Housing Social Worker

Job Role Summary

Works closely with the Bureau of Environmental Health/Housing & Neighborhood Health Department and other community service providers to maximize health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. The majority of services are home-based. Responsible for providing a continuum of social work services which will assist patients/clients and their families to find practical ways of resolving social, emotional, and environmental problems that interfere with optimum functioning and attainment of total health.

Essential Duties

• Direct Client Care- [50%]
  • Provides therapeutic social work intervention to a diverse client system which may include psychosocial assessment, counseling, crisis intervention, community resource referrals, client advocacy, support, outreach, follow-up, and intra/inter agency consultation, specifically in conjunction with the Bureau of Environmental Health.
  • Initiates treatment planning for clients through professional collaboration utilizing screening questionnaires, diagnostic assessment, and individualized treatment plans.
  • Provides services to clients who demonstrate a need for assistance with psychosocial/emotional/mental health issues, with primary focus being on housing/environmental/shelter problems, impacting their ability to have and or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
  • Facilitates the coordination and implementation of services which will assure appropriate services and continuity of care for clients and their families of Marion County, who have specific housing and environmental-related concerns.
• Documentation and Reporting — [25%]
  • Prepares written reports and clinical records (psychosocial assessments, progress notes, summaries, statistical forms, etc.) of services rendered; responds timely to requests for information.
  • Maintain confidentiality of patient/client records and information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
  • Documents services rendered via client records, statistical records, and written summaries.

• Community Outreach and Education — [25%]

• • Participates on SW/ MCPHD & H&HC/Community committees as required or assigned.
  • Provides presentations and outreach to the community as requested on mental health or hoarding.

Associated Job Duties

• Participates in public health emergency preparedness exercises and in the response to public health emergencies, as directed.
• Participates in a minimum of two H.O.P.E. events totaling a minimum of eight (8) hours annually.
• Serve on appropriate committees and task forces as assigned.
• Trained at the appropriate National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System.
• Training on Psychological First Aid (PSA) in preparation to participate in the response to public health disasters/emergencies.

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Master’s degree in social work.

Experience

• Preferred: 2-3 years of social work/counseling experience in a community setting is preferred

Licenses/Certifications Required

• Obtain LCSW when eligible
• Required:  Must have a valid Indiana driver’s license, access to transportation for in-county travel and ability to be classified as a “driver” per the Health & Hospital guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• [Communication]
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.

• [Navigation of Computer Systems]
  • Strong ability to use a variety of computer systems such as Microsoft 365, electronic health records, etc.
• [Work well under stress]
  • Ability to work in several settings and demonstrate flexibility to meet the needs of the community.

Working Environment

• Possible exposure to communicable diseases, infections; and other hazards, involved in home office, clinic, and community site visitations.
• Effective response to stress situations; and appropriate response in dealing with difficult patients/clients/families.
• In-county travel: Visits to office, community locations, and client’s school or home as needed or required.
• Daily contacts with patients/clients, health, social work, and other professionals to initiate/provide/obtain services for patients/clients.
• Frequent external contacts with patients/clients, families, health care and social service agencies concerning referrals, care coordination; and acquisition/provision of confidential information.
• Occasionally required to testify in court cases (abuse/neglect, custody, environmental issues).
• Patient/Client medical records cannot be transported home or to another work site without permission from the supervisor and in compliance with MCPHD HIPPAA guidelines and protocol.
• All Patient/Client records and other client information must be stored in a secured locked cabinet in a safe and confidential environment.
• Flexibility and high level of organizational skills to respond effectively to changing situations/priorities/locations.