Intern-Senior Nutrition (MSW Social Work)

Union County•Monroe, NC

About The Position

The Social Work Intern performs advanced professional-level casework under general supervision to assess individuals’ eligibility for the Senior Nutrition program. The role receives referrals by phone, email, or voicemail; records referrals in the ServTracker database; contacts potential participants; and conducts phone interviews or home visits. The intern completes timely reassessments to prevent gaps in services and may contact meal recipients monthly to confirm meal receipt and identify changes in health or living conditions. The role also coordinates monthly and/or quarterly trainings for congregant participants. Employees analyze situations and determine appropriate courses of action immediately or within short time spans, sometimes under stressful conditions. Depending on departmental size and structure, investigative and treatment responsibilities may be combined or separate. The intern assesses participants’ needs and home safety, develops service plans to help clients address issues and maintain independence and health at home, and provides supportive counseling. The role connects clients and families with community services and resources, follows up on outcomes, and reports concerns to Adult Protective Services when appropriate. It maintains case records and documentation, responds to client and family inquiries, participates on interdisciplinary teams, and may deliver meals to homebound participants as needed. The intern follows applicable laws, program rules, directives, policies, regulations, professional ethics, and quality assurance standards.

Requirements

Currently attend an accredited university’s Master of Social Work program, or hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work, or hold a four-year degree in a human services field.
Hold a valid driver’s license and have a safe driving history.

Responsibilities

Conduct in-home and telephone assessments of Senior Nutrition Program participants as required by state and program policy.
Identify client needs, assess the safety of the client’s environment, and establish appropriate service plans to support clients’ independence and health at home.
Provide supportive counseling to clients.
Refer clients to available community services and resources, assist clients and families in accessing them, and follow up to evaluate outcomes.
Make reports to Adult Protective Services when appropriate.
Maintain knowledge of governmental and private community organizations and resources for clients’ financial, psychological, emergency care, emotional, and other needs.
Stay current on social work theory, techniques, and practices; individual and group behavior; social problems; aging; medical and mental illness; family dynamics; coping behavior; crisis intervention; and treatment of medical, mental, and social issues.
Contact clients identified as high risk through a screening process, routinely by phone.
Respond to calls from clients and family members about meal service and available resources.
Document direct client interactions, service development, and referrals according to agency requirements.
Maintain case data and documentation using computer programs, including the ServTracker database.
Follow applicable state and federal laws, program rules, directives, policies, regulations, professional ethics, and quality assurance standards.
Serve as an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary team member.
Deliver meals to homebound participants as needed.
Complete referrals, participant contact, interviews or home visits, and timely reassessments to help prevent gaps in services.
Contact meal recipients monthly as needed to confirm meal receipt and assess changes in health or living conditions.
Coordinate monthly and/or quarterly trainings for congregant participants.
Perform other related duties as assigned.