Social Worker (Briarwood Family Residence)

The Social Worker is responsible for the overall delivery and coordination of services for homeless families residing in family tier II shelters and/or family hotels. The Social Worker is responsible for interfacing with the New York City Department of Homeless Services Staff, shelter providers, and relevant community-based organizations to enhance and ensure families are in receipt of optimal care and service coordination. 

The Social Worker is responsible for the completion of psychosocial assessments of complex families impacted by multiple systems. The Social Worker will work with these systems and facilitate appropriate linkages for families to community-based services. The Social Worker must be able to work from a multi-disciplinary team approach to service provision. The position calls for an individual able to work within a crisis driven environment with a knowledge base of substance abuse and addiction, domestic violence, child maltreatment, trauma, and mental health conditions. The Social Worker will provide education to other members of the team around clients’ psychosocial stressors and needs, to ensure positive outcomes for families.

The Social Worker will obtain ongoing professional development by the individual agency program, and the New York City Department of Homeless Services – Division of Family Services. The Social Worker will be expected to provide qualitative and quantitative feedback to the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and DHS Service Providers to inform both policy and practice.

• Be available to families seeking assistance at least five days a week, eight hours a day.
• Work from a strength-based, family focused, client centered perspective and identify and fortify the strengths that each family has.
• Assist families with specific stressors associated with living in shelter.
• Ensure that families are receiving full support in shelter and, when necessary, refer families for counseling or other services.
• Aid families in understanding the full range of benefits to which they are entitled and assist with accessing said benefits.
• Confer and consult with professional and technical personnel in implementing a multidisciplinary approach to client care and well-being.
• Serve as agency/program liaison to community agencies and/or groups.
• Provide clear written reports that capture key findings to include provider areas of strength, and recommendations for improvement. 

Position Description Personnel Section

• Has respect and consideration for the people being served.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize priorities in organization of workflow.  Able to perform duties independently, with minimal need of direct supervision.
• Maintains the confidentiality of clients, shelter/programs.
• Demonstrates the ability to interact in a positive and helpful manner with clients, visitors, contract staff, volunteers, and co-workers.
• Reflects commitment to building a supportive work environment and maintains a positive attitude at the workplace and towards job.
• Projects a good image in dealing with the public and its clients. Is willing to make an extra effort to help build a quality and caring shelter/program.
• Other assignments and tasks may be added at the discretion of The Salvation Army.

• Master of Social Work Degree from an accredited school of social work.
• Current licensure- LMSW.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development; emotional/behavioral health; mental health; parent-child relationships; family dynamics; and diagnostic classification
• Proficiency in the use of the Spanish language.
• Strong expertise in strengths-based, solution-focused, and family-centered practice.
• Knowledge of guidelines, policies and regulations relating to child welfare, safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Knowledge and experience working with diverse cultures and ethnicities.
• Candidates should also possess excellent written and verbal communication skills