Shift Schedule: Monday-Friday 9AM-5PMHours Per Week: 35General Responsibilities:The Help Center at JASA is the main point of entry for older adults, family members, and professionals turning to JASA for help. The Help Center Social Worker is responsible for providing information and referrals to JASA services and older adult resources throughout New York City. As the first point of contact for those seeking help from JASA, the Help Center Social Worker provides assessment, screening, and information and assistance via telephone, email, and web-based text communication. The Help Center Social Worker builds relationships with older adults, caregivers, professionals, and others concerned about older adults and works to address presenting needs and referral to services. The Help Center Social Worker is culturally competent and knowledgeable about the breadth of services available to older adults throughout New York City and provides advocacy to eliminate barriers to accessing such services. The Help Center Social Worker is a member of a collaborative team which partners with multiple departments across the organization to successfully serve the aging community.Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide information and assistance on all long term care services/supports; provide follow-up with individuals regarding referrals to services made.
- Provide appropriate information and linkages to programs and/or services that may be explored to meet identified needs.
- Provide education and information to older adults and collaterals regarding the normal physical, social and psychological development of individuals, challenges to functioning presented by conditions of impairment, disease, social stresses and dysfunction; and ways of coping and preserving individual functioning and autonomy.
- Provide specific information about health, welfare, education and recreation services available to older adults.
- Screening of client eligibility, application for, and advocacy in securing benefits and entitlements.
- Liaison with JASA services staff and other aging services providers to conduct outreach and develop professional relationships to aide in referral to services.
- Serve as an available resource to individuals, caregivers and families to assist in transitions of care needs.
- Conduct screenings with individuals over the phone or via email or text, in order to obtain preliminary information about needs and possible programmatic and/or financial eligibility for various programs and benefits/entitlements.
- As a direct provider of information and assistance, comply with all applicable JASA Standards when interacting with all contacts and performing all other job functions.
- Perform outreach and education activities to increase awareness of the program, its core functions, its objectives and value to the community.
- Participate in professional trainings to acquire and update skills (i.e. attend in-services).
- Complete required documentation, case records, reports, and statistics utilizing computers and databases as required.
- Inform supervisors of situations of crisis or circumstances where the worker requires further guidance.
- In all responsibilities listed above, utilize a strength-based, person centered approach to support the individual's independence and self-determination while working with a diverse population and respond to all individuals in a professional, non-judgmental and culturally appropriate manner.
- Perform other related tasks as requested or assigned.
Requirements:
- A Master's Degree from an accredited college in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or Gerontology required within two months of start date
- 1-2 years experience in the field of geriatrics preferred
- Bilingual in Russian and English required
Desired Skills and Specifications:
- Strong understanding and knowledge of the long-term care support services systems for older adults in New York City.
- Compassionate, and culturally sensitive with excellent listening skills.
- Experience with screening and interviewing individuals.
- Capacity to problem solve and think critically.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including documentation.
- Proficiency in computer literacy and web-based systems, including client databases
- An understanding and appreciation of the roles of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, and individual values have as they relate to serving clients