POSITION SUMMARY:    Responsible for ensuring the client's emotional and social needs are met and maintained individually, following policies and procedures and current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations. Adheres to all National Association of Social Workers (NASW) standards of practice/ethics.

POSITION-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop a comprehensive social history and psychosocial assessment that includes the client’s problems, strengths, and preferences, as well as his or her cultural, religious, and ethnic background and implications for the care plan.
• Help clients (in their social, racial, ethnic, and cultural context) cope with the immediate effects of their current issues.
• Orient clients to the clinic, its services, service limitations, and patient rights.
• Empower clients and encourage clients’ choices in matters affecting them, demonstrating receptive attitudes and sensitivity to choices based on racial, cultural, heritage, and sexual orientation.
• Provide linkage with appropriate community resources by maintaining knowledge of other systems, making referrals, and identifying unmet needs.
• Assist clients with financial questions and make appropriate referrals.
• Develop and implement program policies and procedures.
• Help clients cope with losses.
• Consult with staff regarding psychosocial needs that encompass the social, ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity of individual clients.
• Advocate on a case, policy, and program level.
• Participate in policy decision-making in a way that encompasses understanding the issues and implications relevant to religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity as it affects the client’s life and care.
• Participate in continuing education for certification/license and career upgrade.
• Perform other job-related duties as may be assigned.