St. Francis Center (SFC), a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, was established in June 1983. SFC is a refuge for men and women who are homeless in the metro Denver area. Our programs and services are tailored toward adult women and men, and focus on daytime shelter, social services, health and wellness, housing, employment, and outreach. At SFC, “guests” have the opportunity to work with a variety of specialists, depending on their individual needs, which is often the first step toward transformation and ultimately self-sufficiency.
We are currently looking for a Encampment Resolution Outreach Worker. This is a Full-Time, non-exempt position eligible for an excellent benefit package as outlined below.
POSITION OVERVIEW
This position will work as part of the closely engaged, inter-disciplinary encampment resolution team. This team, when fully staffed, is approximately a 30-person team (11 Outreach Workers, 2 Street Medicine Nurses, 2 Behavioral Health Clinicians, 12 case managers, and 3 Program Managers) made up of staff from 3 partner agencies, dedicated to Denver’s large encampment resolution initiative. The Saint Francis Center’s contingent of this larger team, when fully staffed, consists of 5 Outreach Workers, 4 Case Managers and 1 Program Manager.
This team, as a multi-agency team working alongside City agencies to address large encampments, must be very collaborative and communicative in nature. The Outreach Worker must be a good team-player who demonstrates strong communication skills, knowledge and expertise with community resources, and is a respectful collaborator with multiple partners from within thelarger team and from various City agencies. This team is part of the Denver Street Outreach Collaborative (DSOC), which consists of outreach staff from Saint Francis Center, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Urban Peak.
Job Responsibilities:
• Engage and develop rapport with our unsheltered community members in large encampments that have been identified by the City for resolution, inviting them into services to work towards long-term stabilizing outcomes, utilizing trauma informed practices, motivational interviewing and person-centered methods.
• Assist community members with access to community referrals and other resources available in the moment, and, as necessary, accompany them to appointments for medical, behavioral health, benefits, or other necessary services.
• Liaise and coordinate supportive services within SFC, the larger SOLE and DSOC teams, and from other organizations
• Participate in shared activities and responsibilities with the greater SFC Outreach team, to include: support SFC day center operations in certain circumstances, and participate in required agency meetings and ongoing trainings.
• As an extension of DSOC, regular coordination and participation in DSOC meetings, trainings, and activities will be expected, to include: the outreach-wide’s emergency cold weather night-outreach activation plan
Requirements/Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, international relations, or other related field preferred or equivalent, related professional experience.
• 1+ years of outreach and/or case management experience
• Preferred: Valid Driver’s License and willingness/ability to drive as part of work duties.
• Strong team-player with good collaborative and communication skills. Must love being part of an inter-disciplinary team and engage in a team dynamic a majority of their work time
• Ability to manage conflict, mitigate/respond to stressful situations and engage traumatic stories.
• Understanding of and experience with addressing the impact of trauma, chronic medical conditions, behavioral health challenges and physical disabilities.
• Ability to understand and maintain professional boundaries and client confidentiality.
• Ability to listen with care, treat guests with respect and dignity, and respond to each individual’s unique needs.
• Willingness to participate in SFC agency responsibilities and other trainings.
• Willingness and ability to work with people from a variety of racial, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages and genders.
• Possesses computer skills and proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, Excel and in HMIS
• Maintains professional training standards in Trauma Informed Practices, Restorative Practices, Mental Health First Aid, and CPI/de-escalation trainings.