Social Worker

The Town of Ashland is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Social Worker. The Social Worker serves as the primary liaison for Town-wide human services policies and procedures. This position is responsible for acting as a central access point for Ashland residents seeking social services, including referral assistance, crisis intervention, AEF assistance, connection to mental health resources and financial support. The role involves helping residents identify appropriate resources, providing case management and support, disseminating relevant information, and coordinating referrals. This position requires a level of knowledge of community based resources and social services.

Annual Salary: $65,000 - $75,000

Schedule: 40 hours per week

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Responsible for maintaining and revising protocols and procedures for the human services division.
• Provides comprehensive case management for clients. Makes an assessment of client needs regarding physical and mental health, ability to function; provides care management services to identify appropriate action and options available to the resident in need.
• Works to:
  • Conduct in-home visits, office meetings and phone conversations with residents to identify needs for service and make appropriate referrals for services;
  • Provide case management and support to residents and their family members through mediation and family meetings; maintains accurate and current records of client interactions as well as the resources available to them.
  • Assist residents to apply for services, food stamps, fuel assistance, Medicaid or other assistance.
• Provide follow-up case management for residents that have accessed services or have participated in the Jail Diversion Program.
• Assist with Ashland Emergency Fund (AEF) cases/intakes as needed with case manager.
• Build partnerships with human services agencies in the surrounding area.
• Work with various human services task forces, including serving as the liaison and point of contact for Ashland’s Hoarding Task Force, to address social / emotional issues and clutter/hoarding related concerns faced by Ashland residents.
• Works with Town departments, schools, and public safety to ensure that the Town is providing families in need with efficient and comprehensive assistance.
• Assist the team with Food Pantry related needs such as pickup, drop off, orders, walk-ins at the Ashland Food Pantry and covering as needed.
• Identify emerging human services issues.
• Create a referral network for the departments of Youth and Family Services, Elder Services, and Veterans Services.
• Attends professional meetings and classes regarding issues related to the human services department.
• Provides information and education through the Town website, social media, public presentations, and written reports.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The employee works under the direction of the Director of Prevention & Human Services. The employee plans and prioritizes the majority of the work independently, in accordance with standard practices and previous training. The employee is expected to solve most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions. Instructions for new assignments usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines or priorities. Technical and policy issues or changes are discussed with the supervisor. The work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy and appropriateness of decisions. Methods are not usually reviewed in detail.

SUPERVISION PROVIDED

Provide guidance and supervision to the Case Manager and Clinical Intern.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The nature of work assures that errors are usually detected in succeeding operations. Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include time loss caused by back checking by others and slowdowns in the processing of the work. Errors are generally confined to a single department, such as billing or accounting errors and/or failure to check a subordinate’s performance.

JUDGMENT

Employee exercises judgment when locating, selecting and applying the most pertinent practice, procedure, regulation or guideline. The employee must be able to exercise discretion with sensitive information. The work is governed by numerous standardized practices, procedures and instructions, however, additional interpretation is often needed to determine the best course of action.

COMPLEXITY

The work consists of a variety of duties which generally follow standardized practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines. The sequence of work and/or the procedures followed vary according to the nature of the transaction and/or the information involved, or sought, in a particular situation.

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Interactions with people are primarily with co-workers and the public involving frequent explanation, discussion or interpretation of practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines in order to render service, plan or coordinate work efforts, or resolve operating problems. Other interactions are external customers, usually residents. More than ordinary courtesy, tact and diplomacy may be required to resolve complaints or deal with hostile, uncooperative or uninformed people.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Social work or related human services field (Master’s preferred), 3-5 years of social services experience. State Certification as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (preferred).

KNOWLEDGE ABILITY AND SKILL

Knowledge: Knowledge of available services to address social, emotional, and financial issues.

Abilities: Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, to be a good listener, display sensitivity to the needs of residents, and have strong social and interpersonal skills.

Skill: Skill in standard office equipment and computer applications.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. The incumbent may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to emergency situations or to attend evening meetings.

Physical Skills

Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as ledger books, photocopy and computer paper.

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, sorting, and operating a motor vehicle.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require routinely reading documents for general understanding, reading documents for analytical purposes.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The Town of Ashland is an AA/EEO Employer