Job Abstract

Job Summary

The Licensed Vocational Nurse works as a team member of the multi-disciplinary homeless street outreach team, in collaboration with social service professionals, ensuring the delivery of quality care in accordance to the rules and regulations established by the Los Angeles Department of Health Services for contracted agencies, as well as adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center. The E6 MDT Licensed Vocational Nurse will use the “whatever it takes” approach and strong clinical and medical lens to medically asses and help people experiencing homelessness get connected to adequate health care in order to obtain permanent housing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Licensed Vocational Nurse’s key areas of responsibility include: 

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Provide street based outreach, navigation, health and mental health support to individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Provide health assessments and interventions to the severe and persistent chronically and mentally ill.
• Provide support and assistance to clients with accessing resources in the community.  Establish and maintain professional and positive relationships with staff, clients, and community providers.   
• Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim and permanent supportive housing programs.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, conferences, program evaluation and program development.

Essential Duties:

• Coordinate and provide medical outreach services for individuals within the SPA-5 Service Area
• Provide any needed or requested license-dependent physical or mental health service(s)
• Provide health education, resources, and liaison with community health providers and counseling on specific health issues
• Provide health care services in the field to homeless population within scope of the license
• Dispense medication(s)/injection(s) as ordered by MD, NP, PA
• Demonstrate responsibility for the proper transcribing, administration, monitoring, and managing of medications. Display knowledge of adverse side effects, indications for use, and contraindications of medications
• Complete assessments regarding physical and mental health status. Develop appropriate plan of care and interventions
• Assist in the collection of health information. Monitor and manage health conditions by taking measurements of weight/BMI, blood pressure, glucose levels, and lipid profile when possible.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to provide linkage, outreach, community-based case management, housing, mental health and primary care services to individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Make independent assessments to identify individual needs as necessary and initiate communication and collaboration within the integrated team and with referral sources to provide the resources to meet those needs
• Utilize evidence based practices in service delivery such as motivational interviewing, harm reduction, supported employment and education, intensive case management, housing first, and critical time intervention
• Be an active part of the learning in this project by participating in other trainings (LAHSA trainings, DMH/DHS trainings and other sources) that introduce different interventions that could be an effective strategy with this population
• Build collaborative partnerships with existing and new community resources and providers for linkage and support purposes.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and other aspects of the day-to-day operations and community life of the program site(s)
• Complete all documentation and maintain all paperwork and other required documentation as required for program compliance and accountability in accordance with St. Joseph Center/DHS standards and funding source requirements.
• Provide linkage support, coaching, counseling, mentoring, instruction, training, feedback and positive reinforcement for members in areas such physical health care, money management, grooming and hygiene, meal preparation, public transportation and other independent living skills.
• Mediate and advocate on behalf of individuals to help them obtain and keep health care benefits, entitlements, etc.
• Read, perform research, attend classes, workshops or seminars and participate in other professional development activities in order to maintain and enhance personal and professional skills.
• Provide training and consultation to the team on physical health issues.

*Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed are designed to provide typical examples of the work performed; not all duties and responsibilities assigned are included here, nor is it expected that all similar positions will be assigned every duty and responsibility.