Intake Social Worker - Canada Summer Jobs

Veterans Health Administration•Toronto, ON

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) is seeking an Intake Social Worker for a role funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program. This position serves as the first point of contact for individuals and referral sources for all Responsive Community Care programs. The role involves gathering information, assessing needs, and ensuring services align with funder requirements. The Intake Social Worker will receive, assess, and process service requests, provide information on eligibility criteria and available programs, and refer clients to appropriate community resources. This role is crucial for connecting adults, seniors, and families with the most suitable services, promoting access and equity. All activities must adhere to VHA's policies, procedures, and confidentiality standards. VHA is a large not-for-profit home care provider in Ontario with a team of dedicated professionals focused on high-quality, client-centered care.

Requirements

Between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of employment.
Canadian citizen or permanent resident or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.
Valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment.
Bachelor’s degree in a related field: BSW or Social Services.
1-3 years' experience as an intake worker or similar position for a social service agency.
Knowledge of the social services available to adults with mental health issues, the disabled, seniors, child, and family.
Excellent intake assessment, formulation, and case planning skills.
Excellent problem-solving skills with a client-centred approach and crisis intervention.
Demonstrated commitment to client and family-centered care.
Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Outstanding ability to engage with people over the telephone.
Ability to handle a high volume of telephone intake calls and inquiries.
Ability to multitask and to be part of a high-energy team in a rapidly growing department.
Knowledge of community social and health services and established contacts with other agencies.
Computer skills in word processing and data entry.
Demonstrate efforts to continuously develop and upgrade skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the City, TTC routes, and the various components of the Agency is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform all intake and assessment functions as the first point of contact for individuals and referral sources on all Responsive Community Care programs.
Gather relevant information, assess needs, and ensure appropriate program aligns with funder requirements.
Receive, assess, and process all requests for service from potential clients and referral sources.
Provide clear and accurate information regarding service eligibility criteria, the full range of programs and support available, and offer timely referrals to other relevant community resources.
Connect adults, seniors, and families to the most appropriate services based on their unique needs and locations, promoting access and equity.
Participate in VHA services and quality initiatives.
Conduct intake assessments to determine client eligibility for programs and services.
Gather essential background information to develop an initial, needs-based care plan.
Prioritize cases based on urgency, safety concerns, and organizational criteria.
Provide information and referrals to appropriate services when clients are deemed ineligible.
Make timely referrals to internal programs and external community resources.
Document all client contacts, assessments, and decisions accurately and promptly in the case management system.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of community resources, service pathways, and program criteria.
Follow up on referrals to ensure clients are successfully connected to recommended services.
Participate in team meetings, case reviews, and clinical supervision.
Identify barriers to service access and advocate for client needs as required.
Deliver culturally sensitive, client-centered, and trauma-informed support throughout the intake process.
Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required.
Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems.
Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services.
Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups.
Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs.
Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and social programs.