Skip to Main Content

ACT Team Service Coordinator/Specialist, Full-Time

Program: Pathways Housing First Program

Job Title: ACT Team Service Coordinator/Specialist, Full-Time


Pathways Vermont’s Housing First Program provides permanent, independent housing for individuals who are homeless or involved with the department of corrections and who struggle with serious mental health challenges, and then combines that housing with supportive services in the areas of mental health, physical health, substance abuse, education, and employment.  Pathways Vermont believes in services which are client-centered and client-directed and believes in using a harm-reduction framework to address client needs.


Service Coordinators are members of the interdisciplinary team who provide flexible, compassionate, community based services that are designed to promote the stability, recovery and community reintegration of individuals who experience mental health challenges, histories of homelessness, and may also have challenges around substance use. Service Coordinators function as integral members of Pathways’ Assertive Community Treatment team which utilizes an interdisciplinary staff to serve a combined caseload of clients and communicates with community partners. Ideally, a Service Coordinator will bring a background in a particular speciality (e.g. employment services, nursing, wellness/life skills, peer substance abuse support, benefits coordination, art therapy, etc.) and in this way can function as a Specialist on the ACT Team.


Serves: Chittenden County

Supervised by:Housing First Team Leader

(Full Time)


Responsibilities:

  • Engage in relationship building/rapport building with clients and provide service from a “Choice” perspective as well as client centered, harm reduction, and strengths based approaches.
  • Provide one to one support and counseling on life skills, housing concerns, and health maintenance, including such tasks as medication support, housekeeping, and assisting clients to manage their monies, including preparing budgets with clients and computing expenses.
  • Collaborate with clients in the formulation and maintenance of a comprehensive, Medicaid-compliant service plan that is reviewed and modified with the client on a regular basis
  • Assist clients in navigating the housing path including viewing units, assistance with moving in, life skill development, landlord/client disputes, etc.
  • Assist clients with referrals to community agencies to ensure that they have full access to services and resources they require, i.e. entitlements, benefits, advocacy, addiction services, etc
  • Coordinate and monitor referrals to community services, and advocate for client participation in them; manage contacts with outside agencies and act as client liaison where indicated
  • Develop a working knowledge of relevant community resources in Chittenden County and  demonstrate a willingness to explore new or unfamiliar resources as necessary
  • Educate, inform and advocate for clients regarding benefits and entitlements (Social Security, Public Assistance, food stamps, etc.).
  • Maintain written and computerized records, compile reports and complete other program documentation (including case notes, face sheets, statistics, letters, petty cash receipts, etc.).
  • Participate in 24/7 telephone on call services rotation with other team members.
  • Other duties as assigned.


Physical Requirements:

  • Occasional exposure to outside environmental conditions for community-based meetings.
  • Often meeting with persons in the community and/or visiting different businesses
  • Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction at times when collecting paperwork, assisting with applications, etc.
  • Extensive reading responsibilities
  • Ability to ascend and descend stairs occasionally required (in instances when apartments, businesses and/or meeting places do not have an elevator)
  • Regular operation of a computer and other office machinery including frequent typing.
  • Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm such as stapling, completing hand-written forms, etc.
  • Frequent talking and listening in participation of exchanging ideas through spoken word and occasional receipt and giving of detailed information through oral communication at normal speaking levels.
  • Occasionally lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds, occasionally exerting up to 20 pounds of force and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently (opening doors at meeting places/businesses, etc.)
  • The worker is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles.


Qualifications:

  • Patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons with disabilities and other minority populations.
  • Prior experience working in a mental health and/or harm reduction agency, preferably in community-based services
  • A good understanding of the issues facing persons with a mental health challenge  or substance use issue, particularly as related to meeting basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and advocacy. In particular, knowledge of the criminal justice system and how it impacts individuals with mental illness is valuable
  • Willingness and enthusiasm to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
  • Excellent communication, writing, and computer skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, sound knowledge of supportive counselling and the ability to form relationships with marginalized individuals
  • Sound judgment and good problem solving skills including assessing risk factors
  • Ability to structure time, develop work priorities independently, and meet program expectations with regard to documenting interactions
  • Excellent independent problem solving skills and demonstrated ability to intuitively approach challenging situations
  • Knowledge of community resources for mental health and substance use
  • Valid driver’s license, a reliable personal vehicle available for work purposes and current automobile insurance required
  • Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred
  • Non-credentialed individuals with experience in mental health service delivery may qualify for this position
  • Ability to work on call (rotating schedule)
  • Ability to work within a Housing First, client centered, harm reduction framework
  • Lived experience of mental health challenges and homelessness will be considered an asset

It is the policy of Pathways Vermont that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disability.  Pathways Vermont is committed to a diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve, and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people including people with military experience, individuals with disabilities, and people of color. To apply, please email cover letter and resume to [email protected].