JOB TITLE: Case worker
DEPARTMENT: Programs and Services
REPORTS TO: Director of Programs and Services
JOB CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt
LOCATION OF JOB: Community Service Center
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Case worker provides direct services to program participants including counseling, case management and coaching to survivors of domestic violence in the RESPOND, Inc. programs. These direct services vary in degree of intensity based on the needs of the individuals being served. The Case worker protects and affirms the rights of individuals while helping them achieve independence by creating an environment responsive to their needs.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Answer RESPOND’s crisis hotline providing emotional support, safety planning, referrals and assistance as needed.
- Meet individually with participants to provide support, counseling and advocacy. Advocacy is broadly defined and will include assisting participants in safety planning, housing searches, finding legal assistance, securing affordable childcare, obtaining government benefits, conducting job searches, and meeting other work/life goals. This may include accompanying participants to agencies/meetings/court/appointments.
- Group co-facilitation, which can include crisis, parenting, and transition groups.
- Conducts intakes and assessments and coordinates admittance into the RESPOND community based program.
- Effectively communicates issues (orally and through appropriate documentation) to the Director of Programs and Services and other staff (including assigned back-up) to ensure the delivery of quality services to individuals and families.
- Provides case management to participants as assigned, coordinates client services as needed.
- Conducts assessments with participants and provides emotional support, referrals and resources.
- Addresses a family’s immediate internal and external needs, including food, income, housing, education, healthcare, etc.
- Active participation in supervision, staff meetings and ongoing peer support.
- Attend appropriate professional development opportunities.
Outreach:
- Attend assigned agency outreach and training events.
- Provide education and information to immigrant communities in the greater Boston area.
- Assist in the design and delivery of workshops for various community groups, service providers and recipients around the issues of domestic violence.
Program Development:
- Participates with staff in ongoing development and refinement of program effectiveness, including but not limited to: providing assessment of program tools; designing new services or programs for individuals and children; networking with various service provider agencies; and writing and translating signs, agreements, documents or other publications as needed.
- Develops a familiarity and connection with local service providers and resources including schools, after-school programs, DTA, healthcare providers, education resources, job training programs, housing resources, parenting groups and other entities in RESPOND’s service area as well as statewide resources that support individuals and their children who have survived domestic violence.
Administrative:
- Prepares and maintains all appropriate records and data collection systems in a timely manner.
- Provides and submits accurate reports and time sheets in a timely manner.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
BA or equivalent in a relevant human service field.
- Direct experience providing services to survivors of domestic violence including children and families preferred.
- Knowledge of family systems, PTSD, conflict resolution and crisis intervention and child development.
- Strong English language communication, writing and reading skills are required.
- Bilingual (Haitian Creole, Spanish, French or Portuguese) preferred but not required.
- Experience in developing relationships with community-based resources.
- Familiarization with local resources and programs that support children and families.
Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of those who have experienced or witnessed violence.
- Basic computer knowledge, familiarization with email, Excel and Word.
- Ability to relate to diverse populations including non-English speaking families, the GLBT community and individuals with histories of substance abuse and/or mental illness.
- Ability to express oneself clearly verbally and in writing.
- Ability to perform multiple tasks at one time.
- Must demonstrate a willingness to learn about and actively use multicultural awareness and understanding in daily work.
- Access to a personal vehicle and possession of a valid driver’s license, and a willingness to travel within RESPOND’s service area.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The Case worker regularly works from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Case worker will be required to work at other times and other locations in order to conduct groups, provide service or attend meetings and trainings; this may include evening, weekend and holiday hours as required.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Director of Programs and Services, RESPOND, Inc., P.O. Box 555, Somerville, MA 02143
