Social Worker (MSW)

If you are a current YAI employee, please click this link to apply through your Workday account.

Job Summary:

Under the direction ofprogram leadership, Social Workers provide support, crisiscounselingandassistancefor people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their familiesseekingcrisisintervention services,assistingwith securing eligibility forOPWDD servicesand coordinating connectionto necessary supports during stressful times. Receives referrals, reviewseligibilityand conducts on-site, in-person and virtual intakes, coordinating and following up with variousparties to obtain andmaintaindocumentation and updates needed to support eligibility forservices foran assigned caseload. Serves as an advocate for the people wesupportand their families, regularly liaising with circles of supportand a variety of internal andexternal partnersto provide short-termcrisis intervention services, includingassessments,behavior management and crisis counselingandtoassistparticipants withnavigating, coordinatingand connectingto servicesorotheravailable resources.Underappropriate clinicalsupervision,providesbehavior management supportandin-person crisis counselingandfacilitatesparent/caregiver education, includingdeveloping content forparent support groups.Participatesin discharge planningto position participants for success in transition to long-term servicesin collaboration withtheCrisis Intervention team.

Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• 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 withpersonssupported, their families,internal and external partners or providerstofacilitateaccess to availablesupportsduring stressful times.

• Receives and reviews referralsand inquiriesfor persons with I/DD tocrisis intervention services,answering questionsregardingservices,OPWDDeligibility, clinical and/or medical necessity criteriaandassistingwith scheduling of appointmentsneeded to connect individuals to services, including intake meetings.

• Conductsin-personintake meetings/home visitsto assess service needswith individualsand their families, serving as theprimary contact for assigned cases, determining status of or need for evaluations with team,andproviding ongoing assistance, coaching and support tofamilies in navigating available services, resources andOPWDD eligibility by coordinating withall applicable parties toschedule assessments and securerequireddocumentation.

• Provides ongoing case management for assigned participants, including in-person home visitsand on-site sessionsto provide necessary support services, behavior management,crisiscounselingand parent/caregiver education to address specific challenges or needs, underappropriate clinicalsupervision.

• Conductsin-home crisis counseling withpersonssupported and their families to enhance coping skills and identify solutions to problems, appropriately documenting andassessing progress, changing needs and necessarysupports, including for participants outside ofcaseload, as needed;collaborateswithAssistant Social Workers regarding crisis counseling services forpersonssupported on their caseload to ensure coordination of services.

• Advocates forpersonssupported and their families with community-based organizations, medical providers or specialists and governmental agencies to connectpeople we supportandtheirfamilies withappropriate resourcesand services,accompanyingfamilies to appointments as needed.

• Schedules andfacilitatesparent/family support groups by leading and moderating group discussions on a variety of topics andregardingavailable 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 forparent/family support groups and collaborates withCrisisInterventionteam to develop and enhance curriculums,participating in thedevelopment of content and identification of related resources and services, including from external sourcesin collaboration with the team.

• Participates in interdisciplinary care planning for the people we support and their families, providing information and updates regarding assigned caseload andcrisis counseling sessions with other participants,identifying additional needs forpersonssupported and/or their families, makingrecommendationsand collaborating with program leadership to determine and implement appropriate supports and resources topromote stabilization.

• Completesall necessary documentation forpersonssupportedin a timely mannerandin accordance withall applicable rules and regulations,maintainingand updating files inappropriate formats,filesand systems.

• Coordinates regularly with Crisis Intervention teamregardingdischarges,collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to developcomprehensive discharge plansto supportsuccessfultransitionsto ongoing services, includingreceiving and sharing informationregardingsupports, effective interventions and recommendations with families and/or internal and external providers.

• Participatesinutilization/quality assurance reviews forcrisisintervention program,assistingwithreviewoffiles, documentsand notes for completeness and coordinating with other parties to obtain and update recordswithother members of the team.

• Conducts in-person outreach presentations regarding YAI’scrisisintervention services and other related programs at YAI or other locations across the boroughs of New York City,including toexternal audiences, as requested.

• Attendsevents including YAI Network,outreachand community-based meetings to network and present oncrisisintervention program to increase awareness of and interest in available services; mayassistwith planning and coordinating events and/or presentations.

• Complies withall Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements and ensures cooperation withappropriate entitiesin any inspection,inquiryor investigation.

• Performs all otherduties,as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. andessentialphysical capabilities(e.g.lifting,assistinglifting, standing, etc.)

• Master’sdegree in Social Work;and

• Familiarity with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), behavioral and/or mental health diagnoses.

• Exceptionalcommunication andinterpersonalskills, including the ability to accurately communicate, collect and present information, both verbally and in writing.

• Self-directed, highly organized withgood timemanagement,record-keepingand follow-up skills, including the ability to appropriately prioritize multiple tasks to meet prescribed timelinesand meetneedsofpersonssupported.

• Excellentcritical thinking andproblem-solving skills, with the ability toidentifyand resolve concerns or issuesduring unanticipated challenges, including sound judgment andappropriate handlingof safety and security concerns during behavioral/mental health crises.

• Ability to work autonomously and work well in groups, includingbuilding relationships and working collaboratively with people at all levels, including internal staff,circles of supportand external parties.

• Proficiency with computers and electronic systems, includingelectronic health record (EHR) and Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Word and Excel and the ability to quickly learn to use common office equipment and various electronic systems and software programs (e.g. Workday,Digital Agency,etc.) to complete essential tasks.

• Ability totravelregularly across New York City,including tonon-YAI settings as required by caseload to conductintakes, provide services,facilitategroups and/or presentations andtotravel to local headquarters orother regions, on occasion.

• Ability toworka flexible schedule including occasional evening hoursasrequiredby caseload or forpresentationsorotherevents.

• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands tohandle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Behavior Support Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.

Preferred Qualification Requirements (desiredrequirements beyond MQRs above)

• At least one (1) year of experience working with individuals with I/DD including direct support, case management and/or securing resources.

• Familiarity with benefits and entitlements for individuals with I/DD, specifically OPWDD eligibility requirements and/or processes.

• Verbal and/or written fluency ina second language,ideallySpanish;verbal fluency in Spanishmay berequiredbased on assigned caseloador contract.

Compensation:

• $60,000 annually

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran. YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process.