Triage Coordinator

City of Boston Residency Required

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

Supervision

• Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and execution of Front Door Triage services to divert or quickly place guests who are new or returning to the homeless shelter system.
• Responsible for recruitment, training, scheduling, and direct supervision of assigned staff.
• Responsible for monitoring assigned staffs’ caseloads, case files, data entry, and progress toward position goals.

Diversion and Placement Services

• Assists in the monitoring and recording keeping of the Front Door Triage phone line, which provides basic triage services to individuals over the phone to avoid inappropriate referral or presentation at shelter.
• Conducts problem-solving conversations with new and returning guests to explore all possible options to help an individuals not enter/re-enter homelessness.
• Completes triage assessments on all new shelter guests to identify potential alternative placements.
• Uses progressive engagement and motivational interviewing to quickly and proactively to move guests out of shelter by implementing a diversion or placement plan.
• Facilitates reunification with clients’ pre-existing and natural supports.
• Performs follow-up with clients to ensure they are safe and to connect them to community supports as needed to prevent recidivism.
• Works in collaboration with the Behavioral Health Department, to ensure that clients presenting with acute mental health symptoms are assessed for the most appropriate services and/or referral.
• Provides crisis intervention and supportive counseling to new shelter guests.
• Works in collaboration with other providers in developing program policies, record keeping, and communication systems to ensure a unified Front Door Triage and Assessment model for City of Boston.

Department-wide responsibilities

• Engages all clients using a Housing First approach, delivers services using principles of trauma-informed care and harm-reduction, and promotes racial equity.
• Works with internal and external partners to refer and connect clients to key services to help them find and succeed in placement outside of shelter, including but not limited to substance use treatment, housing navigation services, benefits and income maximization, and community-based resources.
• Develops, maintains, and shares information regarding referral sources for homeless guests by establishing contacts and working in collaboration with area social services agencies.
• Researches, arranges, and documents all aspects of a client’s travel from shelter to external placement.
• Provides actual transportation for local placements via Program vehicles.
• Maintains up to date and accurate client files, and client records/documents, entering timely and accurate data into BPHC’s and the City’s HMIS databases.
• Actively coordinates with other departments to provide integrated services to guests.
• Attends and participates in regular team and/or Bureau meetings and trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum of one (1) year supervisory and two (2) years human service experience or College level course work equivalent to an Associate’s degree with two (2) years supervisory and three (3) years human service experience or High School Diploma/GED Certificate and three (3) years or supervisory experience and three (3) years of human services experience.
• Previous experience working with homeless, diverse ethnic and racial, and low-income populations with an understanding of barriers posted by mental health, substance use, immigration status, and criminal record.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to follow a defined program model of progressive engagement.
• Experience with motivational interviewing preferred.
• Ability to work in a team atmosphere.

Additional Information

• City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.

Shift

Sunday - Thursday

12pm - 8pm OR 1pm - 9pm

Grant Funding Information

This position is not dependent on grants / external funding sources.

Pay Range

$1099.41 - $1,257.78 Weekly