Master Level Social Worker - Mental Counselor

SCOPE:

Develop and monitor the implementation of a Personal Development Plan (PDP) with participants in the Residential Program, provide guidance and support to participants to meet program objectives; and contribute to the mission of Goodwill by advocating for the participants and maximizing opportunities for persons with disabilities and other barriers to become more independent, guided by precedent and working within the limits of established policies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Receive and review case files for new participants in the Housing First programs. Meet with individual participants and review interests, work history, and goals. Identify the assets and barriers of participants through observation, interviews, case notes and other means. Assess participants’ abilities to learn skills and job readiness. Utilizing a person-centered approach, work in collaboration with participants and referring agencies to establish individual participant goals toward self-sufficiency. Identify barriers with participants and develop intervention plans to support participants in maintaining housing.
2. Assist participants in developing natural support systems to increase housing stability. 
3. Conduct risk assessments and develop crisis safety plans as a result of assessment(s).
4. Upon admission and regularly thereafter, review the lease agreement with the participant(s) and educate them on the terms, requirements, etc., facilitating an overall understanding of a lease agreement and actions to be taken to avoid eviction.
5. Upon admission to the program, provide orientation to the participant on their apartment, building, neighborhood, community, etc. Introduce them to neighbors as appropriate. May provide assistance to the participant in learning the public transportation system and community resources available to them.
6. May need to provide participants with assistance and/or training with housekeeping tasks.
7. Complete SPDAT (Service Prioritization Decision Assessment Tool) for all assigned participants according to schedule/policy and procedure.
8. Utilizing the results of the SPDAT, define the process for attainment of goals with measurable step by step objectives based on the participant’s input. Develop the PDP with the participant, documenting measurable goals/objectives and process for attainment. Once completed, submit PDP to Team Leader for review/approval. Ensure that PDP is in compliance with all regulations and guidelines as per policy and procedure.
9. Monitor and assess participant’s progress towards individualized goals/objectives on the PDP and document results. Regularly review the goals/objectives with the participant and revise as appropriate and/or based on the participant’s input and desires. 
10. Conducts homes visits with participants.  
11. Utilizing your clinical skills, provide participants with counseling and support. Serve as a liaison between program staff, program providers, direct care staff, and other support providers, providing modeling, training, clinical input, and guidance to non-clinical program staff. Provide crisis intervention as necessary. Provide services utilizing Motivational Interviewing, Harm reduction principles, and Trauma informed care
12. Master’s Level Social Worker’s must be registered with the Department of Health as an intern within 1 month of hire. Receive regular, ongoing, clinical supervision under the guidance of a state approved qualified supervisor, documenting hours; actively working towards licensure.
13. Engage in advocacy on behalf of participants. Facilitate assessments and information gathering and share findings with staff. Research and recommend resources based on participants, needs and desires. Make referrals as dictated by the participant’s desires and as appropriate. 
14. Assist staff with interaction and intervention with participants during activities or outings. 
15. Collaborate and communicate with employment consultant and job coach, if appropriate. Participate in the job search when relevant. Participate in and provide skill development opportunities in resume development, completion of job application, transportation arrangements, practice interviews, and other pre-employment skills and activities.
16. Facilitation of support and/or therapeutic groups. Plan/research appropriate/relevant topics, provide materials, schedule workshops and special events, and engage speakers. Motivate participants to attend and actively participate.
17. Complete case note documentation ensuring notes are detailed, comprehensive, address participant’s involvement with their PDP and documents participants’ progress or lack thereof towards goal/objective attainment. Ensures a case note is completed for every contact made with the participant as well as for every contact made on behalf of a participant.
18. Complete file reviews as directed by Management, the Team Leader and/or policy and procedure. Ensure that the case files and participant records are comprehensive, accurate and complete. Ensure required forms are updated according to regulation and/or policy and procedure. Ensure file is in compliance with regulations and requirements. Enter participant updates and information into databases in accordance with policy and procedures. Collect and calculate statistics by participant and submit to referring agencies as directed by the Team Leader.
19. Attend and actively participates in multidisciplinary team meetings providing clinical input/insight/feedback utilizing a solution oriented approach.

20. Attend and actively participates in staff meetings as scheduled/directed.  

21. Attend and actively participates in all required internal/external trainings. If not already trained, attends motivational interviewing training and demonstrates use of the model on a daily basis through their interactions.

22. Provide assistance with other general department activities as assigned.

OTHER DUTIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

1. Demonstrate by words and actions a commitment to the Goodwill mission to help people with disabilities and other barriers to become self-sufficient, working members of the community.
2. Perform or assist with any duties or operations, as required to maintain workflow and to meet schedules and quality requirements.
3. Maintain safe work area and comply with safety procedures and equipment operating rules, keeping work area in a clean and orderly condition.
4. Participate in any variety of meetings and task force groups to integrate activities, communicate issues, obtain approvals, resolve problems and maintain specified level of knowledge pertaining to new developments, requirements, and policies. 

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

1. Master’s Degree in Social Services or Mental Health Counseling or related field.  
2. Minimum of one (1) year case management experience and/or experience working with the homeless population preferred.
3. Willingness to work in a fast paced environment supporting clients living in a housing first program.  
4. Experience with mental health, substance abuse, and knowledge of trauma.  
5. Flexibility and adaptability to ensure that all services are person centered.
6. CPR and First Aid training preferred.
7. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
8. Excellent communication skills required. Ability to establish and maintain rapport with participants, community stakeholders, employers and referral agents.
9. Excellent time management, problem solving skills & organizational skills.
10. Must have a valid Florida driver’s license, valid insurance, reliable transportation for travel to outlying locations and the ability to be insured under the company’s vehicle insurance policy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. General office environment
2. Regular pushing, pulling, stretching, reaching, kneeling stooping and bending
3. Occasional lifting and/or carrying up to 30 lbs.
4. Regular travel

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Computer and usual peripherals, word processing, spreadsheets and software programs, standard office equipment, safety equipment, automobile, large passenger van, or wheelchair accessible van, as required.