Bilingual Social Worker

SUMMARY:

This position is an exciting opportunity to serve with one of the most respected and impactful organizations in the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia area. Central Union Mission has been serving the homeless and low-income families in the DC area for 140 years. The Mission has some of the most strategic programs in the nation for combatting homelessness and poverty. The individual in this position will provide services and support at the Mission’s Northern Virginia Campus, Mission: NOVA.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential duties and functions include, but are not limited to the following:

80% Case Management and Related Services and Supports

• Conduct intake and assessments: cognitive, functional, environmental, psychosocial data, etc.
• Provide counseling support
• Conduct crisis intervention support
• Refer clients to available therapeutic, social service, educational and medical resources when appropriate
• Plan, seek, advocate, and monitor services from various social service or health care organizations and staff on behalf of a client.
• Assist with developing support systems to meet client needs by identifying and coordinating with a variety of available service providers necessary to maintain independent living, self-sufficiency and family stabilization
• Actively pursue venues to acquire knowledge of the broader community that enhances the service delivery process
• Plan, coordinate and execute, as appropriate, events that promote well-being (spiritual health, mental health, social-emotional, cognitive, physiological, environmental, financial, etc.)
• Become familiar and gain a working knowledge of agency policies and procedures
• Assist in completing surveys and other types of information gathering
• Assist population in completing critical applications (food stamps, Social Security, identification cards, birth-certificates, job/housing searches, etc.)
• Coordinate with the Senior Director of Social work and others to refer clients to immigration services from partner providers
• Learn about the special needs, intervention strategies, and behavioral approaches for individuals with challenges such as domestic violence, substance abuse, diversity and family/inter-generational concerns and other challenging issues that plague the population
• Serve as an advocate for equitability in all aspects of the service delivery process
• Attend professional development trainings, as available and appropriate
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with team members
• Maintain a flexible schedule, adaptive to the needs of the ministry

5% Resource Development and Acquisition (not fundraising)

• Research both formal and informal social services or other related services and supports to meet the needs of the population
• Arrange and coordinate meetings, attend community programs, events etc. to build good will

10% Ministry Documentation Support

• Input and maintain up-to-date, accurate entries to the Mission-Tracker system or other necessary documentation vehicles as deemed appropriate and as directed
• Prepare written and statistical reports, as needed

5% Other duties as assigned

• Attend work-related meetings, events within and outside of normal working hours
• Must seek opportunities for on-going professional development and acquire necessary training, CEU hours as required for licensure and/or to remain relevant and current

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work or related discipline.
• Virginia Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or similar license, with two years of related work experience or Licensed Master’s Social Worker with five years of work experience
• High degree of knowledge about social services available in northern Virginia.
• Fluent in both English and Spanish
• Demonstrated skills in working effectively with diverse clients from various backgrounds, ethnicities educational and financial challenges.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.)
• Ability to utilize the internet and other channels for research and to understand how to garner resources
• Possess excellent skills as it relates to results orientation, critical and creative thinking
• Must be flexible and adaptable in meeting the needs of the client and ministry
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Motivated and willing to engage in the teamwork process
• Capacity to work independently, prioritize and meet deadlines
• Physical Demands: The position is generally sedentary in nature, but may require standing and walking, and the ability to intermittently kneel down, stoop, bend at the waist, twist at the waist and reach, or sit for long periods of time. Ability to lift up to 20 lbs.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment (copier, fax, printers, multi-line phone systems).
• Must have good vision to read a computer screen.
• Ability to hear and speak to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to include repetitive keyboarding, grasping, and reaching to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and/or standard office equipment.
• Agreement with and commitment to Central Union Mission’s statement of faith required. Committed Christian and currently active in a local Christian church required.