Under the supervision of the Project In-Reach Program Director, the Social Worker supports the clinical staff with clinical care coordination to incarcerated and recently released individuals living with serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders age 18 as they prepare to exit detention facilities, and 90 days post-release, including case management, care coordination, researching and organizing the necessary community resources in order to support clients’ transition to the community, and following through to ensure service efficacy; and performs related work as required.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Cultural and socio-economic issues relevant to providing appropriate case management services to special population groups, including Latino, African-American, and Transition Age Youth;
• Criminogenic risks and needs assessment and intervention;
• Legal and ethical issues pertaining to delivery of professional services;
• Human behavior theory;
• Local community and mental health resources available to assist incarcerated clients;
• Group dynamic theories and facilitation methods;
• Social, psychological and physical factors of mental, emotional, and substance abuse disorders;
• Types of illicit drugs and behavior patterns associated with them;
• Addictive behavior treatment methods;
• Local community resources.

Ability to:

• Work with the incarcerated population and correctional staff;
• Address criminogenic risks and needs;
• Maintain detailed client documentation;
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgment in dealing with a variety of people with mental illnesses;
• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, correctional staff, other professional staff and the public;
• Operate a computer using word processing, spreadsheet and database software applications, and operate other standard office equipment;
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply local, state and federal law and regulations governing mental health programs and correctional facilities;
• Analyze complex mental health and substance abuse program issues and problems, evaluate alternative solutions and develop sound conclusions, recommendations and courses of action;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Successfully perform duties in a field-based setting;

Language Skills:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos in English; ability to write simple correspondence in English; ability to effectively communicate and present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s; ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables, in standardized situations.