Substance Use Disorder Social Worker

A licensed Master Degree of Social Work specializing in crisis intervention, behavioral health assessment, substance use disorder/opioid use disorder treatment coordination, and community-based case management. This person serves as a liaison among the Town of Branford, public safety departments, community providers, and social service agencies.

This position provides assessment and comprehensive case management services for individuals in need of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, including opioid use disorder (OUD), as well as post-treatment recovery supports. The Clinical Case Manager responds to substance-related crises and recovery needs by facilitating warm hand‑offs to treatment and community resources, coordinating care, advocating for client needs, and supporting skill‑building to promote long‑term emotional, social, and functional independence.

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Human Services, the SUD Case Manager is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned program areas.

• Receive clinician and/or community referrals of individuals in need of pre and/or post SUD or OUD treatment services.
• Assess recovery services to include co-occurring SUD and/or mental health conditions.
• Engage individuals in assessing their recovery, emotional, social and basic needs in the community. This work may also involve families and friends of the individual. Take appropriate actions to access and provide a warm hand‑off to services and meet needs with available resources.
• Provides SUD/OUD mobile trauma assessments to individuals and/or families and refers to appropriate healthcare facilities as needed.
• Provide referrals and follow up to other community resources as necessary.
• Develop and utilize the SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) protocol.
• Work with service providers to engage resources and provide comprehensive wrap‑around services (housing, transportation, job training, and childcare) in recovery. Work to achieve coordination of care for the client.
• Advocate for the client with service providers as needed.
• Maintain list of SUD/OUD and other relevant services available to individuals and refer to appropriate existing agencies and programs.
• Works with Social Services case managers verifying requests for emergency housing or other needs within their responsibilities.
• Support evidence‑based SUD/OUD education programs in schools and the community.
• Create and/or support school‑based contacts that parents can engage into seek immediate treatment services for their child.
• Support prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery programs focused on young people.
• Lead in house training programs for appropriate practices and precautions in SUD/OUD with Police, Fire, and EMS when necessary.
• Support wellness services for first responders and others who experience secondary trauma associated with opioid related emergency events.
• Assist individuals in securing appropriate State and Federal Entitlements as applicable.
• Interface with personnel at appropriate agencies for the benefit of the individual.
• Engage non‑profits and the faith‑based community as a system to support outreach for treatment.
• Provide crisis intervention services as needed and in collaboration with other Town Departments.
• Transport clients to clinical and/or social services if needed and develop individual transportation skills.
• Document all referrals and actions taken in the Agency Electronic record system.
• Make referrals to Branford Counseling Center for clinical care or social services as indicated.
• Collaborate with BHCare jail diversion program for intervention services with persons with OUD and any co‑occurring SUD/MI diagnosis.
• Collaborate with East Shore District Health Department with efforts to preventor reduce overdose deaths or other opioid related harm.
• Participate as needed with the Juvenile Review Board (JRB) to address juvenile SUD/OUD issues. Develop action plans to prevent and treat current and potential juvenile SUD/OUD matters.
• Prepare detailed case reports per encounter to ensure accurate record keeping documenting client/community…