Social Worker/Case Manager

The Libertas Center for Human Rights at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NY is seeking a Social Worker to support the implementation of a new grant, focused on specialized eligible immigrant populations including refugees and asylees. The overarching project goal is to sustainably expand access to comprehensive, culturally responsive health and wellness services, through the delivery of health education, case management, and wellness groups that promote physical, mental, and social well-being.

The Libertas Center is a grant-funded program under the Department of Emergency Medicine at Elmhurst Hospital, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a teaching hospital for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The Libertas Center’s mission is to provide integrated services to help immigrant survivors of torture and human rights violations heal, regain independence, and restore hope and humanity in their lives. We use a strengths-based, client-centered and trauma-informed case management approach to provide services directly on-site and through coordination with our partners within and outside the hospital.

In addition to direct services, the Libertas Center builds capacity through education and training of medical and mental health providers, conducts research on best practices in caring for torture survivors, and advocates for policies to address survivors’ needs. With over 15 years of experience in providing holistic services to immigrant torture survivors, our team uses its multidisciplinary expertise and an evidence-based approach to improve the well-being and quality of life for this vulnerable yet highly resilient population.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of the Social Worker will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide Case Management and Care Coordination to an individual caseload of Libertas Center clients to ensure that their medical, mental health, social, and legal needs are met in a comprehensive and efficient manner.
• Manage and coordinate client referrals, including tracking referral data, screening for eligibility and scheduling intakes.
• Conduct intake assessments weekly and administer standardized questionnaires at intake and follow-up with clients.
• Write intake narratives, eligibility forms, and specialized treatment plans for each client.
• Develop trauma-informed treatment interventions appropriate for clients’ needs with the support of clinical supervision.
• Provide strengths-based supportive counseling to a caseload of clients.
• Organize and facilitate individual and group health education; alternative (yoga, art, photography, etc.); and group therapy, to promote wellness.
• Conduct crisis intervention with clients in need of immediate help.
• Develop and maintain relationships with service providers within Elmhurst Hospital and with partner organizations.
• Maintain patient charts and files, including entering specified data points into database.
• Accompany clients to appointments within Elmhurst Hospital.
• Participate in Libertas Center data reporting, services tracking, and organizational and program development.

Qualifications:

• LMSW (or MSW intending to obtain license within the next 6 months)
• 1-2 years of experience providing trauma-informed counseling and case management services to vulnerable populations preferred.
• 1-2 years of nonprofit sector experience in a field related to human rights, global health, and/or immigration preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred. Bangla, French, and other languages a plus.
• Demonstrated cultural competency with immigrant communities and/or other vulnerable populations, ability to maintain patient confidentiality and the highest ethical standards, and a willingness to examine topics of power and structural oppression.
• Demonstrated interest in learning about strengths-based case management and trauma-informed health care.
• Highly detail-oriented, organized and reliably able to conduct tasks without the need for significant oversight.
• Strong problem-solving skills; ability to address challenges of a wide variety with creativity, initiative, and resourcefulness.
• Maturity, ability to respectfully navigate challenging situations and successfully meet responsibilities with professionalism.
• Proven ability to work as a team player and be responsive to guidance and feedback while maintaining a positive work environment.
• Ability to thrive on a fast-paced collaborative team where effective communication is essential.
• Ability to work remotely with sessions with clients via video/phone, and familiarity in working with interpreters.