problem-solvers, innovators and terrific leaders to make sure we are smart in how we use our funding so that we reach the people who most need our help to make lives better.

?DHS strives to be the kind of place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come to grow and do their best work.?

-From the organization?s statement on Equity and Inclusion

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER - M/F/V/D