Lead Social Worker

EAST SIDE HOUSE SETTLEMENT•New York, NY

1d•$75,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

East Side House (ESH) is a community resource serving the Bronx and Northern Manhattan. We believe education is the key that enables individuals to create economic and civic opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. ESH’s Social Services programs align with our mission by providing high-quality programs and services through community-based programs and school partnerships. The Lead Social Worker serves as the primary social work resource at the assigned site, providing assessment, focused case support, crisis response, advocacy, and care coordination for residents experiencing complex or higher-acuity needs. The Lead Social Worker maintains an assigned caseload and provides ongoing, person-centered support and service planning to residents requiring more intensive social work intervention. Working collaboratively with Case Managers, the Lead Social Worker provides case consultation and practice guidance, supports appropriate referrals and service coordination, and helps ensure consistent services that promote housing stability and long-term well-being.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution required.
Experience working with individuals and families affected by homelessness, housing instability, poverty, behavioral health challenges, or other complex social needs strongly preferred.
Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based, and person-centered practices.
Experience with needs assessment, crisis intervention, care coordination, and community referrals.
Knowledge of New York City social services, behavioral health resources, and public benefits.
Strong engagement, documentation, advocacy, communication, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals and families affected by homelessness, housing instability, poverty, behavioral health challenges, or other complex social needs

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary social work resource at the assigned site, supporting residents with complex needs and providing guidance to the site team.
Conduct comprehensive assessments for residents experiencing barriers, crisis situations, safety concerns, or needs requiring professional social work judgment.
Provide focused case support and social work interventions for higher-acuity cases, including crisis response, safety planning, advocacy, stabilization, and coordination of care.
Develop individualized service plans with residents and monitor progress toward housing stability, family well-being, economic mobility, and other identified goals.
Provide case consultation and practice guidance to Case Managers, helping to determine appropriate interventions, referrals, follow-up, and escalation.
Receive referrals and escalations from Case Managers when resident needs exceed light-touch case management or require more intensive intervention.
Connect residents to behavioral health services, healthcare, benefits, housing stabilization, legal services, education, workforce development, childcare, food assistance, and other community-based resources.
Facilitate warm handoffs and coordinate with external providers when residents require specialized or ongoing services.
Facilitate or coordinate psychoeducational workshops and groups responsive to identified needs and emerging trends.
Review case documentation, as appropriate, and support consistent, timely, accurate, and confidential documentation practices at the site.
Identify recurring resident needs, service gaps, and trends and communicate them to the Social Work Supervisor to inform program planning and resource development.
Participate in case conferences, staff meetings, supervision, professional development, and cross-site Social Services activities.
Escalate significant safety, risk, complex-case, service-quality, or partnership concerns to the Social Work Supervisor in accordance with established protocols.