Community Social Worker

Scheduled Work Times/Locations

Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM; 211 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford, CT and/or 353 Main St, Middletown, CT

Job Summary

The Community Social Worker I will work to support the mission of Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation. The Community Social 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 working towards the goal of each client’s full and productive integration with the community.

Duties/Responsibilities

• 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.
• Perform lead-based paint assessments on behalf of each client as required.

• Provide comprehensive planning and active support for the care, treatment, and safety of the agency’s clients.

• Demonstrates understanding and evaluates clients by acknowledging individual psychological needs, developmental disability, ethnic consciousness, and trauma history.
• Assist clients with the development of individual treatment plans and goals to provide support for achievement to maintain housing, mental health treatment, and/or other services provided.
• Collaborate with Housing Specialist to assist with client during housing search, recertification and housing inspections.
• Serve as a liaison to provide mediation and advocacy with client/landlord on behalf of the client to develop a workable plan to obtain and/or maintain housing.
• Provide crisis intervention to ensure the clients well-being and stability to remain in the community.
• Monthly management of updating data into Smartsheet and the Homeless Management Information System HMIS for data input/integrity.
• 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.

• Maintain complete and up-to-date client files to assure overall compliance with agency standards utilizing the assigned programs Master List.

• 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 monthly HOPWA CAN, Greater Hartford CAN, and MMW CAN meetings and participate in Case Management meetings, conferences, seminars, and trainings as required.

• Mediate conflicts between providers, family/guardians, clients, and the agency, per the client’s needs.
• Develop or maintain familiarity with community resources and referral processes necessary to access these resources.
• Advocate and/or assist client in receiving services identified in the planning process. This includes working closely with the Housing Specialist (internal) and assisting as needed with housing search and completing housing applications.
• Follow proper intake & discharge procedures, when a client is discharged, with attention to recordkeeping and referrals.
• Provide resources for transportation i. e., medical cab or bus tickets and when needed transport clients.
• Prepare for and facilitate group meetings for clients on a variety of topics beneficial to their health and human service needs.
• Travel and networking in the community.

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.