Social Services Caseworker

The Salvation Army Southern California•Surprise, AZ

About The Position

The Social Services Caseworker serves at the North West Valley Corps and responds to community requests for emergency and financial assistance. The role assesses clients’ needs, determines eligibility, provides or facilitates assistance, and refers clients to other services. It also supports the food pantry through food distribution, documentation, inventory, volunteer supervision, and food collection. The caseworker maintains client records and program reports, supports grant and agency compliance, participates in Pathway of Hope and seasonal programs, and builds working relationships with clients, colleagues, and community agencies. The Salvation Army’s mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination. The position’s physical duties include frequent movement and handling items weighing up to 75 pounds. Qualified individuals must be able to perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Knowledge of local community resources.
Computer literacy in Microsoft Office software.
Ability to demonstrate competency in providing social services through education, volunteerism, or previous work experience.
Ability to relate to people in emotional crisis and use crisis-intervention skills.
Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with agency staff and professionals from other agencies.
Ability to complete documentation accurately and promptly, manage time, and work independently.
Organized and detail-oriented.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Valid Arizona driver’s license and clean motor vehicle record.
Must pass a criminal background check.
Ability to perform the essential duties with or without accommodation.
Ability to walk, stand, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and reach with hands and arms on a continuous basis.
Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
Vision abilities include close, distance, and color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Ability to operate a telephone and desktop or laptop computer, access and produce information from a computer, and understand written information.

Nice To Haves

Associate of Arts degree in a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Respond to community requests for financial assistance and telephone inquiries about emergency assistance; determine who may qualify.
Refer clients to other agencies during telephone prescreening or in-office interviews when appropriate.
Interview clients and complete initial files and assistance applications; review client information and determine eligibility based on completed documentation.
Provide financial assistance through vouchers, guarantees, or other documentation required to pay bills, and facilitate assistance through available grants and other funds.
Provide food assistance, including food boxes and/or USDA food; complete related documentation, reports, and invoices.
Recruit and supervise food pantry volunteers; maintain inventory and order food for the pantry and holiday food boxes.
Travel to outside agency food pantries and/or grocery rescue locations to pick up food for the TSA food pantry as necessary.
Assess clients for ancillary or referral services and assist with applications for identification, Social Security, AHCCCS, Food Stamps, and other social or health services when appropriate.
Follow up with agency staff co-managing client cases to support planned outcomes.
Complete required financial-assistance forms and reports in accordance with grant and funding-source requirements; maintain accurate ongoing client case records and service documentation.
Enter client files into the WellSky database within three days, or sooner when needed for time-limited reports.
Contribute to agency compliance with grant outcomes and other requirements; review program policies and procedures to stay current with the Emergency Assistance Program and other standards.
Provide daily, weekly, and monthly reports to the supervisor as requested; attend assigned staff meetings.
Assist with Salvation Army seasonal programs and, when requested, plan and carry out special projects such as community fairs, promotional events, food programs, and agency in-services.
Attend Pathway of Hope training as requested and implement and document the Pathway of Hope program.
Maintain an orderly, professional office environment.
Communicate professionally with community agencies and resources, and build and maintain relationships with current and prospective collaborators and other professionals.
Perform other related duties as assigned that relate to the Caseworker position.