Position summary: Under direct supervision, provides a broad range of paraprofessional social services to patients/clients/consumers and their families. Conducts patient/client/consumer intakes, participates in treatment team planning, and performs crisis intervention.

Job Responsibilities & Performance Standards:

• Assists clients in locating and utilizing community resources including legal, medical, financial assistance, and other referral services
  • Interviews patients/clients/consumers and/or families using acceptable techniques to obtain necessary information regarding medical, social and/or emotional background.
  • Contacts other health care professionals within or outside the organization as necessary to obtain background information on patient/client/consumer.
  • Completes and places, in patient's/client's/consumer's chart, a written individual/family intake profile or updates according to established standards and time frames.
  • Complies with patient/client/consumer confidentiality as specified by department policy.

• Completes patient/client/consumer intakes based on interviews with patients/clients/consumers, their families, significant others and appropriate community agencies
  • Attends and participates in treatment team meetings when requested.
  • Participates in developing individual/family intake profile with treatment team members.
  • Participates in the accurate identification of consumer's strengths and weaknesses.
  • Provides appropriate input to the treatment team regarding consumer's physical/psychosocial status based on interviews with and observation of consumer.

• Counsels clients living in group homes and halfway houses; assists in pre-release and release planning
  • Observes and accurately records consumer's progress based on interviews or other contacts with consumer.
  • Writes concise, accurate, clear observation notes in the consumer's chart as required by departmental policy.
  • Notifies appropriate professional(s) of any unusual patient/client/consumer incident/situation in a timely manner.

• Implements life skills workshops and programs in behavior management, youth services, community and social services
  • Schedules follow-up appointments in a timely manner to ensure continuum of services.
  • Makes referrals to appropriate agencies for patient/client/consumer support services.

• Maintains contact with other social service agencies and health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on client's overall progress
  • Prepares accurate periodic and ad hoc reports as required.
  • Submits all reports, forms and other documentation in a timely manner.

• Maintains program statistics
  • Assists with and participates in individual counseling sessions which effectively address the patient's/client's/consumer's personal, social and physical/medical development.
  • Assists with and participates in group/family counseling or educational sessions to effectively address medical and psychosocial needs.
  • Provides appropriate emotional support and encouragement to consumers and families and assists in the resolution of minor problems.

• Monitors patient's/client's/consumer's progress towards treatment goals
  • Provides appropriate input in developing and maintaining a network of community contacts.
  • Provides appropriate input in strategy or review staffings and committees to facilitate linkages and communication.
  • Provides appropriate information and/or input in meetings pertaining to case management and/or case collaboration.

• Organizes the delivery of specific social services within the community
  • Attends seminars and meetings when available.
  • Maintains a continuing education program by attending in-service training when scheduled.
  • Maintains knowledge by reading up-to-date articles, books, etc.

• Prepares intake reports and case history records
  • Operates personal or state vehicle and observes all safety laws and agency procedures.
  • Maintains a valid and appropriate license to operate their assigned vehicle.
  • Reports any vehicle problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
  • Transports, or makes arrangements to transport, patient/client/consumer to appointments within organization or to community support services in a timely manner.

• Provides crisis intervention and emergency shelter services
  • Determines patients/clients/consumers leisure preferences by exposing them to a variety of age-appropriate activities, in-home or out-of-home and discusses choices with them.
  • Assists in surveying existing community leisure activities and arranges for patients/clients/consumers to attend integrated functions.
  • Participates effectively on community collaborative committees to educate and expand community awareness about services provided and patient/client/consumer needs
  • Assists in planning and implementing effective classroom training activities for patients/clients/consumers to facilitate socialization in the community.

Minimum Qualifications:

SST 1: High school diploma or GED AND One year of experience in a social services related position OR Two years at an accredited college or university with at least 15 credit hours in a social services related field.

SST 2: Bachelor's degree in a social services related field from an accredited college or university, OR Associate's Degree in a social services related field AND five years of experience in social services, OR High school diploma or GED AND ten years of experience in a social services related position.

SST 3: Master's degree in social services related field from an accredited college or university, OR Bachelor's degree in a social services related field from an accredited college or university AND five years of experience in a social services related field OR a combination of education and/or supervisory experience in the social services field of work that demonstrates the individual's ability to lead a team, as necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

CPS or CARES certified