Client Services Navigator

Client Services Navigator
This is a bargaining unit position represented by the OPEIU. All terms and conditions of employment are subject to change in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement.

WORK SCHEDULE: This position is full-time, regular and non-exempt and may require working days, evenings, or weekends based on program needs. This position is on-site client facing and non-remote.

ABOUT CENTRALIZED CLIENT SERVICES: The Centralized Client Services team includes approximately 12 team members focused on providing direct, holistic, trauma-informed services to young people. Key services areas include homelessness prevention; Anti-Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault/Abuse; Justice Involved Youth & Young Adult Community Partnership Work; School & Community Education, Outreach & Support Services. The Centralized Client Services division within YouthCare’s Programs Department is responsible for connecting youth and young adults to services that provide continuity and stabilization; connecting youth, young adults and families to critical resources and services to prevent homelessness; outreaching into the community to educate the public and share the work YouthCare is doing to end youth homelessness; and working internally to foster an integrative service delivery approach that elevates team member competencies and success in providing culturally relevant services.

This program is a part of a multi-disciplinary, Centralized Client Services team providing support to the Youth that we serve. YouthCare provides direct support to unhoused young people in the Seattle and King County region, and the Client Services Navigator team is a central program in meeting young people where they are and walking with them towards greater stability.

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager, the Client Services Navigator is responsible for providing direct, trauma-informed services to a caseload of no fewer than twenty (20) and no more than twenty-five (25) clients at a time. This position will work in a multidisciplinary environment, collaborating with staff across programs to support the diverse and intersecting needs of young people engaged with YouthCare. The role includes conducting housing assessments, Coordinated Entry for All (CEA) nominations, diversion, prevention, and housing navigation to appropriate housing and community resources. The Client Services Navigator will work across funding streams and be able to use varied modalities to support clients towards stability and housing. The Client Services Navigator is expected to work closely with all Orion Center staff and related programs, providing broader programmatic support and ensure coordinated service delivery and holistic client support.

This role requires flexibility, collaboration, and strong organizational skills to support young people and young adults in crisis as they work toward stability and independence.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Client Empowerment & Outcomes Leadership:

• Manage a caseload of 20–25 clients at a time, maintaining a minimum of 20 active cases.
• Conduct comprehensive housing assessments, create individualized service plans, and support clients through the CEA nomination and referral process.
• Support clients in developing self-advocacy and life skills necessary for long-term independence.
• Understand and utilize diverse funding streams, and the supported practices, to meet young people engaging with YouthCare.
• Participate in the support and activities of the Orion Resource Center, driving continuity of services and integration of programs.
• Support the program needs including meeting basic needs, coordinating meal preparation, and maintaining the safety and cleanliness of the center in accordance with established cleaning protocols. Perform janitorial duties and related tasks as required by site needs and agency guidelines.

Systems Navigation & Advocacy:

• Act as a liaison between YouthCare programs, public systems (e.g., DCYF, DSHS, juvenile justice, education), and community providers to ensure coordinated, equitable service delivery.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team that includes case managers, housing specialists, behavioral health professionals, and employment/education staff.
• Coordinate services across YouthCare’s programs—including Orion Center and other internal sites—to ensure consistent, integrated care.
• Support clients with a broad range of needs, including housing instability, behavioral health, education, employment, and life skills development.

Documentation & Accountability:

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in YouthCare’s Caseworthy system, including service plans, progress notes, discharge summaries, and more.
• Track client progress and report outcomes to support program evaluation and compliance requirements.
• Participate in data review meetings to identify trends and inform continuous service improvement.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Provide on-site, in-person support to young people while maintaining professional boundaries. Use and model positive behavior strategies, effective de-escalation, problem-solving, and mediation skills, and be prepared to always apply them, especially during crises.
• Serve as a mentor and resource to new or less experienced staff, modeling effective client engagement and documentation practices.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary case reviews and contribute to collective problem-solving and service alignment across programs.
• Partner with Orion Center staff and other internal teams to align client goals with available program resources.
• Contribute to ongoing cross-program coordination meetings to ensure that each client receives holistic, barrier-reducing services.
• Participate in regular supervision, client consultations, and staff and agency meetings. Attend and fully participate in meetings, professional development opportunities, and designated training sessions as required.

Trauma-Informed & Culturally Responsive Practice:

• Deliver services grounded in trauma-informed, culturally competent, and equity-centered principles.
• Contribute to YouthCare’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEI&J) initiatives by identifying and addressing barriers to client access and engagement.

This job description is not intended to cover every aspect of your job at YouthCare. We are a team that works together to meet the needs of our clients, and every member of the team is expected to pitch in and help even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this description.

QUALIFICATIONS –
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree or master's Degree in counseling, social work, human services, or a related field.
• At least one (1) year of experience working with at-risk youth or young adults in crisis, in outreach, or in a residential/community-based setting.
• OR four (4) years of full-time work experience directly serving or managing services for vulnerable populations.
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age. DCYF Clearance must be maintained for the entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Prior case management experience.
• Two (2) or more years of experience working with vulnerable youth or young adults in crisis or residential programs.
• Training or coursework in human development, mental health, chemical dependency, or residential care.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one year of hire date).
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position must be at least 21 years old, possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License, meet minimum safe driver criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of driving certification courses. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3 years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Ability to obtain a current Food Handler’s Card
• Successful completion of pre-service training courses as required by contracting agencies. Training such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, respond therapeutically in crisis situations, and de-escalate conflict.
• Commitment to YouthCare’s cultural proficiency and DEI&J initiatives.

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Ability to perform a range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and go up and down stairs.