VNS Health Hiring for Senior Social Work Assistant at The Bronx, NY  Full Time

Provides direct social work services to patients and their families including supportive counseling, community resource planning, advocacy, skill building and crisis intervention. Provides direct social work services such as assessments, linkages to community resources and assistance with entitlements. Assists supervisor with administrative tasks and provides leadership and guidance to staff. Works under general supervision.

Responsibilities
* Screens clients/families and assists in the assessment of their psychosocial status and social work needs, and participates in the development of a plan of care.
* Coordinates and collaborates with other agencies on the treatment plans, as well as follows up on linkages made between patients and other service agencies or mental health provides to ensure continuity of care.
* Assists with monitoring the effects of the plan of care on the patient/family.
* Assists Entitlement Processors with advocacy and entitlement criteria. Assists staff, patients/families and other caregivers to understand third party reimbursement, entitlements and community resources.
* Performs outreach to community agencies in order to establish working relationships and provide access to other services. Advises other agencies of the program and referral process.
* Maintains records and statistics in accordance with program requirements. Documents services planned and provided. Maintains written and verbal communications according to VNS Home Care policy.
* Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and case conferences, and works collaboratively with multidisciplinary team to provide a continuum of quality in-home services to families.
* Arranges transportation and/or accompanies participating family members on appointments at clinics, programs and offices.
* Under direct supervision, may provide support to the plan of care by providing some counseling, psychosocial assessments and family centered treatment as required by the program.
* Attends in-service education programs, and other training, as required by the Agency and funding sources.
* Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth.
* Performs outreach activities to hospitals, out patient departments and other mental health providers for the purposes of education and obtaining program referrals.
* Provides leadership and guidance to less experienced staff and performs clinical supervision of SWA on an individual or group basis, as directed.
* Trains new and less experienced team members.
* Acts as supervisor in the absence of Program Manager.
* Organizes and conducts educational and client/family group activities.
* Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Licenses and Certifications:
Valid driver’s license may be required, as determined by operational/regional needs.

Education:
Bachelor’s Degree or Associates Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or the human services field – OR -four years of full-time paid experience in social work in a social agency adhering to acceptable standards – OR- the equivalent combination of the foregoing education and experience required

Work Experience:
Minimum two years overall experience in providing direct services to mentally disabled children and their families required
Minimum one year experience working in a Home Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) Program required
Knowledge of linking mentally disabled children /families to a broad range of services (e.g. medical, psychiatric, social, educational, legal housing and financial services) required
Effective oral, written and interpersonal communication skills required
Experience in a supervisory or lead capacity preferred
Bilingual skills may be required, as determined by operational needs.