Social Worker (Licensed) Adult Residential

  PURPOSE:

The Jewish Board’s Adult Residential Division supports Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing adults with serious and persistent mental illness to live in the community with as much independence as possible. Using a non-judgmental, harm-reduction approach, staff model and guide residents to create and meet personalized recovery goals, develop independent living skills, and live in a healthy and secure manner. Our work is guided by principles that underscore the critical importance of stable housing, use a culturally competent and anti-racist lens, and respect the dignity and legitimacy of each individual’s journey. 

   POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Social Worker is responsible for supplying necessary clinical intervention within the realm of the program.  Provide cultural competent and sensitive services.  As part of a therapeutic team within the Agency, work closely with the divisions’ medical, psychiatric and psychology staff, to ensure the appropriate treatment interventions for the client. 

   KEY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Client Engagement

• Carries a caseload of residents, and provides services to those residents within the scope of program regulations and agency mission.
• Completes client assessments to include, intake assessments, overall client assessments, risk assessments
• Evaluates and assesses clients’ functioning, and supports clients in meeting individual goals.
• Practices person-centered and collaborative service planning with clients, also ensuring service plans are completed and signed by residents according to regulatory guidelines and standards.

• Interprets and explains agency policies and procedures to residents.
• Develop safety plans
• Provide individual and family counseling.
• Makes referrals and coordinates services for clients, including but not limited to, medical, mental health, substance abuse prevention and treatment
• Advocates on behalf of residents with other services providers.
• Links residents to community-based programs and collaborates with other services providers
• May run groups under supervision
• Participates in audit preparation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Team Process

• Participates in weekly case conference
• Participates in intake, assessment, discharge, and follow-up conferences.
• Participates in regular staff meetings and trainings.  May be asked to travel to offsite meetings and trainings.
• Participates in planning and execution of special and holiday events.

Documentation

• Files incident reports as appropriate.
• Completes regular and timely documentation of all resident interactions, including progress and informational notes.
• Facilitates monthly roommate meetings when appropriate.RE COMPETENCIES for the position include:
• Excellent engagement and assessment skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team

CORE COMPETENCIES for the position include:

Knowledge and Attributes 

• In-depth understanding of how mental illness, substance use disorders, or trauma can affect the lives of individuals in the community.
• Experience working with individuals living with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or trauma required.
• Knowledge of local and state health and human service systems and their navigation.
• Understanding of the demanding processes of stabilization and recovery.
• Commitment to working with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, a history of trauma, and/or homelessness.
• Compassion and respect for vulnerable individuals.
• Openness to approaching the work through an anti-racist lens, engaging in continuous learning, and putting that learning into practice to support our diverse resident population.
• The ability to stay calm in a variety of situations, some of which may be stressful.
• Patience and empathy for individuals on their journey to recovery.

Skills

• Communication: Conveys information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; practices active listening; engages residents respectfully.
• Self-sufficiency and initiative: Assesses, initiates, and completes tasks independently; contributes to the organization’s mission and team’s goals; researches and pursues professional development opportunities.
• Interpersonal relations: Demonstrates cultural sensitivity, interacts with colleagues and residents professionally and respectfully.
• Problem-solving: Analyzes situations objectively, generates or researches solutions independently
• Quality assurance: Attends to detail, follows standard operating procedures, and consistently produces work of high quality.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with teams and models collaborative teamwork, takes appropriate action on constructive feedback. 
• Organizational skills: Manages time effectively; respects deadlines; prioritizes multiple, emerging, and complex demands; demonstrates flexibility.
• Crisis management: Identifies situations in the environment that can evolve into a crisis, maintains calm during a crisis, has solid crisis de-escalation skills or is willing to learn specific skills to de-escalate a crisis.
• Good judgement: Manages risk and ensures safety of residents independently recognizes and acts on situations requiring intervention by a supervisor or higher authority.

   EDUCATIONAL / TRAINING REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, LMSW or LCSW certification preferred
• Fluent in American Sign Language required

• A minimum of 1-year experience in Human Services preferred

Additional Qualification needed:

• Willingness to work with individuals with experiences of mental illness, and substance use.
• Compassion and respect for vulnerable individuals.
• Patience and understanding for the sometimes-slow process of stabilization and recovery.

COMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED

•     Familiarity with working in Windows environment

•     Ability and willingness to learn new systems and application software

VISUAL AND MANUAL DEXIERITY:

• Able to read data and documents, including spreadsheets, reports and Electronic Health Records in printed form and on computer screens.
• Able to input data into relevant systems
• Limited applications of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL EFFORT

•     Travel in the community.