Social Worker I - Coordinated Entry: Grant Funded
About The Position
This position is part of the Community Support Services (CSS) department, which focuses on supporting veterans, ending homelessness, treating substance use, and preventing domestic violence. As a department within Mecklenburg County’s Health and Human Services Agency, CSS collaborates with community partners to improve access to services for special populations. The Social Worker I role is crucial for the Coordinated Entry (CE) system, which serves as the intake for the local homeless response system. This position involves conducting CE assessments, both in-person and telephonically, with individuals and families experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness. The goal is to efficiently connect them with available homeless shelter, temporary housing, or prevention options. The role may also include short-term Systems Navigation support. The work environment is fast-paced and intense, requiring a strengths-based, solution-focused approach to identify client needs and facilitate referrals. The clientele is diverse, with potential challenges related to mental health, substance use, and trauma, necessitating compassionate engagement despite limited resources. The Social Worker I will also engage with community partners and may conduct CE at various locations, including partner sites, hospitals, and shelters. Employment is conditional upon adherence to community partner agency policies and procedures.
Requirements
- Bachelors of Social Work from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or a qualifying internship; or successfully completion of the NC Child Welfare Collaborative program
- Bachelor's degree in a related field with 15 hours of social work/counseling courses and two years of social work experience
- Master's degree from an accredited school of social work
- Master's degree in a related field with one year of social work experience
- Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License
- Requires County Driving Privileges
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual skills in Spanish (both oral and written) highly preferred.
- Prior experience with software/apps such as SharePoint, DialPad, and HMIS/Bitfocus.
- Prior experience in a fast-paced call center setting or understanding of and adherence to call center performance metrics.
- Ability to provide quality customer service (customers include clients, host/partner agencies and the community).
- Commitment to a strength-based, solution-focused, person-centered approach to client engagement with respect for clients’ right to self-determination.
- Working knowledge of Solution-Focused strategies and Motivational Interviewing.
- Experience with crisis response and de-escalation.
Responsibilities
- Conducts Coordinated Entry (both in person and telephonically) with individuals and families experiencing homelessness, or those at imminent risk of homelessness.
- Efficiently connects clients to the best available homeless shelter, temporary housing, or homeless prevention options.
- May provide short-term Systems Navigation support to clients until they are connected to a case manager or their situation resolves.
- Engages clients within a strengths-based, solution-focused framework to identify service needs and goals.
- Facilitates referrals to community resources to create a plan of action toward enhanced self-determination.
- Compassionately engages customers/callers, who may be in crisis, despite limited resources.
- Effectively engages with community partners to provide on-site CE to clients wherever they may be.
- Performs key job functions at a community partner work site.
- Assesses needs of individuals and families.
- Interviews clients, obtains family, social, and medical information.
- Determines clients' eligibility for financial assistance and if referrals are appropriate.
- Provides counseling and services in both individual and group settings.
- Discusses goals, expected outcomes and means with which to meet goals and expected outcomes.
- Assists clients in the completion of required paperwork for items that may determine program eligibility, referrals, or provide job assistance.
- Manages records and maintains history records and prepares reports of services provided.
- Refers clients to community resources for services and coordinates benefits and referrals to other agencies.
- Develops and evaluates service plans in consultation with clients, and performs follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
- Helps clients work with government agencies to apply for and receive benefits.
- Transports clients to appointments such as medical, job-related, or others, if appropriate.
- Manages records and documentation of services provided and participates in team case conferences.
- Acts as a liaison with other staff with referrals and transitioning of clients.
- May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster.
Benefits
- Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.
- Supportive, inclusive culture
- Technology to become the best version of you
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
