JOB TITLE: Caseworker

DEPARTMENT: CRP – Hard To Place Agency Operating Boarding Homes

LOCATION: Long Island City

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

The Caseworker is a professional staff position in the Community Residential Programs division of SCO Family of Services. The position requires an individual who is highly dedicated to the goals and objectives of family involvement, residential group care, and the agency at large. The caseworker should be committed to the betterment of clients and maintain a philosophy that is goal-directed, child-centered, family-focused and neighborhood-based. Social work service provision occurs within a context, which promotes the belief that clients have a sense of dignity, which must be restored and maintained, as well as a right to empowerment and self-determination. Caseworkers work in partnership with families, youth and neighborhood residents. The work is demanding, highly interactive and diversified and therefore requires flexibility. The caseworker must be sensitive to the rights, feeling, needs and cultural background of each client and responsive to such in a non-judgmental manner.

REPORTS TO: Director of Social Services

SUPERVISES: N/A

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Caseworker with Child (30%)

Maintains on-going qualitative social work/child, and social/child care contacts in accordance with regulatory mandates. Lobbies and advocates energetically for the appropriate education/vocational placement for each resident. Prepares cases for presentation in six-month interdisciplinary case reviews and participates actively in the development of comprehensive service plan. Serves as youngster’s advocate and represents in collaborative service planning with Department of Mental Health and Youth Development Services and the program’s Nursing and Program Management Units. Facilitates case movement, which seeks the placement of each youngster in the most appropriate and least restrictive setting for required services.

B. Caseworker with Family (30%)

Maintains and facilitates on-going qualitative social work/family, family/child and siblings contacts in accordance with regulatory mandates. Executes diligent efforts to locate family members of each youngster in the program. Implements creative strategies for involving family members in the service planning and delivery process. Lobbies energetically and facilitates the provision of family therapy and other supportive collateral services when indicated. Facilitates the development of realistic appropriate and timely discharge plans. Promotes the principles of the family-to-family initiative through partnership with direct care staff, birth parents and youth and neighborhood residents. Helps to establish communities of care for youth and the families by building effective relationships with significant individuals and service providers in the location where the family resides.

C. Casework with Collateral Persons (15%)

Maintains regular contact and efficacious working relationships with significant others involved in the service planning and provision process, i.e. child care staff, educational personnel, court and legal representatives, foster parents, medical personnel and other caseworkers involved. Lobbies energetically and advocates for services which will empower and enhance client functioning. Assures a holistic, culturally sensitive, family centered and child-focused presentation of case particulars. Represents the agency in neighborhood service network meetings and other forums and participates in other community educational activities.

D. Record keeping (25%)

Maintains accurate and up-to-date electronic and paper case records. Complete, accurate and timely documentation of casework activities is a critical element of this position. Facilitates regulatory compliance with City and State standards of practices. Completes and submits all necessary reports (e.g., service plans, permanency hearing reports, progress notes), as required, in a timely fashion.

Performs all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience required:

A record of success and achievement in a foster boarding home or residential child care work is helpful. Demonstrated competency in the knowledge of the Family-to Family service model is desirable.

Education:

A Bachelors degree in Social Work or related field from an accredited college or university preferred. Degrees in other disciplines given full consideration.

Special Skills:

Familiarity with the community to which assigned and knowledgeable about the major culture groups within the neighborhoods served. The following qualifications are desirable: residence in the community in which the position is located; from the culture and ability to speak the language of the major groups served in the community.

Must have excellent writing skills and good basic computer skills (e-mail, word processing, internet research).

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

Externally: interacts with NYC Administration for Children’s Services, school systems, other community-based organizations

Internally: interfaces with other service programs as well as business support services

In addition, employees need to possess the following characteristics:

· Be team players.

· Have a strong sensitivity to cultural differences present among staff and clients within our organization.

· Possess a strong belief in people’s ability to grow and change; forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families.

· Ability to set limits and maintain helping role of practitioner and to intervene appropriately.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Requires occasional flexibility in hours to accommodate family visits, service plan reviews and crisis intervention. This position is eligible for compensatory time off. Agency vehicles are available for driving, subject to DMV check of caseworker’s driving record.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Responsible for meeting the stated requirements of the position.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Works within the structure of the Community Residential Programs as that relates to the overall agency organization