Classification: Non-Exempt / Full Time
Supervised by: Program Manager
Home Start’s vision is for every child to have a safe, stable, and nurturing home. Guided by our mission to assure the safety and resiliency of children by strengthening families and their communities, Home Start, Inc., a non-profit child abuse prevention, and treatment agency has strengthened and developed San Diego’s families and communities since 1972.
Home Start, Inc. operates programs designed to prevent homelessness, interrupt the cycle of homelessness, and promote self-sufficiency. Our programs are designed to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.
The Domestic Violence (DV) Services Lead provides leadership to the team delivering direct services and housing support to survivors of domestic violence while maintaining a caseload. This position assists clients in navigating the legal system, accessing community resources, and securing safe, stable housing in collaboration with the Housing Specialists and community partners.
Responsibilities include conducting assessments, determining financial assistance within grant guidelines, developing safety plans, providing referrals, and connecting clients to supportive services. As part of an interdisciplinary team, the DV Services Lead utilizes trauma-informed, client-centered, and strengths-based practices, including Housing First, harm reduction, and motivational interviewing, to support client safety and housing stability.
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Provides supportive services for survivors of domestic violence.
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Provides day to day leadership and work direction, supervision, coaching, and guidance to DV Services Interns & Housing Specialists.
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Serves as the housing programs subject matter expert on domestic violence services and provides consultation to housing programs on complex cases as needed.
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Ensures services, documentation, and financial assistance comply with agency policies, grant requirements, and applicable regulations.
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Conducts comprehensive client assessments to identify barriers, resource needs, and develop individualized service plans.
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Develops housing stability plans, coordinates referrals to emergency and permanent housing, and administers financial assistance in accordance with program and grant guidelines.
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Reviews documentation and case practices to promote quality service delivery and compliance.
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Provides crisis intervention, supportive counseling, risk assessment, and individualized safety planning.
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Assists survivors with legal system navigation, including court accompaniment, protection orders, victim compensation applications, and referrals to legal and community resources.
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Assists the Program Manager with onboarding, training, mentoring, and performance feedback for Housing Specialists and interns.
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Advocates for clients and collaborates with partner agencies to address barriers and connect participants to supportive services.
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Negotiates lease terms, coordinates movein activities and assists participants in obtaining household items and other resources to support housing stability.
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Maintains confidential client records, case notes, financial assistance documentation, and required reports in compliance with agency and funder requirements.
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Identifies service delivery issues and escalates operational concerns to the Program Manager while recommending solutions to improve program effectiveness.
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Participates in community collaborative meetings, training, and professional development opportunities to strengthen partnerships and enhance service delivery
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Utilizes various best practices for service delivery such as TraumaInformed Care, Motivational Interviewing, crisis intervention, and clientcentered strengthsbased case management.
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Works onsite at Your Safe Place: A San Diego Family Justice Center three days per week to coordinate services and respond to the needs of walkin survivors.
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Maintains collaborative partnerships with community agencies to coordinate wraparound services for survivors.
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Provides case management and housing stabilization services to participants in Home Start housing programs as assigned.
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Maintains proficiency in Clarity HMIS and completes required assessments and documentation to support housing program eligibility and referrals.
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Performs other duties as assigned.
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Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in domestic violence, housing, or related human services, including demonstrated experience providing leadership, mentoring, or supervision. At least three to five years of leadership experience, preferably in a social services setting.
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Extensive knowledge of, or experience providing services to, survivors of domestic violence and other victims of crime.
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Knowledge of family systems, community resources, substance abuse treatment and interventions required
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Must submit to a background check via Live Scan as required by specific programs, funding requirements and licensing regulations.
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Must have a valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record with access to a reliable personal vehicle.
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Must demonstrate ability to be culturally sensitive and respect diversity.
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Demonstrated ability to work in a fastpaced environment with strong critical thinking and problemsolving skills.
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Bilingual in English and Spanish, or another language reflective of the populations served, preferred.
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Sitting for extended periods of time.
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Frequent travel by personal vehicle to meet with clients and attend agency and community meetings.
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Office space may be shared with frequent telephone and visitor contacts.
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The noise level fluctuates from quiet to noisy.
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Frequent travel to meet with clients and landlords.
Home Start, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in the hiring of personnel because of gender, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or gender expression, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.
Guided by our mission to assure the safety and resiliency of children by strengthening families and their communities, Home Start, Inc., a non-profit child abuse prevention and treatment agency, has strengthened and developed San Diego’s families, communities, and systems of care since 1972. To effectively prevent and treat child abuse, Home Start addresses the conditions that can contribute to risky or abusive situations – poverty, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of affordable housing, and unemployment – while concurrently addressing individual self-sufficiency and emotional needs.
