Master Social Worker

Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Are you passionate about helping others who are in need across different groups? Do you value work life balance? If you answer yes to these questions, Bay Area Legal Services may be the workplace for you!

Bay Area Legal Services is a regional, non-profit public interest law firm providing the highest quality legal counsel by:

• Assisting individuals and non-profit groups with limited access to legal services;
• Resolving the legal problems of clients; and
• Preserving the independence, hope, and dignity of those we serve.

Position Title: Master Social Worker

Home Office Location: Tampa, FL (Ybor City). This position is hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

This position is for a MSW to provide direct case management to families with a focus on housing stability and/or other poverty law issues.


Develop relationships with clients alongside attorney advocates to evaluate and provide an overall assessment of a family's housing, or other needs, and identify services necessary to meet the needs of the family. Assess families, assist them in setting case plan goals, provide case planning updates to partner agencies and attorney advocates, and perform client visits if needed. Work with appropriate agencies to ensure referrals for needed services are provided in a timely manner. This position involves networking and working closely with attorney advocates, community agencies, private agencies, Tampa Housing Authority, Hillsborough County, Landlords, and other members of the community. Provide necessary documentation and support to track case progress, highlight barriers to housing stability or access to services needed. Collect and maintain data on cases to create and submit regular grant reports as needed. Attention to detail is crucial.

Illustrative Duties:

• Provide an overall assessment of family needs around housing stability or other issues, assist them in setting goals, provide case management, and identify services necessary to establish housing, economic, or family stability. Provide case planning updates to partner agencies and attorney advocates and perform client visits if needed. Act as social advocate for the family in various stages of the rental process and/or emergency temporary housing placement process. Assist with referrals to appropriate agencies in a timely manner including helping families apply for financial assistance with community partners.
• Attend regular team meetings with attorney advocates and review caseload regularly with supervisor.
• Provide necessary documentation and support to track case progress and collect and maintain data needed to create regular grant reports. Create and submit regular grant reports as needed.
• Serve as a liaison with referral agencies. Meeting periodically with staff and funding sources to discuss issues involving housing stability.
• Participates in trainings and meetings within the community to address barriers to housing stability.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• A Master's degree in social work from an accredited University.
• Demonstrated commitment to the provision of high quality social services to low- or modest-income clients and those clients from vulnerable populations such as seniors, veterans, and single-income households.
• Experience in general social work including working with clients on housing and employment stability.
• An ability to work closely with others and a willingness to accept supervision.
• Sympathetic understanding of the social, economic, as well as legal problems of individuals with limited access to legal services.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated experience creating grant reports (or other similar reports) and documenting case plans with high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work within and across public and private systems and demonstrated ability to multi-task and problem solve.
• Existing knowledge of community resources in Hillsborough County. Experience with housing advocacy. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Basic Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills.
• Intermediate Microsoft Outlook skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing comprehensive case management to clients.
• Experience with housing advocacy.
• Knowledge of and experience in counseling and crisis intervention techniques required.