Job Description

Position: Social Worker in the Harm Reduction Services

Position Summary

The Social Wor ker, Harm Reduction Services is a key member of NCST’s state-designated mobile Harm Reduction Center, an innovative program in Newark, NJ. The Harm Reduction Center also includes NCST’s Overdose Response Team, a first-of-its-kind program in New Jersey partnering with University Hospital to co-respond to overdoses in Newark, NJ. The Social Worker will provide trauma-informed, person-center harm reduction and care coordination services to address social and behavioral health needs of participants who have recently overdosed or are at risk of an overdose. As all NCST employees, the Social Worker will thrive working in a fast past, ever-changing environment working tirelessly to save lives.

Together with Outreach Workers and the Director, Harm Reduction Services , the Social Worker will develop and implement care management strategies for enrolled participants and provide linkages for various health and social needs. The lead priority of the Social Worker is care coordination services, which includes building and maintaining relationships with care coordination partners.

Additionally, the Social Worker will support the Outreach Workers as they provide harm reduction services, overdose prevention education, and care coordination services to individuals immediately following an overdose, as well as oversee all behavioral health needs of participants enrolled in services. This will include being involved in syringe distribution, collection, and disposal in support of the Harm Reduction Center’s directive. The Social Worker will work in a variety of Newark settings, including University Hospital’s ED/inpatient floors, treatment centers, homeless shelters, home visits, and other street outreach settings. The Social Worker is expected to be on-site 5 days a week.

Essential Functions

• Work in coordination with the outreach workers and program director on coordination of participant care plans; outreach workers must be able to communicate with the Social Worker during the times of co-response, care coordination, and community walks.
• In coordination with the Harm Reduction Services team, assist in the following areas:
  • Conduct participant intakes and immediate care coordination
  • Conduct onsite care management services
  • Provide short-term care management services
  • Provide overdose prevention education
• Primarily responsible for oversight of social/behavioral needs and barrier identification of participants enrolled in the program; responsible for management and ensuring completion of social/behavioral tasks for each participant on the panel
  • Tasks may include, but are not limited to:
    • Coordinate behavioral health services
    • Accompany participants to appointments as needed
    • Referrals to any additional services (e.g. domestic violence programs, home-delivered meals, legal aid)
• Engage participants across care settings such as the transition from hospital to treatment centers to home
• Play a consistent and active role in identifying program inefficiencies and finding collaborative solutions to problems
• Perform administrative tasks related to the program; participant scheduling, recording progress notes in patient charts, etc.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed (e.g. suicide assessment, DCP&P intervention, mini-mental assessment)
• Coordinate and participate in interdisciplinary case conferences/team meetings
• Provide ongoing training and development to team members on varying topics (e.g. boundary setting, participant-centered approach, harm reduction, cultural competence, etc.)

Non-Essential Functions

• Attend relevant training as necessary to maintain professional certification and/or knowledge.
• Adheres to NCST’s guidelines and ensures the appropriate handling of sensitive information
• May work non-traditional hours based on operational needs and to meet the needs of the community
• Completes special projects specific to the function of the department.
• Other duties as assigned within the scope of position expectations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrates ability of implementing person-centered, trauma informed care
• Demonstrates ability to work with other people through a cooperative effort
• Requires the ability to travel to multiple office locations; valid driver’s license and automobile that is insured
• Requires ability to be in the office 5 days a week
• Spanish language ability preferred
• Demonstrates ability to carefully set priorities, meet deadlines, and schedule time efficiently
• Ability to accurately type and effectively operate a computer and use a variety of common software programs including Microsoft Office
• Ability to follow-up and follow-through with strong attention to detail
• Ability to work well and maintain professionalism under occasional times of stress and pressure
• Demonstrates ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Possesses strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by compassionate, courteous, cordial, cooperative, and professional interaction with diverse groups of co-workers, external business partners, and the community

Experience, Education, and Licensure

Experience : 1-3 years of work experience providing direct social services with people who use drugs; experience in community/outpatient setting preferred.

Education: Minimum Bachelor of Social Work; Master of Social Work preferred. Licensure (LSW/CSW) through the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs required.

Application Process

● Two references, at least one of which must be professional.

NOTE: Continuing funding for this roll is likely but not guaranteed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently stand; walk and sit in an office environment
• May be required to drive personal vehicle
• There will be occasional lifting up to 15-20lbs

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics 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.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• Although work is primarily indoors, you may be required to travel outside to business community locations

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