Director of Social Services - Jamaica, United States - Lantern Community Services Inc

Description

Job Description

Reports to: Shelter Director

Status: Full-time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Job Location: Jamaica, Queens

Salary Range: $60,000 - $75,000

We are seeking an experienced and progressive Director of Social Services for our new family with children sanctuary shelter. This position oversees the Clinical and Social Services functions to optimize the quality of care to residents in accordance with DHS regulatory and accreditation requirements. The ideal candidate will develop and supervise two Social Service teams, each consisting of Social Workers, Case managers, Housing Specialists, and Peer Engagement Specialists. The DSS will be responsible for implementing best practices to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of the residents to ensure their ability to gain and maintain housing stability, and works closely with the Shelter Director to develop, implement, track, report, and evaluate measurable outcomes.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Plan and direct a comprehensive social service program that provides support services for residents.
• Participate in an interdisciplinary team approach to better serve the needs of the shelter population.
• Provide for therapeutic intervention to help residents cope with the social and psychological aspects of their illnesses, impairments, or disabilities as well as their feelings about institutionalization and separation from family, and community, and physical and emotional loss.
• Maintain written documentation in the resident(s) folder per the organization's policy.
• Perform an initial evaluation/assessment of each resident's psychosocial needs. Written documentation is required for each resident.
• Act as a liaison between residents, families, and outside agencies to ensure the resident's rights are maintained and upheld.
• Function in a management capacity and adheres to all policies and procedures of the shelter.
• Perform administrative requirements such as completing necessary forms and reports.
• Facilitate discharge planning including the development of an organized discharge plan for all residents.
• Ensure that the shelter adheres to legal, safety, health, fire, and sanitation codes by being familiar with his/her role in carrying out the shelter's fire, safety, and disaster plans.

Required Education and Experience:

• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) Preferred with the expectation to pursue licensure within 1 year.
• Master's degree in related field required.
• 2-3 years of experience working in a shelter setting or supportive housing setting
• 2-3 years of supervisory experience in relevant field.
• 2-3 years of clinical experience.
• Experience with electronic case management systems and demonstrated ability to utilize and review data to inform best practices in service provision.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, effective crisis management, able to develop clinical intervention strategies, and be flexible with work schedule when necessary.

Work Environment: This job operates in a shelter site and works with a population who may experience mental illness, substance use, disability, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illnesses.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs, and/ or kneel. Occasionally the employee will have to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.