Social Worker; MSW

Social Worker

Under the direction of program leadership, Social Workers provide support, crisis counseling and assistance for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families seeking crisis intervention services, assisting with securing eligibility for OPWDD services and coordinating connection to necessary supports during stressful times. Receives referrals, reviews eligibility and conducts on-site, in-person and virtual intakes, coordinating and following up with various parties to obtain and maintain documentation and updates needed to support eligibility for services for an assigned caseload.

Serves as an advocate for the people we support and their families, regularly liaising with circles of support and a variety of internal and external partners to provide short-term crisis intervention services, including assessments, behavior management and crisis counseling and to assist participants with navigating, coordinating and connecting to services or other available resources. Under appropriate clinical supervision, provides behavior management support and in-person crisis counseling and facilitates parent/caregiver education, including developing content for parent support groups.

Participates in discharge planning to position participants for success in transition to long-term services in collaboration with the Crisis Intervention team.

• Manages an assigned caseload of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) receiving crisis intervention services, assisting with securing and maintaining eligibility for services by regularly coordinating with persons supported, their families, internal and external partners or providers to facilitate access to available supports during stressful times.
• Receives and reviews referrals and inquiries for persons with I/DD to crisis intervention services, answering questions regarding services, OPWDD eligibility, clinical and/or medical necessity criteria and assisting with scheduling of appointments needed to connect individuals to services, including intake meetings.
• Conducts in-person intake meetings/home visits to assess service needs with individuals and their families, serving as the primary contact for assigned cases, determining status of or need for evaluations with team, and providing ongoing assistance, coaching and support to families in navigating available services, resources and OPWDD eligibility by coordinating with all applicable parties to schedule assessments and secure required documentation.
• Provides ongoing case management for assigned participants, including in-person home visits and on-site sessions to provide necessary support services, behavior management, crisis counseling and parent/caregiver education to address specific challenges or needs, under appropriate clinical supervision.
• Conducts in-home crisis counseling with persons supported and their families to enhance coping skills and identify solutions to problems, appropriately documenting and assessing progress, changing needs and necessary supports, including for participants outside of caseload, as needed; collaborates with Assistant Social Workers regarding crisis counseling services for persons supported on their caseload to ensure coordination of services.
• Advocates for persons supported and their families with community-based organizations, medical providers or specialists and governmental agencies to connect people we support and their families with appropriate resources and services, accompanying families to appointments as needed.
• Schedules and facilitates parent/family support groups by leading and moderating group discussions on a variety of topics and regarding available resources relating to self-care, reducing stress and behavior management skills using prescribed curriculums.
• Collects feedback and information from parents and families regarding interests and potential topics for parent/family support groups and collaborates with Crisis Intervention team to develop and enhance curriculums, participating in the development of content and identification of related resources and services, including from external sources in collaboration with the team.
• Participates in interdisciplinary care planning for the people we support and their families, providing information and updates regarding assigned caseload and crisis counseling sessions with other participants, identifying additional needs for persons supported and/or their families, making recommendations and collaborating with program leadership to determine and implement appropriate supports and resources to promote stabilization.
• Completes all necessary documentation for persons supported in a timely manner and in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations, maintaining and updating files in appropriate formats, files and systems.
• Coordinates regularly with Crisis Intervention team regarding discharges, collaborating with the…