Social Worker

Title: Social Worker (LMSW/ LMHC) - Multiple Positions


Unit: Treatment Services/Behavioral Health


Reports to: On-Site LCSW. Substance Misuse Program


Salary Range: $70,000 - $75,000

Status: Full Time; Regular; Exempt


Location: New York Correctional Facilities (NYC jails) and Long Island City

Days/Hours: 35 hours per week, generally Mon-Fri, 9-5pm


Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation's preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year.. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Position Summary:

This exciting new position builds upon Fortune's decades-long partnership with the NYC Department of Correction (DOC) and NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (CHS) to offer vital services aimed at preventing substance misuse among persons in custody (PICs) on Rikers Island and facilitating connections to treatment services and other community supports post-release.


This is a dually located position in which individuals in this role will be responsible for providing clinical assessments to individuals on Rikers Island twice weekly while also serving the remainder of the week in a primary therapist capacity at one of Fortune Society's Article 31 Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitation Services (MHOTRS) centers or Article 822 OASAS-licensed outpatient Treatment Services locations. Reporting to the Clinical Director, the social worker will be responsible for providing therapy to individuals with histories of criminal justice system involvement and will have a caseload of those with primary diagnoses of mental health and/or co-occurring diagnoses.


On the days when this role will be reporting to Rikers Island, the candidate(s) in this role will work closely with the on-site Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) to engage with non-classed individuals within the general population to conduct evidence-based screenings for those who may struggle with substance use disorder or mental health needs. These assessments will be in line with the Mental Health Report for 2010e applications and will be prioritized for individuals with upcoming court dates who could potentially be considered for an alternative to incarceration (ATI) program. While the main focus of this part of the role is to complete assessments, social workers may engage in the occasional individual counseling session/risk assessment/safety planning for the PICs they screen. They will not carry an on-island caseload or conduct regularly scheduled therapy visits for PIC as they will for those within the clinic location(s).

Core Competencies:

Mission Fit


The ideal candidate(s) will demonstrate an interest in, and talent for, working with people with criminal justice system involvement within the NYC jail environment. The successful candidate will understand the impacts that exposure to the criminal justice system may have had, and continues to have, on clients and will demonstrate commitment to providing support. Candidates will also have demonstrated a commitment to using respectful, constructive means of communication when interacting with clients and colleagues. Individuals within this role must also utilize a strengths-based, person-centered model and endorse the concept of looking for the best in people, rather than judging them by their worst decision(s).


Client Engagement


The successful candidate will be able to complete evidence-based screening tools (including the SMAST, DAST-10, PCL-9) and build comprehensive psychosocial evaluations with preliminary MH and SUD diagnoses. While engaging in services with clients, the successful candidate will be able to practice multiple theoretical frameworks and tailor their therapeutic approach based on individual need. Social workers will have practical experience engaging with individuals with SUD and co-occurring diagnoses. The ideal candidate will also have experience conducting risk assessments and safety planning.


Time Management & Documentation


This position requires solid time management skills as the person must manage conducting scheduled assessments in multiple NYC jail housing units with ad hoc assessments that may be time sensitive. The ideal candidate will be able to utilize their time management skills to remain flexible in keeping to schedules that can change on short notice, while staying current with various ancillary tasks. The successful candidate will be excellent at maintaining personal organization in pursuing numerous tasks in parallel, managing his/her/their time to maximize efficiency, and will be good at completing paperwork accurately and in a timely manner. All of this requires good computer skills, familiarity with using an electronic health record (EHR) system, and solid typing skills.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

On Rikers Island (2 days per week):

• Interview participants utilizing Evidence-Based screening tools to complete initial assessment and comprehensive psychosocial evaluation;

• Complete documentation of assessments to meet criteria for 2010e Mental Health Report; provide documentation with recommendations for ATI consideration and/or for specialized housing placement when appropriate;

• Collaborate with on-site LCSW to obtain vital records and incorporate relevant information into clinical assessment outcomes;

• Prepare assessments, supporting documentation, and service recommendations for court presentation when necessary;

• Collaborate with in-court peer support specialists when individuals have scheduled appearances, informing them of potential service needs;

• Create, prepare, and submit tracking sheets for monitoring of completed, scheduled, and upcoming assessments;

• Create service plan when requested, which will include wrap-around, person-centered services identified and case conference with Fortune's on-island team on high-risk individuals;

• Assist with internal and external referrals for substance use, mental health, and care management programs;

In-Office:

• Develop a therapeutic alliance with clients;

• Provide ongoing individual counseling to a caseload of clients;

• Write and update individual client-based, goal-oriented treatment plans following state regulatory and agency guidelines and timeframes;

• Maintain proper case records, with all case notes completed within 48 hours of interaction;

• Maintain on-going clinical communication with supervisor;

• Participate in training opportunities;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• LMSW, LMHC, or LCSW required;

• Minimum of one year overall clinical experience required;

• Experience in dealing with either psychiatric issues, trauma, or incarceration desired;

• Familiar with barriers that previously incarcerated individuals face in reentry and how to navigate them;

• Proficient in Microsoft Office computer applications, especially Word, Outlook and Excel;

• Strong verbal, writing, listening and negotiating skills;

• Ability to take initiative, be dependable, resourceful and able to pay keen attention to detail;

• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities at the same time in a time-sensitive manner.

Travel Requirements:

• Required to travel to Rikers Island and Fortune Society offices

• May be required to offices for meetings and/or trainings

• Must be willing to travel between DOC facilities, if necessary

Physical Demands:

• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods of time

• Ability to travel corridors and walk up and down stairs frequently

• Ability to remove yourself expeditiously if any risks are presented.

The Fortune Society encourages individuals to apply who have successfully made the transition from incarceration and/or substance use into a stable, productive lifestyle in the community. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.


The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.