Substance Use Disorder Social Worker

Position Summary/Purpose:

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.

Essential Job Functions:

(The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)

• 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 member interventions and services. 
• Uses appropriate tracking software to produce monthly statistics/metrics and other reports as needed. 
• May assume additional clinician caseloads as assigned. 

Other Functions:

1. Performs similar or related work as required, directed, or as situation dictates.

2. Assists other departments, offices, or staff as needed to promote a team effort to serve the public.

Supervision:

Supervision Scope: Performs varied and responsible para-professional and administrative duties requiring knowledge and experience in human services; works with adults to determine appropriate resources and services to provide.

Supervision Received: Works under the general direction of the Director of Human Services or their designee, following documenting standards, procedures, and policies. Works closely with the Police Social Worker.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience:

The qualifications require a Master’s Degree in Social Work, or related field from an accredited college or university, substance abuse and crisis intervention experience preferred. LCSW preferred.

Special Requirements: Must have and maintain: Valid Driver’s License

Knowledge, Ability and Skill:

Knowledge: Strong knowledge of the current substance use/opioid use crisis. Knowledge of the principles and practices of social services, behavioral health services, and substance abuse services. Knowledge of intake processes, advising, assessments, etc. Thorough knowledge of available town, state, federal, and private resources available to all program applicants; and knowledge of prevention programs.

Ability: Ability to deal with distressed people, ability to recognize and identify problems, ability to prioritize problems and clients to determine which issues need to be addressed first, ability to maintain working relationships with clients, state and region agencies, etc; ability to multitask, ability to maintain confidential records, ability to prepare reports in oral and written form; ability to use computer systems and data bases; ability to maintain a safe environment during programs.

Skill: Strong crisis management skills, community resource networking, mediation, conflict resolution and communication resolution. Good verbal and good written communication skills; aptitude for working with and explaining programs and regulations to clientele; and problem-solving skills.

Job Environment:

Administrative work is performed in a moderately quiet office with regular interruptions during the day from the public via telephone or in person or at meetings. Most assessments are conducted at various locations such as recreational facilities, community dining room, schools, home, or other various places within the community, and in vehicle driving to locations under possible adverse weather conditions, including extreme hot and cold; occasionally driving to various locations to observe or conduct programs.

Requires the operation of vehicle, telephones, personal computers, copiers, facsimile machines, and other standard office equipment.

Makes frequent and periodic contact with clients and service providers, Town staff, schools, police, recreation facilities, civic groups, many regional and state agencies. Communication is frequently in person, by telephone, fax, email, and in writing. Contacts require a high level of patience, understanding and confidentiality

Errors in judgment or omissions could result in delay of services, effect on clients lifestyle, injury to others, and legal ramifications.