Social Worker Mental Health

$64,350 - $65,000 / year

Position Summary: Under the direction of the Assistant Community School Director and his/her designee, provides mental health services to children, adolescents and their families using various social work methods, including individual, group and family therapy. These functions are performed under general supervision, necessitating the ability to exercise independent and sound judgment.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Assesses the social and emotional needs of patients (students, participants, members).
• Carry a caseload of 20-25 students.
• Run Social Emotional Groups throughout the school year.
• Hold parent workshops based on community needs.
• Provide professional development training to staff and teachers.
• Provides direct counseling/social services to students referred by self, faculty, administration and other school ancillary staff.
• Coordinates social work services and patient referrals between the program and other agencies providing social services in both the school and local community.
• Updates and maintains case records-Tracks and follows up on all referrals made in and out of school.
• Establishes referral network/linkages with outside agencies for both students and parents.
• Participates and occasionally presents at teacher meetings, assemblies, etc.
• Serves as an advocate for patients' rights within the school and serves as a mediator between parents, child and school.
• Remains available for crisis intervention as the need arises.
• Ensures that all patients, (students, participants, members) visitors, guests, as well as coworkers, receive personalized, prompt attention and are treated with receptiveness, dignity and respect, no matter how limited the contact.
• Attends administrative meetings (e.g. utilization reviews, case conferences administrative meetings).
• Participates with interdisciplinary team members in developing and implementing program policies and procedures and preventing crises.
• Attend weekly crisis team meeting with DOE staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in social work required; New York State License in Social Work (preferably).
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Ability to engage and diffuse crisis situations.
• Basic knowledge of DSM-IV, mental status and psychosocial assessments preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with children, adolescents and families from a wide range of cultural, social and economic backgrounds.
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Word.
• Good engagement, assessment, crisis intervention skills; able to understand impact of self in work with clients.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.