Social Worker (Temporary, 90 Days) Position Available In New York, New York

Job Title:

Social Worker

Department:

Rehabilitation and Workforce

Employee Status:

Temporary (90 Days)
Reports to: Senior Director of Social Work

Primary Location:

VISIONS, 500

Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013

Salary Range:

$16,250 to $18,000
Summary
This position encompasses three distinct components: social casework with blind participants and their families, assistance with concrete benefits and working in a short-term residential setting.
The Social Worker serves as a bridge between participants with vision loss, other service providers and VISIONS. People who are visually impaired or blind often need advocates to assist in accessing community based mental health or health services. The Social Worker locates benefits and programs, makes a referral and facilitates acceptance of identified services. The Social Worker provides support to participants adjusting or living with their visual impairment. The Social Worker may plan, organize, implement and document outreach, public education and community activities to recruit participants through referrals from other agencies. The Social Worker may be assigned to work throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Lower Hudson Valley and Long Island.
In this short-term role, the Social Worker will be tasked with providing social work support at the Summer Transition Program (STP). STP is a four-week program that provides legally blind youth between the ages of 14 and 18 opportunities to refine their independent living, orientation and mobility, technology, career and social skills. This is achieved through the participants living in a supervised dormitory setting. Additionally, the Social Worker will provide support services to parents, legally blind children and/or their siblings, in group or one-to-one sessions at the summer family weeks held at our residential facility. The Social Worker carries out their responsibilities with dependability, initiative, and creativity. This position requires a strong ability to multitask. This position also requires solid interpersonal skills, an ability to work well with an interdisciplinary team, careful attention to detail and the treating of personal information with confidentiality. The Social Worker may be required to conduct all initial assessments with the participant in person as per the requirements of our primary funder, the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB). Counseling sessions are provided in person or virtually based on the preference of the participant with approval of the state agency counselor.
Duties and Responsibilities
Provide adjustment to blindness support with individuals and their families who are having difficulty dealing with their vision loss.
Conduct needs assessment and provide assistance with linkage to entitlements and benefits for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in a timely manner and in accordance with the contractual obligations from funding sources. Examples of benefits or services individuals may be linked to include: SSI, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Disability, housing, or meals-on- wheels and homecare, etc.
Assist participants as needed with the completion of all required paperwork including applications for benefits and services.
Maintain records and complete reports required by funding source and/or VISIONS.
Meet with participants and/or family members to address problems or concerns related to rehabilitation services individually, in groups or through special events.
Keep comprehensive case notes to be shared with your supervisor and New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB).
Participate in agency outreach and public education activities when assigned.
Attend meetings and trainings as they occur and/or when assigned.
Identify individuals who can benefit from any of the services offered through VISIONS.
submit reports within specified departmental timelines.
Required to work occasional evenings and weekends – as assigned by the Senior Director of Social Work.
Provide social work services during residential programs at VISIONS Center on Blindness (VCB), residential facility located in Rockland County. this includes 3 days a week for small group sessions on self-advocacy, independence and self-care. Adjusting to living with roommates, accommodations in the work place, or self-advocacy at home , school or work. These summer programs include Pre employment, STP and R&R.
Assist with the family residential sessions that take place during the month of August. This will include conducting sessions with parents: both one-to-one and in small groups: and 2. Working with the children and their siblings in small group sessions.
Carry a minimum of 25 cases at any given time.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Social Work preferred. Or, Bachelor’s in Social Work with one-year of relevant experience.
Familiarity or interest in working with people with disabilities a plus.
Fluency in another language such as Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, American Sign Language, strongly preferred but not necessary.
Good written, spoken, and telephone communication skills.
Good organizational skills.
Ability to relate well with people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Computer literacy in Microsoft Office or the Google Suite.
Some of the duties of this position can be done remotely with the approval of the Senior Director of Social Work, Chief Program Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or Executive Director/CEO. When working remotely, staff must have a dedicated, quiet workspace with little to no interruptions.
Salary Range
Salary for this position is $16,250 to $18,000, based on education and experience.
Work Environment
Some of the duties of this position can be done remotely with the approval of the Senior Director of Social Work, Chief Program Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or Executive Director/CEO. When working remotely, staff must have a dedicated, quiet workspace with little to no interruptions.
VISIONS headquarters is located at 500 Greenwich Street, New York, NY, 10013. The Temporary Social Worker will be based at our VCB location 111 Summit Park Rd, Spring Valley, NY 10977. However, many services will take place in the participant’s home, community, or at VISIONS at Selis Manor, 135West 23rd Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.