Street Crisis Response Specialist

The San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team (SFHOT) works collaboratively in small teams to engage and stabilize individuals experiencing homelessness, to help establish treatment, and to find permanent housing.

This Street Crisis Response Specialist role will be assigned to the Street Crisis Reponse Team and is comparable to an Outreach Specialist Level 3 role. Working with community paramedics and EMTs from the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) and responding to 911 and 311 service calls, Street Crisis Specialists will be dispatched to focus on a range of calls from overdose medical emergencies and acute behavioral health crisis to less immediate calls and well-being checks that require immediate attention.

The team will perform medical, behavioral, and social needs assessments, render immediate aid if needed, and will be able to offer meaningful connections to services and housing. The team will be deployed in an SFFD vehicle and have the ability to provide transportation services to individuals who might need that as part of the engagement

The work schedule is a 10-hour shifts, 4 days a week. The operations for this project are 24-hour days, 7 days a week. Exact shift hours and days assigned are TBD.

If hired for this position, you will be required to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to your start date, or have a valid religious or medical reason qualifying you for an exemption (that may or may not require accommodation).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Respond to 911 and 311 calls from the community, reducing SFPD response with a focus on well-being checks and situations that require immediate attention, such as an acute behavioral health crisis.
• Perform wellness checks, assess risk, provide support, and referrals for needed services. This may include crisis intervention, and engaging emergency medical or mental health systems.
• Engage individuals and assess needs (eg, medical, mental health, substance use, shelter, food access, benefits, and other issues). Follow up with clients to support linkage, as needed.
• Advocate and collaborate with service providers to facilitate access to care with the goal of stabilization.
• Respond to requests from San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) to help individuals found at-risk in places not meant for human habitation.
• Work collaboratively as part of a dynamic and diverse team, which includes clear communication, flexibility, and humility.
• Work in close collaboration with the DPH Medical Team (eg, Street Medicine, Shelter Health, Behavioral Health) to link people experiencing homelessness to transitional primary care.
• Maintain professional and positive relationships with other service providers, community groups, and the neighborhood.
• Must demonstrate ability to work anywhere in San Francisco and work with clients of various backgrounds.
• Must attend scheduled clinical and administrative supervision, to discuss client care, service delivery, and clinical and professional development.
• Use assigned communication devices to appropriately and professionally communicate with team members and other service providers.
• Proficient in web-based technologies to look up information and collateral data relevant to service delivery (eg, One System, Changes, Replicon, Outlook, Shiftboard).
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation according to program requirements.
• Adhere to professional ethics as well as established policies and procedures.
• Complete in person and virtual trainings on time and attend all mandatory meetings.
• Must comply with uniform policy while conducting outreach in the field.
• Perform Adult Coordinated Entry Housing Assessments as needed.
• Provide leadership to assigned team or role on outreach services with outreach staff, by proactively taking initiative. And follow up on additional responsibilities.
• Help train new staff by allowing them to shadow your work, explaining tasks, teaching SF resources, and enforcing best practices. This includes charting and documentation.
• Complete training evaluations for new hires.
• Utilizes advanced strategies and techniques in training new and current staff
• Attend training department meetings as requested.
• Attend some leadership meetings, as requested, to discuss current and future issues from the perspective of an outreach worker.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

TARGET EXPERIENCE: Direct experience working in a professional, volunteer, or other relevant capacity with people experiencing homelessness or individuals with complex medical and/or behavioral health concerns.

All areas of study meet qualifications. The following majors are preferred: Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Counseling, Sociology, Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Public Policy, Public Health, or a related field.

1. High School diploma or GED and 5 years or more with TARGET EXPERIENCE, or
2. Specialty Certificate related to the populations served (e.g., Community Health Worker, Medical Assistant, Drug and Alcohol/CADAC, Peer Counselor) and 4 years with TARGET EXPERIENCE; or
3. AA/AS degree, and 3 years or more with TARGET EXPERIENCE; or
4. BA/BS degree from an accredited 4-year College or University, and 2 year or more with TARGET EXPERIENCE; or
5. MA/MS degree from an accredited College or University and 1 year of experience, or
6. Completion of an EMT-B (Emergency Technician/ Basic) or EMT-P (Emergency Technician/ Paramedic) Training Program and 1 year with TARGET EXPERIENCE; or
7. Completion of a U.S. Military Corpsman Training Program and 1 year with TARGET EXPERIENCE; or
8. Possession of or qualify for licensing as a Psychiatric Technician and 1 year with TARGET EXPERIENCE.
9. (Internal Only) More than 2 years working for SFHOT, with advanced performance, skill, and competency. Capacity to perform in all roles and responsibilities (eg, ability to function between dispatch, responder, outreach worker, or other assigned roles). 

AND

1. Valid California driver's license. Driver must be 21 with none of the following in the past 3 years: any 2-point convictions; or more than (2) moving violations; or more than (1) moving violation and (1) at-fault or a passenger handling accident.
2. Advanced level of knowledge of the client population and their complex needs including homelessness, financial instability, medical and mental health, and substance abuse.
3. Ability to work well with diverse staff and clientele including cultural, language, sexual identity, gender and other diversity considerations within all neighborhoods in San Francisco.
4. Ability to work successfully both independently and cooperatively.
5. Ability to speak read and write clearly in English.
6. Advanced level of competency using Internet, email, and Microsoft Word computer applications as well as ability and willingness to learn necessary programs needed for everyday job function
7. Ability to use computers/internet to look up information and enter relevant notes.
8. CPR and first aid certification within 90 days of hire. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Speak languages other than English
2. Previous experience or training in street outreach and case management.
3. Knowledge of San Francisco neighborhoods and community resources.
4. Knowledge of the San Francisco Health Provider network.
5. Prior experience with documentation.

PHYSICAL DEMAND