Client Care Coordinator

PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE: The Client Care Coordinator (CCC) will serve to improve access to mental health services in the Family with Children (FWC) shelter system and assist families that are homeless as they navigate multiple systems and cope with the stressors and anxiety induced by homelessness. 

The CCC will achieve this through enhanced delivery and coordination of mental health, substance abuse, and related services; promotion and modeling of best practices for shelter social services provider staff; improving linkages to mental health and community-based services; increasing the ability of shelter social services staff to address mental health issues in a culturally and linguistically competent manner that incorporates strengths-based, family-driven, and youth/child-guided care.  In total, the CCC will help to strengthen overall permanency outcomes for families with children in shelter.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Complete a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment with each family to understand strengths and identify service needs.  

• Provide short-term supportive counseling (not psychotherapy), crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and psychoeducation for families, and family members.  

• Complete all appropriate assessments (mental health, substance use screen, etc.) with family members to identify needed services.  

• Collaborate with ACS and/or preventive services agencies when a family is child welfare involved; participate in ACS conferences to advocate for the family.  

• Based on assessments of family needs, conceptualize, create, and run groups that support health, well-being, and stability in the lives of families  

• Provide education and training within your scope of practice to social services staff.  

• Facilitate quarterly family meetings with shelter staff to discuss planning efforts and progress. 

• Identify, establish, and or strengthen linkages to community-based mental health, substance abuse, and other service providers.  

• Make referrals to community-based organizations on behalf of family’s and act as family, program, and agency liaison to these CBO’s. 

• Collect and compile data in accordance with DHS/BPHN standards and needs. 

• Enter all appropriate case notes (in SOAP format) and other data in the DHS/CARES database system.  

• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings whose primary focus is to identify areas of focus for Independent Living Plans (ILP’s) and supportive/permanent housing goals. 

• Complete CAPS/EHV housing applications for eligible clients. 

• Participate in training seminars conducted to enhance and develop clinical skills. 

• Function independently in time of facility coverage, including responsibility for appropriate action in crisis situation(s) per agency procedure.  

• Lead advocate for clients including but not limited to ACS involvement, substance abuse/chemically addicted, alcohol use and seriously mental ill.  

• Complete SAFETY plans for all residents that present as a risk or concern for internal monitoring.  

• Conducts follow up and wellness checks on all families and all incidents.  

• Identify and evaluate the services of community-based providers who clients may be referred to by the program; monitor client progress in these programs and make necessary suggestions and recommendations.  

• Prepare for and participate in all internal and DHS client case conferences.  

• Report incidents to the Shelter Director, as well as external regulatory agencies (such as ACS), as required by all applicable regulations and organizational protocols; contribute to investigations as needed.  

• Maintain the Mental Health and ACS critical binder information. 

• Prepare/submit case summaries and reports both internally and to regulatory agencies.  

• Participate in weekly supervision with VP of Social Services and VP of Shelter Services and individually; participate in supervision with Site Director & all team meetings; monthly Community (Residential) Meetings (some of which may extend your workday by an hour); internal or DHS client case conferences  

• Participate in the reporting, investigation, and documenting of all significant incidents to the Shelter Director, BPHN Executive Team members, and all appropriate reporting agencies.  (DHS, ACS, NYPD, etc.), as required by all applicable regulations and laws.  

• Compile and contribute statistical data to the Shelter Director (or anyone s/he designates) in support of internal and external reporting requirements.  

• Respond timely to requests for information from BPHN, DHS and or any external entity in consultation with the Shelter Director.  

• Enforce DHS/BPHN rules, policies, and guidelines by proactively outreaching and counseling clients.  

• Assume all duties as required in the absence of the Shelter Director.  

• Related duties as assigned.  

Education  

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work  

• Licensure (LMSW/LCSW) already achieved or to be obtained within (6-9) months of hire.  

Experience  

• Working with homeless individuals, couples, or families.  

• Working with diverse cultures and ethnicities.  

• Conceptualizing, creating, and leading or co-leading groups.  

• Knowledge of CARES System 

Related Skills or Knowledge  

• A Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work  

• Knowledge of child and adolescent development; emotional/behavioral health; mental health; parent-child relationships; family dynamics; and diagnostic classification  

• Expertise in strengths-based, solution-focused, and family-centered practice  

• Knowledge of guidelines, policies and regulations relating to child welfare, safety, permanency, and well-being.  

• Employee must possess exceptional written and oral English communications skills. 

• Ability to work effectively in a high-volume, high intensity environment. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment described here is representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, use hands or fingers, or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, kneel, talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10-15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and distance vision. Must be able to travel locally using public transportation.

AGENCY EXPECTATIONS OF ALL EMPLOYEES

Adheres to Bronx Parent Housing Network’s Policies and Procedures. Acts as a role model within and outside the agency. Performs duties as workload necessitates. Attendance and Dependability: the employee can be depended on to report to work at the scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Employee can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments. Communication and Contact: the employee communicates both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside Bronx Parent Housing Network. Relationships with others: the employee works and communicates effectively and relates well with others including superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside Bronx Parent Housing Network. The employee Bronx Parent Housing Network Housing Specialist exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships. Employee adheres to mission statement and guiding principles.