Job Description

Posting number: 26-8756-01

Department: Housing & Human Services

Division: HHS-Homeless Outreach

Job classification: Outreach Worker (C)

Posting type: Open

Categories: Housing, Human Services, Community and Social Services

Summary

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The City of Riverside is accepting applications for the position of Outreach Worker (C) to fill one (1) vacancy in the Housing and Human Services Department. The eligibility list established may be used to fill the current and/or upcoming vacancies within this classification for up to six (6) months.

An Outreach Worker, under general supervision, will conduct mobile outreach and provide intake and assessment, counseling, crisis intervention, resource referral and case management to homeless individuals and families on the streets, in service venues and other locations where they can be found in the City of Riverside; or to a pre-selected caseload of applicants and/or recipients of Project BRIDGE Grant Program.

Examples of duties

Typical duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review cases and formulate plans for clients to participate in educational and psychosocial assessments and treatments, work skills training, parenting classes, anger management workshops, diversity training, and/or substance abuse treatment.
• Conduct home visits with participants to provide assistance, answer questions, assess needs, and provide orientation on available services for participant and family members.
• Serve as an advocate for participants in securing housing, social services, provide encouragement, and support to participants in securing and/or following through on services.
• Assist participants in their development of short and long term personal goals; provide supportive counseling and assist participants in recognizing and addressing home, family, and social conditions contributing to problems; instruct participants on appropriate methods of social and life skills.
• Transport participants, as needed.
• Participate in community activities and projects.
• Maintain records and write reports on status of clients; prepare correspondence and reports as required; when qualified to do so, serve as an interpreter for non-English speaking family members.
• Serves as liaison between the participant, the City of Riverside, and other agencies, individuals, organizations, or community groups.
• Maintain effective working relationships with participants, family members, project staff, and collaborating agencies.

In addition, when assigned to serve as the Homeless Outreach Worker:

• Conduct mobile outreach to homeless persons on the streets, social services venues and other locations where they are located.
• Screen and conduct intake and assessment interviews with homeless individuals, including medical/mental health history, in order to identify social service and housing needs and make appropriate referrals.
• Assist participants in their development of short and long-term case management goals that will include strategies to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and to obtain permanent housing.
• Serve as an advocate for participants in securing social services, mainstream benefits, housing opportunities, and provide support to participants in securing and/or following through on services.
• Establish and maintain liaison relationships with City staff, community organizations, law enforcement, public and private agencies, business owners and operators, and the general public in order to respond to specific concerns as it relates to homeless individuals and issues of homelessness in general.
• Respond to community complaints and general requests for information and services.
• Transport participants, as needed.
• Participate in program-related coalitions, meetings, partnerships, community activities and projects.
• Assist with community education and outreach on homeless issues.
• Maintain documentation and records of participant contacts and assist in preparation of reports on participant progress and status.

Qualifications

Education: High School diploma or GED

Experience: One year of full time experience working with the homeless or community groups in a social service oriented program. Qualifying education may be substituted for one year of the experience requirement with major course work in social science, psychology, sociology, social welfare, social/human service, economics or other behavioral sciences.

Necessary Special Requirements:

Possession of an appropriate, valid, Class "C" California Motor Vehicle Operator's License, and reliable transportation.

Must be available to work evenings and weekends, and provide services to project clients at numerous locations, including but not limited to, community parks and recreational centers, School District campuses, and other locations as required.

Highly Desirable Qualifications:

• Bilingual in Spanish
• Customer service experience in a social service setting

Supplemental information

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION:

1) Completed Employment Application

2) Completed Supplemental Questionnaire

FOR DIRECTIONS ON ATTACHING A DOCUMENT TO AN ON-LINE APPLICATION, OR GENERAL INFORMATION ON COMPLETING YOUR ON-LINE APPLICATION, CLICK HERE: (Application Guide).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SCHEDULING ASSESSMENTS:

If you are selected to move forward in the assessment process, you may be required to self-schedule your appointment. You will be notified via email of your status and provided with self-scheduling instructions. Please check your email regularly following the closing date of this recruitment.

The selection process will begin with an employment application package screening, with the best qualified candidates being invited to participate further in the assessment process. This process may include any combination of written, performance, and oral assessments to evaluate job-related education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Those who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on the eligibility list for this classification.

It is the responsibility of candidates with a disability requiring accommodation in the assessment process to contact the Human Resources Department in writing to request such accommodation prior to the closing date of this recruitment.

Appointment may be subject to the successful completion of a pre-employment background investigation, drug screen, and/or medical/physical examination.

NOTE: The City reserves the right to modify selection devices and test instruments in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, and professional standards. Candidates may reapply when there is a posting to establish an eligibility list.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Proof of education listed in your application will be requested at the time of conditional offer. Acceptable documentation consists of transcripts or degree, if applicable, by the accredited U.S. college or university.

Education obtained outside the United States (US) require one of the following options:

1. An equivalency statement from an evaluation company certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at https://naces.org/members/ or the Association of International Credential Evaluators Inc. (AICE) at http://aice-eval.org/members/.
2. An advanced-level degree from an accredited US college or university.

All applicants will be notified via e-mail or telephone of their application status and the assessment dates/times/locations after the closing date of this announcement.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT.