What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Resource Liaison position at City of Suffolk, VA?
- This is a GRANT funded position with a duration of 1 year with possible extension approvals up to 3 years total*
As part of the Suffolk Public Library's Community Engagement Department, this position integrates social work practices into library services, outreach, and partnerships to advance the library's mission of equity, access, and intentional partnerships. The Community Resource Liaison works collaboratively with library staff and community partners to address barriers to information, learning, and wellness.
Serves as the manager of a specific division or area and is responsible for planning, leading, managing, and evaluating community resources. Ensures that all services are in alignment with the library's strategic goals and are implemented effectively. Responsible for helping identify library patrons who may benefit from referral to community resources such as mental health services, substance abuse services, educational resources, after-school resources, housing services, food and community resources or case management services identified either through patron request, individual patron need assessments or through direct referral by City staff; providing resources and referrals for services and assist patrons with follow-through with obtaining services; monitoring the budget, researching and formulating long range goals, developing policies, and planning and evaluating programs, services, and goals. Reports to the Community Engagement Library Manager.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
- Supports library outreach efforts such as pop-up libraries, food and resource pantries, and community events to ensure equitable access to information and basic needs resources.
- Provides consultation and guidance to staff regarding complex patron needs and referrals.
- Promotes collaboration and understanding of library-based social work services across agencies and the public.
- Collaborates with the Community Engagement Manager on data collection, grant reporting, and evaluation of outreach and resource service impact.
- Connects clients and the general public to resource agencies as needs are identified.
- Interprets programs to other agencies and the public.
- Supervises, assigns and reviews daily activities of the divisions' community resource workers, ensuring adherence to established policies, procedures and standards for multiple benefit and employment programs as administered through the City Library Department, instructing and advising, as appropriate, and resolving problems as non-routine situations arise.
- Develops, maintains, and accommodates community agency partnerships.
- Develops resources with and for library staff such as resource sheets and guides, information for our website, and handouts for customers as well as facilitating the upkeep of the Community Resource Guide with program partners and service providers in the area.
- Reviews individual program cases and assists subordinates in difficult or complicated cases; interprets policy and advises subordinates, as necessary; reviews reports of subordinates to ensure timeliness and accuracy.Â
- Provides information and referral services, directing public education programs, researching information, and marketing related concerns and issues.
- Maintains knowledge of current public assistance and employment policies and applies, explains and interprets complex federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties.
- Coordinates programs and services by working with agencies and organizations outside the library to develop programs of mutual interest, working with City departments, and ensuring that services are reaching the community.
- Ensures that subordinates receive orientation and training required for assigned positions, including training as new policies and procedures are adopted and established; provides training in policies and procedures of community resources and partnerships to agency personnel, as necessary.
- Appraises subordinates' performances; recommends hiring, transfer, promotion, discipline, termination, etc.; administers leave time so as to maintain adequate staff to administer programs; arranges assistance by personnel from other divisions, as necessary; conducts staff meetings.Â
- Facilitates or coordinates training in trauma-informed services to staff to help them provide improved service to all customers and better understand the resources available for customers experiencing complex vulnerabilities.
- Evaluates effectiveness of programs and services offered; recommends changes.
- Develops and maintains collaborative working partnerships between various public, private, and non-profit entities, including facilitating interagency community events and training workshops.
- Prepares reports of division services and accomplishments as required.
- Makes presentations before community and civic groups on topics such as employment training, department programs and services, etc. Represents the division and agency on various committees, work groups, and organizations, attending meetings and participating in activities of such groups as appropriate. Receives and responds to inquiries from staff members and members of the community, providing information regarding Community Resource programs, policies, and procedures.
- Serves as a centralized grants administrator for assigned area including monitoring implementation of grants, maintaining central grant files and researching and distributing information.
- Develops and maintains databases for the preparation and maintenance of operations according to departmental needs and requirements.
- Controls and monitors expenditures of programs; determines need for new programs; determines staffing needs; develops performance standards; develops policies and specifications for new programs including developing local policies and procedures.
- Reviews and recommends software programs to improve the efficiency of the day-to-day operations.
- Examines statistical data to make workflow improvements or schedule changes.
- Acts as a mentor to staff by assisting with their professional development and morale, and providing assistance as needed.
- Performs other related duties as required.
- Knowledge of the philosophical and legal basis for public assistance and entitlement programs.Â
- Knowledge of local, State and federal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations governing administration and provision of public assistance and entitlement programs.Â
- Knowledge of the programs, policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the State and City Social Services programs.Â
- Knowledge of the organization and structure of local, State and federal government, and volunteer agencies, particularly regarding human services.Â
- Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of social work. Has considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.Â
- Knowledge of the social and economic factors in the community and the impact of economic change on people and communities.Â
- Knowledge of the literature, trends and developments in the field of human services administration.Â
- Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
- Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates or assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.
- Ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, budget summaries, invoices, annual audits, minutes and related departmental records and reports. Requires the ability to prepare memoranda, reports, correspondence, policies, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
- Knowledge of the terminology, principles and methods utilized within the department.
- Knowledge of the methods and techniques for development and administering programs.
- Knowledge of the principles of supervision, and able to effectively lead, motivate, and evaluate assigned staff.
- Knowledge and proficiency of computers and software programs typically utilized in the position.
- Skilled and responsible for actions of others, requiring development of procedures and constant decisions affecting subordinate workers, customers, or others in the general public; works in a very fluid environment with guidelines but significant variation.
- Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
- Ability to effectively communicate and interact with subordinates, supervisors, and members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
- Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear, and effective manner.
- Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant.
- Ability to use mathematical formulas to perform required calculations.
- Ability to read, understand, and interpret technical reports and related materials.
- Ability to coordinate or determine time, place or sequence of operations or activities based on analysis of data or information and may implement and report on operations and activities.
- Ability to instruct and train others through explanation, demonstration and supervised practice or makes recommendations based on technical expertise.
- Ability to assists with achieving moderate economies and/or preventing moderate losses through the management of a small division.
- Ability to use addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and/or calculates ratios, rates and percents.
- Ability to read professional literature and technical manuals; speaks to groups of employees, other public and private groups.
- Ability to perform supervisory work involving policy and guidelines, solving both people and work related problems; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results or frequent exposure to unusual pressures.
- Ability to make moderately serious impact decisions - affects work unit and may affect other units or citizens.
- Ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with job-related equipment.
- Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
- Ability to adapt and perform under minimal stress when confronted with an emergency.
