LifeLong Medical Care is recruiting to fill a Case Manager (CM) position within the innovative Street Medicine program. Examples of our work can be seen in a variety of local and national news articles, particularly as it pertains to our COVID-19 response within the population of people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County. The CM is a member of a multidisciplinary team that includes medical providers, registered nurses, social workers, and case managers to assess, treat, and support the holistic needs individuals living in encampments and on the streets experiencing homelessness. This position will be deployed in one of the five service areas in Northern Alameda County that LifeLong Street Medicine serves as part of its partnership with Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless.

The CM works with patients and partner organizations to provide short-term transitional case management until a patient has stabilized enough to transition to a conventional system of care (primary care and/or a community mental health clinic or Intensive Case Management program) or has been placed in a higher level of care. The CM will work solely with individuals experiencing homelessness and who are living outdoors; 50% of that time will be spent in the field working in encampments or on the streets. The CM is responsible for outreach, engagement, care plan development, and coordination of care. Additionally, CMs conduct housing problem solving with all engaged Street Medicine patients and document their work in HMIS.

Ideally, the CM will be a trusted member of the community in which they will work. This relationship will enable the CM to serve as a liaison between health, social services, and housing resource providers. Following LifeLong COVID-19 safety protocols and exercising good judgment regarding risk mitigation are important for both staff and patient safety. 

This is a grant funded, full time, benefit eligible position. 

This position is represented by SEIU-UHW. Salaries and benefits are set by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and an employee in this position must remain a member in good standing of SEIU-UHW, as defined in the CBA.

LifeLong Medical Care is a large, multi-site, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with a rich history of providing innovative healthcare and social services to a wonderfully diverse patient community. Our patient-centered health home is a dynamic place to work, practice, and grow. We have over 15 primary care health centers and deliver integrated services including psychosocial, referrals, chronic disease management, dental, health education, home visits, and much, much more. LifeLong Medical Care is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition.

Benefits

Compensation: $24.15 - $27/hour. We offer excellent benefits including: medical, dental, vision (including dependent and domestic partner coverage), generous leave benefits including ten paid holidays, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) retirement savings plan.

COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

In accordance with LifeLong Medical Care's commitment to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we have adopted a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy to safeguard the health of our employees and their families; our patients and visitors; and the community at large from infectious diseases, that vaccinations may reduce. This policy will comply with all applicable laws and is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Order of the California State Public Health Officer. Unless a reasonable medical or religious accommodation is approved, all employees must receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

• Provide respectful engagement to adults experiencing homelessness, many of whom have complex physical and mental health conditions, and significant lack of trust in conventional systems of care.
• Provide field-based services and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments, on the streets, and other locations to meet their immediate felt needs and engage them in care by the multidisciplinary team.
• Provide health education and training, including COVID-19 risk mitigation, overdose prevention, and harm reduction strategies.
• Document patient encounters using the agency’s Electronic Health Record (Epic) system.
• Advocate on behalf patients to get their needs met and/or support them to advocate for themselves.
• Collaborate and coordinate services with appropriate community/partner agencies, including City and County government agencies.
• Liaise with hospitals and other providers of physical, mental health, and substance use services.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with community partners and collaborates with them to identify and improve processes that enhance services.
• Provide information and referral to community services such as mental health, housing, employment, or other resources.
• Assist patients with accessing public benefits (enrollment and renewals) and assistance including Medi-Cal, CalFresh, General Assistance, Social Security, and Social Security Disability.
• Transport patients, in an agency vehicle or Lyft, to associated LifeLong primary care clinics or other appropriate locations.
• Complete all appropriate data collection, paperwork, and tracking of activities in a timely manner.
• Make timely and accurate decisions in emergency or crisis situations with awareness of the need for safety of all patients and staff.
• Follow all LifeLong safety protocols, including those for COVID-19.

• Experience working with underserved communities, including individuals experiencing homelessness and/or housing insecurity. Commitment to working directly with low-income persons from diverse backgrounds in a helpful and supportive manner.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to be flexible and adaptive to change while maintaining a positive attitude.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work under pressure, and complete assignments in a timely manner.
• Ability to effectively present information to others, including other employees, community partners, and vendors.
• Ability to seek direction/approval from on essential matters, yet work independently with little onsite supervision, using professional judgment and diplomacy.
• Work in a team-oriented environment with a diverse number of professionals with different work styles and support needs.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written skills and ability to effectively work with people from diverse backgrounds and be culturally sensitive.
• Conduct oneself in external settings in a way that reflects positively on LifeLong Medical Care as an organization of professional, confident, and sensitive staff.
• Ability to see how one’s work intersects with that of other departments of LifeLong Medical Care and that of other partner organizations.
• Make appropriate use of knowledge/ expertise/ connections of other staff.
• Be creative and mature with a “can do”, proactive attitude and an ability to continuously “scan” the environment, identifying and taking advantage of opportunities for improvement.

Job Requirements

• High School diploma or GED.
• At least one year of work experience in a community-based health care or social service capacity.
• Possession of current driver’s license and insurance. 
• Knowledge of Alameda County health and social service resources.
• Previous work providing services to persons who are experiencing homelessness, living with a disability, using substances, and experiencing mental health challenges.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Reliable means of transportation for community outreach and travel to patient appointments and meetings. Note: staff will never be required to transport patients in their personal vehicle.

Job Preferences

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Health or Human Services field.
• Lived experience relative to working with people experiencing homelessness (e.g. formerly homeless, social or behavioral health services consumer, criminal justice system involvement, foster care involvement, close family-member of someone with these experiences).