Intake Specialist

Description

About Interfaith Community Services:

As North County's largest social services agency, Interfaith Community Services has been "helping people help themselves" since 1979. The organization provides a wide range of programs designed to empower hungry, homeless, and low-income community members to begin a pathway towards self-sufficiency. Each year, Interfaith Community Services impacts more than 20,000 community members by providing basic needs and nutrition support, social services, shelters and housing, employment development, senior services, veterans programs and addiction recovery support.

Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 1,700 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 275, Interfaith provides a safe-haven and pathway towards self-sufficiency for more than 20,000 community members annually.

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a service-driven environment, we invite you to be part of our mission!

What You'll Do:

In the Intake Specialist/Rapid Rehousing Program role, you’ll be responsible for providing professional and friendly clerical and administrative support in a fast-paced, high-volume environment for the assigned program. The Intake Specialist will conduct client intake, assessments and referrals, in addition to supporting a high-volume lobby to ensure that services are provided in an effective and efficient manner, to support the mission of Interfaith Community Services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Greets, assists and directs clients, residents, and visitors in a positive manner; directing individuals to the appropriate staff member
• Maintains vigilance and awareness of all activity in the lobby and surrounding areas to ensure client and staff safety
• Provide intake screening, triage and referrals to participants
• Identifying resources and advocacy for participant’s needs
• Link and network participants with resources within the agency and utilize other public and private social service agencies as necessary
• Identify participant strengths and barriers to stability and assist participants to reducing barriers and linking to resources and services
• Administer supportive services per agency, program and contract guidelines
• Collect all necessary documentation needed for services provided
• Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs
• Performs data entry into Clarity, CIE and ETO systems accurately and proficiently
• Work with and collaborate with volunteers, interns and other agency personnel
• Provide light case management to clients including assessment, stabilization intervention, and advocacy
• Maintains an accurate filing system for client files
• Restricts entry into the reception area to authorized staff and individuals
• Participate in all staff meetings and trainings
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisor

Requirements

Who You Are:

You're passionate about making a lasting impact, whether supporting individuals directly or enhancing our organizational effectiveness. To thrive in this role, you'll:

• Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent, required
• 1+ years of experience working in a social services or nonprofit setting, required
• Experience working with homeless population, preferred
• Bilingual (English / Spanish, preferred

SKILLSETS / ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to manage high-acuity cases and respond calmly and professionally to crisis or emergency situations
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet multiple deadlines in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
• Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment
• Working knowledge of mental health, co-occurring disorders, substance use treatment models, and crisis intervention
• Knowledge of adult development and community and social service resources
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and collaborative teams
• Ability to communicate professionally with a diverse workforce and maintain positive working relationships across all organizational levels
• Demonstrates teamwork, cooperation, and a strong sense of urgency
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality of client and employee information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Primarily office-based work environment
• Frequent use of computers, phones, and standard office equipment
• Regular interaction with staff, clients, and external partners in a professional setting
• Ability to remain in a seated position for extended periods, with periodic standing and walking
• Ability to perform tasks requiring manual dexterity, including keyboarding, filing, and handling office materials
• Ability to occasionally move, lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 25–30 pounds
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and grasp as necessary to perform essential job functions
• Ability to communicate effectively and exchange information verbally and in writing
• Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation

Location: Onsite/Escondido

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm

Hourly Rate: $22.64-$25.97

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays – 13 scheduled
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• AD&D / Group Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Medical and Dependent Care
• Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Early Release Days!
• Work Anniversary Bonuses
• Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
• Home Ownership Assistance Program
• Casual Work Environment
• Professional Growth and Career Development Opportunities

Interfaith is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, nationality, sex, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Interfaith will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.