Hospital Liaison

TITLE: Hospital Liaison

DEPARTMENT: Program

REPORTS TO: Manager, Outreach and Regional Coordination

Employment Status: Full Time

Reg. Hours Worked: 40 / Week, Non-Exempt

Hybrid: Altadena, CA

Salary: $25.24/hr

JOB SUMMARY:

The Hospital Liaison works to establish and maintain relationships with designated San Gabriel Valley hospital partners to coordinate care for patients experiencing homelessness. The Hospital Liaison uses a universal assessment tool to assess frequent hospital utilizers to determine vulnerability and eligibility for housing programs. The Hospital Liaison will actively collaborate with hospital staff to support the discharge planning process, to create housing plans for high acuity frequent utilizers, and to support access to higher-level of care facilities. The Hospital Liaison will work to address the individuals immediate needs and work to identify appropriate referrals for housing navigation/placement support.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE, but are not limited to the following:

• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with hospital partners including staff in the emergency rooms, social work, and discharge planning departments, and any onsite homeless navigators.

• Identifies opportunities to partner with Coordinated Entry System (CES) homeless service providers, including the County Health Agency (Department of Health Services, the Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Substance Abuse Prevention and control); this includes Outreach teams, Interim Housing, Housing Navigation/Case Management programs, and other specialty programs, as applicable.

• Serves as a liaison between hospitals and community providers, fostering relationships between organizations and facilitating transitions of care for individuals experiencing homelessness

• Convenes hospital partners and patient navigators for case conferencing and problem-solving

• Encourages hospital participation in relevant community collaboration meetings such as CES meetings

• Conducts CES Triage tools for high-acuity frequent hospital utilizers.

• Identifies homeless patients who require comprehensive assessment and connects to CES staff trained to administer the full SPDAT assessment tool

• Utilizes HMIS to input data and facilitate service reconnections

• Provides updates to outreach staff whose clients are admitted to a hospital

• Refers to CES Access Sites and Access Centers for assessment/service connection when appropriate

• Identifies high-acuity frequent hospital utilizers for eligibility assessment for the Health Homes Program (HHP)

• Actively collaborates with hospital patient navigators/social workers/discharge planners to support the discharge planning process by providing information and helping to facilitate access.

• Facilitates warm hand-offs for patients from patient navigators to CES staff and HHP care managers, if enrolling in HHP

• Creates housing plans for high acuity frequent utilizers who have not engaged with homeless services

• Supports accessing higher level of care, i.e. Adult Residential Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities, etc.; serves as a point of contact to staff during the referral and placement process

• Conducts trainings to patient navigators, hospital social workers, and discharge planners on problem-solving/diversion, accessing services and resources, using the universal interim housing referral form, completing verification of homelessness forms when needed for program referral/entry

• Provides technical assistance/on-call support to hospital patient navigators, social workers/discharge planners regarding homeless services

• Provides transportation assistance to individuals exiting hospitals

• Other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work indoors in temperature controlled environment and occasionally exposed to outdoor weather and driving conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

• Stand and sit for long periods of time; move and walk to various locations; climb stairs, stoop, kneel, reach, pull, push, bend, twist, and occasionally lift and or move objects. Use hands to finger, handle, or feel.

• See, hear, and speak clearly in order to give and receive information and instructions.

• Ability to interact with other employees, clients, customers, and members of the public.

• Ability to work effectively under time constraints, prioritize work, multi-task, and adapt to changing work demands.

• Gather, analyze, synthesize, and classify information. Transcribe, enter, and post data.

• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.

• Requires use of a computer keyboard.

• Able to travel with personal or company vehicle to off-site meetings and other activities throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of transitional and permanent housing resources throughout Los Angeles County.

• Knowledge of housing issues in San Gabriel Valley preferred.

• Knowledge of HUD guidelines and experience working with subsidized housing programs such as Section 8, Shelter Plus Care, and others.

• Current in knowledge of social work practices and principles related to best practice standards.

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

• Proficient in the use of laptop computers and Microsoft Windows and Office software programs (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, G-Mail).

• Ability to accurately enter client data and notes in HMIS Homeless Management Information System.

• Proficient with office communication equipment and machines (telephone, copier, calculator, fax machine, personal computer, laptop, computer printer, and scanner).

• Possess a valid California driver's license and have access to a properly registered vehicle.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• One (1) year of experience working with homeless individuals AND have a social work/mental health related bachelors degree or have a minimum of two (2) years of experience in a related human services field.

• Experience working with participants with mental health illness, chronic health issues, and substance use disorders strongly preferred.

• Have experience in the following areas strongly preferred: chronic homelessness, outreach and engagement strategies, intensive case management services, best practice models, mental health and substance use disorder services, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, affordable housing and public benefits applications, housing and landlord/tenant rights, eviction prevention, etc.

• Successful demonstration of required skills through current or past USHS employment may be considered in lieu of the standard required years of experience.

UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES EMBRACES DIVERSITY

We embrace our differences and are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion and belonging. Our commitment to racial equity within the organization is crucial to who we are and the clients we serve. Committed to being an anti-racist organization and sharing the unique cultural experiences from our networks, we offer annual racial equity training, host ongoing learning experiences through our Lunch n' Learns, and participate in ongoing mental health trainings.

We promote acceptance, respect, teamwork, and fosters diversity in the workplace. We believe every individual has a story, past, and a unique set of skills that shape who we are and through this network, we can learn from each other to become better versions of ourselves personally and professionally. Through our staff-led network focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility, we work to communicate, educate, and express diverse cultivation through our eight Diversity Networks. We are honored that the Diversity Network has been recognized as part of the Community Impact Awards presented by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Union Station Homeless Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer