LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER/BENEFITS COORDINATOR (SYRACUSE)

About the Role

Provides a full range of psychological assessment, treatment planning, and therapeutic mental health services for individuals. Develops and directs support group sessions.

Requires a high level of professionalism, confidentiality, communication, teamwork, creativity, problem solving, dexterity, planning, and organizational skills. Must understand medical plan requirements and the ability to work well with a wide variety of personalities.

Responsibilities

• Direct case management for CABVI employees and consumers: complete intakes, secure appropriate funding sources, coordinate all rehabilitation services, and ensure a smooth transition to community-based services.
• Assist employees and potential employees in all areas of social services related to employment, housing, relocation, and barriers in employment.
• Ensure ongoing communication with the CABVI team.
• Assist blind and visually impaired consumers with social and job-related issues by providing benefit counseling, case management, and advocacy services.
• Work with CABVI’s social work team to secure community support such as completing applications for HEAP, SNAP, and/or housing, and exploring transportation opportunities.
• Complete Baseline Assessments and Social Casework Level 1 services for the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB). Recommend appropriate services once the assessment is completed.
• Explore entitlement assistance, housing opportunities, and provide case management services for Social Casework Level 1 services.
• Provide social casework as needed for NYSCB Adaptive Living Program (ALP) consumers.
• Educate CABVI visually impaired employees about the potential impact employment may have on benefits, including how to report income, track work-related expenses, communicate with Social Security, maintain financial records, and document income.
• Advocate for employees and provide training and information to CABVI management on related topics.
• Work with employees to achieve independence in submitting required documentation.
• Work with the Social Work Supervisor to ensure timely submission and accuracy in reporting of all required documentation and maintain updated backup documentation.
• Complete required filing and work as a liaison with the payroll department.
• Collect consumer data through review of case history, staff consultation, interview, and/or psychological testing.
• Select appropriate treatment plans based on sound social work practice and medical plan guidelines.
• Deliver individual and group counseling, applying therapeutic treatment interventions.
• Review reliability and validity of treatment modalities; ensure QA/HIPAA compliance.
• Consult with related professionals and refer to community-based services as necessary.
• Present social work-related programs to staff.
• Remain current in the profession through continuing education.
• Actively participate in rehabilitation youth and adult development activities, including adaptive sports and recreation.
• Adapt to change and complete other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Consistently achieve annual performance objectives.

Requirements

• Master’s in social work required with a minimum of two years’ experience in human services.
• Certified NY State LMSW or LCSW required.
• Must meet the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Department of Special Education, and the Department of Health personnel standards.
• Experience with visually impaired populations is a plus.
• Knowledge of Social Security and other financial aid programs, such as HEAP and SNAP, is helpful.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community problems.
• Considerable knowledge of a wide range of behavior and psychosocial problems, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics, a range of intervention techniques, governmental and private organizations, resources in the community, and laws, regulations, and policies governing the program.
• Skill in establishing rapport with clients and applying techniques to assess psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of client problems.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from diverse groups.
• Ability to develop the consumer’s confidence and self-esteem, with excellent listening skills.
• Proficient with computer and typing skills.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, and kneel.
• Required to engage in physical rehabilitation activities.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform key job elements.

Work Environment

• Primarily a position with travel required in the counties served.
• Moderate noise level.
• Occasionally exposed to mechanical parts.
• Must be available for evening or weekend agency-related functions, which may be outside of the agency.

Pay

$54,600/year