Assertive Outreach Case Manager

Position summary:

This position is part of a project to assist people sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough, in the City of Darebin. In June 2019, Darebin Council committed to funding and establishing a two-year assertive outreach program to bridge the gap between rough sleepers and the service system. The funding is for two full-time workers who will work as part of the larger Crisis Program based at the Northcote office. The Assertive Outreach program will be delivered in partnership and have direct reporting requirements to the Darebin Council.

The Assertive Outreach program will include:

• Actively seek out and engage rough sleepers using assertive outreach
• Provide street level service delivery, short to medium term case management and linkages to other support services
• Referrals to various housing and accommodation options
• Referrals to general and specialist services

Case management is delivered using a team case management model. Typically, the role requires that the majority of contact with consumers occurs in an outreach capacity.

Support programs at MOSS utilise a team case management approach, as opposed to a key worker model. In team case management all team members have input into the case plan and ongoing work with the consumer. The aim is to achieve better outcomes for consumers through additional support work, building upon the responses already provided by Access Points as part of the Opening Doors Framework.

The Outreach Case Manager role includes reporting requirements using a computer data base reporting and case management tool, Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (SHIP) for Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS). Consumer file keeping, including electronic case notes is an important task. Workers are expected to participate in and contribute to community development and agency development as part of their role.

The Outreach Case Manager is required at all times to work within the policies and philosophical framework of Merri Outreach Support Service, the guidelines and standards of the funding body and to adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards in performing their duties and responsibilities associated with the position.