Location: Cambridge, MA
We take pride in our city's diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve. The city is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. We seek to hire, develop, and advance individuals who value antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and are committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work.
About The Department of Human Service Programs: The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP's extensive services
and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.
ABOUT THE ROLE: Reporting to the C-CAN Program Manager, the Specialist will serve a key function within the Cambridge Coordinated Access Network (Cambridge CAN or C-CAN), the community's multi-agency system that connects people experiencing a housing crisis to resources and referrals to housing placements. The C-CAN program is the city's Coordinated Entry System, a HUD required process that allows users to make consistent decisions from available information to efficiently and effectively connect people
to interventions that will rapidly end their homelessness. The coordinated Access Specialist will directly administer backssments to clients at intake and serve on a team of dedicated C-CAN staff working to organize and coordinate backssments, referrals, and communications among partners.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Coordinated Access Specialist will work on a team of one other Specialist and the C-CAN Program Manager. Many of the duties and the responsibilities will be shared within the team and redistributed as needed to ensure successful function of the Coordinated Access Network. This Specialist role will be focused on the external outreach and marketing of the program in addition to supporting typical processing and functions of C-CAN.
The Coordinated Access Specialist's specific duties include, but are not limited, to the following: Administer the Cambridge CAN suite of intake, screening, backssment, and referral tools to new clients presenting at the Cambridge Multi-Service Center; enter backssed clients' information into Cambridge's Homeless Management System (HMIS)Respond to phone inquiries and walk-ins, referring clients to appropriate services and backssment points as needed. Maintain strong knowledge of relevant homeless-specific and mainstream resources for referral to support a wide range of client needs.
Support data collection, entry and integrity efforts across the Continuum of Care (Co C), the group of municipal and nonprofit partners working collaboratively to address homelessness in the community. Participate in outreach efforts to community members who are experiencing homelessness. Maintain Cambridge CAN's HMIS Data and contribute to Co C-wide strategic/planning efforts. Provide internal technical assistance to Coordinated Access partner agencies on intake, backssment, and prioritization. Participate in meetings between C-CAN partner agency staff, including a weekly case conference and operational or program evaluation check-ins.
Serve as liaison between C-CAN and relevant provider and community partners, including responding promptly to inquiries by phone and email. Actively work to improve the level of system access for the full diversity of people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness in Cambridge, as well as to promote a low-barrier Housing First orientation that values equity. Develop and carry out outreach strategies to promote Coordinated Access within the Co C and the wider community, as appropriate.
Improve marketing efforts digitally and in print to increase community awareness and education around C-CAN program and related resources. Plan events, attend community meetings and support community efforts to further outreach efforts. Actively participate in the Department's Race and Equity Initiative. Other duties as assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTSBachelor's Degree required or equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Minimum of five years in human/homeless services.
Strong organizational and administrative skills. Excellent oral and written communications skills. Crisis intervention skills, including the ability to assist clients in challenging situations and to support staff in their ability to provide assistance. Proficiency in personal computer skills such as Microsoft Office Suite; experience with HMIS or other database systems. Experience coordinating a multi-partner initiative or project. Ability to exercise mature judgment in complex situations. The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse.
Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Experience in services to people experiencing homelessness strongly preferred, as well as work in a diverse setting. Knowledge of Cambridge and surrounding communities helpful. SUMMARY OF BENEFITS : H ealth, dental and vision insurance. vacation, personal and sick days. sick incentive pay eligibility. management bonus of $2700/year. City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement, Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership).
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND ACCOMMODATIONS: Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to answer phones and maintain multiple files. Ability to lift a minimum of at least 10 lbs. Ability to travel to meetings within the city. Be comfortable to w ork primarily in a standard office environment with moderate noise level, telephones, personal computers, printers, and other office equipment. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City's Telework Policy depending on operational needs. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Please upload the below documents to complete your application: Resume Cover Letter #P1PDN-99be0ea2-cfba-4fa3-9cca-c89a2d344219For more details: jobs-search. org/marketing_cambridge-c434666/coordinated-access-specialist-cambridge_i1959025242
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