Clinical Social Worker III

The Town of Brookline Council on Aging is seeking a compassionate and experienced Clinical Social Worker III to provide essential clinical and case management services to our valued older adult community. In this role you will lead and support clinical casework, outreach, and home-based services for older adults, while supervising a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers. Your expertise will ensure that Brookline's senior community receives comprehensive assistance addressing social, medical, legal, and financial needs.

What You'll Do:

• Provide clinical social work services, including outreach, psychosocial assessments, and crisis intervention, both in-office and through home visits.
• Lead and supervise Clinical Social Worker II staff, other staff, and volunteers, ensuring high-quality, compassionate care. Plan and coordinate professional education and consultation for staff.
• Develop and manage individualized service plans, facilitate referrals, and coordinate with community agencies to optimize client support.
• Conduct crisis management and safety planning, including suicide risk assessments and support for clients facing mental health challenges.
• Oversee and update the Resource Guide to maintain current information on local and state resources.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to plan educational programs, staff consultations, and community outreach initiatives.

Why You Should Apply:

Impactful Work: Improve the lives of Brookline's older adults through direct service and supervision.

Community Service: Contribute to a stable and engaged community that values comprehensive care and social well-being.

Professional Development: Benefit from ongoing training opportunities in a collaborative environment that values innovative approaches to social work.

What We're Looking For:

Master's in Social Work with a specialization in Gerontology and a valid L.I.C.S.W; three to four years of clinical social work experience, including case management, crisis intervention, and team supervision.

Must have strong knowledge of social, medical, legal, and financial services for older adults; and excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Join Our Team:

If you're a skilled, empathetic social worker who is committed to quality care and providing effective supervision, and you want to make a lasting impact in Brookline with the opportunity to grow professionally in a supportive environment, we encourage you to apply.

Salary range: $77,170 - $87,314 annualized with excellent, comprehensive benefits. Apply today with your resume and cover letter. This position is open until filled.

Clinical Social Worker III Job Description:

Position Purpose:

The purpose of this position is to provide administrative, supervisory and senior level clinical casework services to staff, volunteers and older adults of Brookline. Provides outreach and home-based clinical and case management services, makes appropriate referrals and offers assistance with social, medical, legal and financial services. Must be able to provide social work services autonomously in any clinical or non-clinical setting, utilizing consultation whenever appropriate. All other related work as required.

Supervision:

Supervision Scope: Performs highly responsible functions requiring a high level of initiative and judgment in providing social work services to older adults and their families residing in Brookline.

Supervision Received: Works under the general supervision of the Supervisor of Services and the Director. Meets regularly with the Supervisor of Services to discuss cases. Confers with the Director when unusual situations arise.

Supervision Given: Day-to-day supervisory responsibility for the Clinical Social Workers II's, other Council on Aging staff, and volunteers. Responsibility involves providing assistance and direction to the Clinical Social Workers II, employees and volunteers, and may extend to assisting with hiring, firing and disciplining employees. Has supervisory responsibility for the Information and Referral and Reception Desk volunteers, as well as the social work staff around the SHINE and LHEAP program parameters and managing those schedules.

Job Environment:

Some work is performed under typical office conditions; home visits require travel and exposure to various weather conditions. During home visits incumbent may have exposure to communicable diseases and other health and safety risks. Operates computers, printers, telephone, and other standard office equipment. Has frequent contact with recipients of services, health care providers, community agencies, nursing homes, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, various social welfare agencies, landlords, attorneys, clergy, volunteers, the general public and other town departments. Contacts involve discussing the needs of the service recipient. Has access to confidential information regarding service recipients. Errors could result in reduced levels of service to the community and possible legal ramifications.

Essential Functions:

(The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)

• Provides outreach and home-based clinical and case management services in collaboration with other service providers to assist elderly clients and monitor their care as appropriate. Provides information and makes appropriate referrals to clients, their family members and/or caregivers.
• Conducts psychosocial and situational assessments to identify problems, eligibility for assistance and need for services. Develops service plan with clients to address goals and resolve problems.
• Provide information and referral services to older adult clients, their families, caregivers, and/or representatives to address social, medical, housing, legal, and financial needs of the client. Assist with applying for benefits as needed.
• Provides direction to and oversees the Clinical Social Work II employees. Has supervisory responsibility for volunteers that assist the Clinical Social Workers.
• Triages and performs clinical assessments for new cases and assigns cases to the Clinical Social Work II staff.
• Provides crisis management and support for the Clinical Case Workers.
• Plans and coordinates Professional education and consultation for staff and assists with some programming for the public.
• Provides crisis intervention as needed; conduct suicide risk assessments and develop safety plans; monitor and support to clients who are experiencing mental health issues.
• Manages and coordinates Council on Aging benefit programs.
• Compiles and prepares manually and by computer various reports.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Resource Guide, which contains accurate and current information relating to local and state resources for clients and other community members. Regularly updates the Resource Guide.
• Provides crisis intervention and short-term counseling to clients, their families and caregivers.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments and develop safety plans to ensure that clients receive proper care and prevent further harm. Monitors and provides support to clients who may be depressed, anxious, or experiencing other mental health issues.
• Monitors and provides support to clients with dementia and their families.
• Investigates referrals regarding older adults at risk, elder abuse or self-neglect. Works closely with state and local agencies regarding mandated reporting of elder abuse.
• Provide information and referral services to older adult clients, their families, caregivers, and/or representatives to address social, medical, housing, legal, and financial needs of the client. Assist with applying for benefits as needed.
• Participates in interagency case presentations and meetings to facilitate coordination of services to older adults at risk. Coordinates and communicates with other professionals, volunteers and service providers to meet client care needs and monitors same.
• Serves as liaison to community agencies and as an advocate for older adult clients within health care and other systems. Identifies, conducts outreach and coordinates with community social service providers.
• Investigates referrals regarding elders at risk, elder abuse or self-neglect. Works closely with state and local agencies regarding mandated reporting of elder abuse.
• Develop, implement and/or facilitate educational, informational, or practice based programs pertaining to a particular need or concern of the elderly as needed. Assist in identifying gaps in services and assist in developing programmatic solutions.
• Creates and maintains confidential client records; compiles and prepares various reports.
• Attends relevant workshops and in-service activities to keep current in the field and maintain professional licensure.
• Maintain the flexibility to work outside of regularly scheduled hours as situations may demand.
• Performs similar or related work as required, directed or as situation dictates

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience:

Master's in Social Work required with expertise in Gerontology and three - four years related experience; L.I.C.S.W. required.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill:

Knowledge: Knowledge of clinical, diagnostic, assessment and treatment applications for the purpose of improving, restoring or enhancing the psychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families and groups. Knowledge of services and resources available to older adults. Knowledge of related state and federal laws and regulations. Knowledge of database and word processing applications.

Ability: Ability to work with individuals, families and community agencies. Ability to provide assistance to older adults with compassion, empathy and patience. Ability to coordinate and monitor client care. Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidential information. Ability to respond to emergency situations. Ability to maintain client records and compile reports as needed.

Skill: Strong communication, supervisory, organizational and time management skills. Strong clinical casework and counseling skills. Must have crisis intervention skills. Skill in all of the above listed technology, tools and equipment.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are 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.

Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation. Must be able to access client's homes, including climbing stairs when necessary. Must be able to communicate verbally.

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee. It is used as a guide for personnel actions and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)