Community Social Worker

The Community Social Worker I will work to support the mission of Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation. The Community Social Worker I will work with our clients to help achieve independence and stability in their communities by providing housing and supportive services. The Community Social Worker I holds primary responsibility for empowering and facilitating clients to reach their goals as well as full and productive integration with the community.

Scheduled Work Times/Locations: Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM; Hartford, CT and Middletown, CT

Duties/Responsibilities

• Establish a positive rapport with the caseload of 15-20 clients who are homeless or at risk who are living with disabling conditions.
• Demonstrates understanding of and evaluates clients by acknowledging individual psychological or behavioral needs, developmental abilities, cultural influences, and trauma history
• Provide comprehensive planning and active support for the care, treatment, and safety of the agency’s clients.
• Assist clients with the development of person-centered individual service plans and goals to provide support for achievement to maintain housing, and other client- identified goals.
• Advocate and/or assist client in receiving services identified in the planning process including resources for transportation i. e., medical cab or bus tickets and when needed transport clients.
• Engage clients in Targeted Case Management services and enter client case notes using TCM and CLAMP format, within the 72-hour time frame, complete six month periodic and annual assessments and service plans to be submitted every six (6) months.
• Collaborate with property management and/or rental assistance administrator to assist with client during, recertification and housing inspections.
• Perform regular Health and Safety Inspections of client units, when relevant, to ensure the quality of housing our clients reside in.
• Engage with property management and serve as a liaison to provide mediation and advocacy with client/property management on behalf of the client to develop a workable plan to obtain or maintain housing.
• Provide crisis intervention to ensure the clients’ well-being and stability so that they remain in the community.
• Develop or maintain familiarity with community resources and referral processes necessary to access these resources.
• Assist clients with the coordination of health services and, as necessary, schedules client appointments for and provides transportation to physicians, clinicians, and other health care professionals.
• Mediate conflicts between providers, family/guardians, clients, and the agency, per the client’s needs.
• Act as liaison with other agencies, i. e., DSS, SSI, HOPWA/ACT, and other social and vocational agencies to advocate for and assist clients.
• Attend relevant CAN meetings as requested by their supervisor and participate in Case Management meetings, conferences, seminars, and trainings as required.
• Prepare for and facilitate group meetings for clients on a variety of topics beneficial to their health and human service needs.
• Travel is required between the Hartford and Middletown areas.

Documentation Expectations

• Monthly management of updating data into Smartsheet and the Homeless Management Information System HMIS for data input/integrity including annual and periodic updates and assessments as relevant
• Maintain complete and up-to-date client files to assure overall compliance with agency standards utilizing the assigned programs Master List.
• Enter client case notes using the GIRP format, within the 72-hour time frame, complete six month and annual assessments and service plans to be submitted every six (6) months.
• Follow proper intake & discharge procedures, when a client is discharged, with attention to recordkeeping and referrals.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Documentation skills including good oral and written comprehension, computer literacy, accurate and timely documentation and record keeping abilities.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills and develop sound reasoning/logic when formulating solution focused treatment plans and engaging with clients.
• Excellent time management skills: ability to manage, organize and prioritize flow of work.
• Ability to motivate clients.
• Bi-Lingual, Spanish/English preferred.
• Preferred knowledge of fair housing laws.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college/university or two-three years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience, preferably with homeless persons, persons with mental illness and/or substance abuse.
• Licenses and Certifications
• Must have reliable transportation, valid Connecticut driver’s license and clean driving record with proof of automobile insurance.

Compensation & Benefits

• $23-$25 per hour, based on experience plus generous incentive compensation plan.
• Community Housing Advocates provides a generous employee benefits package, including medical, dental, retirement, short- and long-term disability, and tuition reimbursement. Full-time employees receive 10 days of PTO (paid time off) per year, plus 11 paid holidays and one (1) Floating Holiday and 40 Hours of Accrued Paid Sick Leave.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands associated with the essential functions of this job are intermittent physical activity, such as walking, sitting and occasional lifting, stooping, bending, and reaching.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.