Housing For Health – Nurse Practitioner for Interim Housing Outreach Program (IHOP)

POSITION INFORMATION:

Housing for Health (HFH) within the Los Angeles (LA) County Department of Health Services (DHS) is a program designed to provide housing and care coordination services for the most medically vulnerable people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in LA County. Among Housing for Health’s clinical programs is IHOP. The Interim Housing Outreach Program (IHOP) is a collaborative effort between LA County Department of Health Services (DHS), Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) division of Department of Public Health (DPH). IHOP multidisciplinary medical and behavioral health care staff provide services in over 300 shelters and interim housing settings across LA County and ensure that PEH with functional disabilities due to physical, behavioral, and/or cognitive issues are stabilized and linked to life-saving services including medical care, housing, and complex care management resources.

HFH is seeking a dynamic Nurse Practitioner (NP) to provide medical support to IHOP clients throughout LA County’s eight service planning areas (SPAs); as such, this position will require frequent driving from one shelter location to another. The IHOP NP will provide direct care services as well as provide support to other IHOP practitioners, including Registered Nurse (RNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), and community health workers/other support staff. The NPs will diagnose, prescribe, and provide treatment within the scope of the program and under the direction of the IHOP Medical Director. The NP exemplifies the HFH core principle of “whatever it takes” in providing and coordinating clinical services with other DHS/County departments and HFH partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

• Completes comprehensive provider assessments and establishes client plan of care and/or recommended referrals for services.

• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary and multiagency team to case conference, coordinate care, and create an immediate-term stabilization plan, triaging and prioritizing clinical services, community resources, and connections to longitudinal care.

• Develops client-centered and evidence-based recommendations for nursing/clinical interventions to support/enhance activities of daily living, reducing the need for long-term placement in higher level of care.

• Makes recommendations for permanent housing placements, support services, equipment, and/or transfer to HFH-sponsored stabilization, recuperative care, or enhanced residential care beds based on ADL/IADL performance, life negotiation skills, and functional status.

• Makes provider recommendations for care coordination, medical protocol screening recommendations, refilling of medications, and providing of urgent care within the program limits.

• Conducts site visits to support operations, clinical care, and perform quality improvement monitoring, as needed; Follows up on referrals to ensure linkage and effectiveness of recommended plan and provides technical assistance in the form of training, consultation, screenings, evaluation, and tool development for HFH staff and partner agency staff.

• Leads and participates in performance improvement activities. Actively participates in recommending and facilitating change implementation in policies that impacts nursing practice; Participates in staff meetings, and team huddles/reports for the general management, coordination, and organization of program operations.

• Maintains collegial relationships with peers and with clinical and administrative directors; provides mentorship and coaching to clinical team; participates in other HFH/DHS meetings, as directed.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS and MINIMUM ROLE REQUIREMENTS:

• Preferred 2 years or more clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner.

• Preferred 1 year experience working directly with medically vulnerable populations in homeless services, correctional health, or mental health.

• Preferred 6 months to 1 year experience working with individuals with comorbid substance use disorder and serious mental illness, including experience with assessing for/prescribing medications for addiction treatment (MAT).

• A graduate* degree in nursing from an accredited college or university –AND– completion of a nurse practitioner education program approved by the Board of Registered Nursing.

• A current license to practice as a Registered Nurse, a certificate to practice as a Nurse Practitioner, and a Furnishing Number issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

• An active and transferrable Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration for the designated practice site prior to completion of probationary period.

• An active National Provider Identifier (NPI) number for billing purposes (hold or eligible for).

• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association.

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions, including driving to locations throughout Los Angeles County

Candidates must currently hold a permanent County of Los Angeles payroll title of Nurse Practitioner to be considered for a transfer or are reachable on the DHS eligibility list to be considered for a promotion or as a new hire. The most qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and the last two performance evaluations, to:
Knarik Kodzhanyan, Staff Analyst Program Operations Administration / Housing For Health
email:kkodzhanyan@dhs.lacounty.gov
655 Maple Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Resumes will be accepted until the needs of the department are met.
**This is not a civil service examination**
Date posted: 7 / 18 / 24