Clinical Social Worker/Transition Specialist – Independent Living Program
LIFE Skills Foundation provides transition age youth ages 16-24 with housing, independent living skills, counseling and wraparound support to help them become successful, independent adults. Most of our participants have aged out of foster care or are housing insecure for other reasons. We pride ourselves in providing individualized, agile and thoughtful support.
We recognize that systemic forces of racism, oppression and economic disenfranchisement create a reality that can be extremely challenging for our participants. However, we also hope to provide the opportunity for our participants to obtain the skills necessary to overcome these systemic influences.
LIFE Skills recognizes that our participants have their own strengths and challenges, their own likes and dislikes, and their own thoughts and opinions about how to best move forward. LIFE Skills takes great pride in creating individualized programming that allows for our participants to have true input. We also understand that making mistakes is part of the path to independence and we find a punitive approach is not conducive to helping our participants achieve their goals.
LIFE Skills recognizes that we must work diligently with our partners in the community to provide the support that transition age youth need to be successful in their employment, their educational program or in their housing. We take care to nurture community relationships and partnerships.
The LIFE Skills Mission Statement:
To empower transitional age youth to live stable, self-directed lives by providing them with housing and wraparound support services.
Guiding Principles
We will work with transitional age youth to help them identify and nurture their unique abilities.
We will provide consistent support to transitional age youth as they experience both success and challenges.
We will ensure housing and other basic needs are met so that transitional age youth can focus on higher level goals
We will ensure our staff are competent and flexible in the way that we provide services in order to meet the individual needs of each program participant.
We will monitor and measure what we do in order to ensure we are providing the best possible services to program participants.
We will work with the community to improve opportunities for transition age youth.
Primary Purpose of Position
The primary purpose of this position is to provide therapy and wraparound supports to clients eligible for the Independent Living Program including but not limited to the following: service coordination, including linking clients to benefits for which they are eligible; symptom assessment and management; individual supportive counseling; life skills training; social, interpersonal relationship, and leisure-time activity services; support services or direct assistance to ensure that individuals obtain the basic necessities of daily life; and education, support, and consultation to individuals’ families and other major supports. This role will work closely with LIFE Skills’ Executive Director and other support staff. The caseload will max out at roughly 12-15 young adults at any given time. Our approach here is quality over quantity. We often work with youth for multiple years and are focused on developing strong relationships and trust with our participants.
The Clinical Social Worker/Transition Specialist is a critical member of the Independent Living Program. Because of life experience the Transition Specialist provides expertise that professional training cannot replicate. This employee in this position should be able to draw upon and utilize his/her own life experience in his/her work with clients and feel comfortable with the self-disclosure of some aspects of his/her experiences with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and/or treatment and recovery while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries. The Transition Specialist is a fully integrated staff member who provides highly individualized services in the community and promotes individual self-determination and decision-making. The Transition Specialist also provides essential expertise and consultation to staff to promote a culture in which each individual’s point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community self-help activities.
TO APPLY PLEASE EMAIL YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO APPLY@LIFESKILLSFOUND.ORG
List of Responsibilities, Requirements, and Duties:
Assist in identifying, planning, scheduling, and implementing services for the client.
Providing individualized therapeutic services using evidence based practices.
Assist in identifying and connecting clients to housing resources in the community.
Provide support to clients in our apartments or their own housing with Independent Living Skills such as cooking and cleaning
Assist in linking clients to benefits for which they are eligible and to other services, as appropriate.
Assist in the development of transition plans when clients move in and out of services.
Act as an advocate in the community.
Provide direct support to clients to help acquire and maintain housing, education, employment and informal supports
Actively work on assisting client meeting their goals in their LIFE Skills Domains: Housing, Employment, Education, Financial Literacy, Communication, Health/Wellness and Developing a Support Network
Provide any required written documentation. This will include sessions notes, goals, and plans for the medical record (e.g., service notes, input for person-centered plan, etc.)
Be available to respond as needed to clients during some off-hours.
Must be free from all illicit substance use.
This is considered Light Work; no lifting over 20 pounds.
Special Training/Skills:
Must demonstrate ability to organize and plan weekly schedules and manage time effectively. Must be committed to a solution oriented, client-focused, community-based intervention approach to service. Must demonstrate ability to join with clients in a full partnership, building on strengths, community resources, and formal and informal supports. Must possess thorough knowledge of policies, procedures, and standards of care for treatment/services. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation effectiveness. Must communicate regularly with staff and engage in regular individual and group supervision. Must be competent with office software applications. Must be adept at initiating daily activities without direct supervision. Must have functional and reliable personal vehicle to provide community-based services.
Minimum Education, Training and Experience:
Master’s Degree in counseling, social work, or psychology and 2-5 years experience in direct practice, working with young adult clients with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Experience with foster care is highly recommended
Must hold a current license, provisional license, certificate, registration, or permit issued by the governing board regulating a human service profession.
Should be proficient in various computer programs such as Microsoft Office, Google Drive, and Case Management Software
Must be familiar or trained in various evidence based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or other modalities.
Employees will be required to attend orientation to the LIFE Skills Foundation treatment models, and agency policies and procedures. CPR/First Aid, and BBP certification will be required. A valid Driver’s License and current automobile insurance is also required. An employee must demonstrate having the core skills to deliver competent services to help clients transition to adulthood and independence.
An employee must receive training in population served and client rights/confidentiality. As well, training in Motivational Interviewing and Positive Youth Development will be expected and provided. An employee will be instructed in the LIFE Skills Foundation service delivery model, and in agency policies and procedures. A valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance is also required. An employee must demonstrate core skills in delivering outreach services prior to service provision.
Benefits
Competitive Pay based on experience 60-70K annually
SIMPLE IRA with employer matching
Medical and Vision Insurance
Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Life/AD&D Insurance paid by employer
Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance paid by employer
Generous PTO policy
Opportunities for professional growth including trainings, seminars and conferences
Mileage reimbursement
LIFE Skills is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, mental or physical disability, age, political affiliation or any other non-merit factors, except where specific age, gender, or physical requirements are bona fide occupational qualifications for unemployment.
TO APPLY PLEASE EMAIL YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO APPLY@LIFESKILLSFOUND.ORG
