Overview

Intro/Program Description: Goddard Riverside at Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center is a community center serving the residents of the Lincoln Square neighborhood with a focus on Amsterdam Houses and Addition public housing developments. Senior services provide an opportunity for older adults ages 60+ to lead more vibrant and meaningful lives through comprehensive programming and social supports including case management, case assistance and health promotion. The NORC serves residents age 60+ who are residents of the NYC Housing Authority developments Amsterdam Houses and Amsterdam addition with social services, health promotion and recreational/cultural/social opportunities. About 50% of the seniors are Spanish-speaking. The NORC is run in conjunction with a senior center that is open to all New Yorkers ages 60+.

 

Purpose of Position: The Social Worker provides individualized case management and assistance to enable seniors to live with independence and dignity in their own homes. Specific services may include: assistance with applications and recertification for benefits including Medicaid and Medicare, referrals and connections to services such as post-discharge homecare, legal services and medical care; advocacy with public and provide systems; assistance with understanding and organizing mail; collaboration with the on-site nurse; home visits to ensure clients are safe and well.

 

Schedule:  Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 4:00pm; Late Hours: (4:00 pm to 6:00 pm)/once a month; Weekends: Cooling Center Administration if required (occasionally, summer only, rotating schedule)

 

 

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center follow the CDC and NYS recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and are now requiring all new hires to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a qualified exemption. 

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties

1. Client services:

  • Assist and advocate for seniors on a wide range of issues including entitlements, health and mental health care, food assistance and housing
  • Perform annual assessments and make home visits to homebound seniors to identify their needs, link them to services and provide ongoing social contact
  • Provide supportive counseling and referrals as needed
  • Assess clients for cognitive changes and provide intervention as needed
  • Assess for potential elder abuse and neglect and work with Adult Protective Services as needed
  • On occasion, accompany seniors to appointments to advocate on their behalf, may include hospital visits when client is admitted
  • Document services provided and client status in DFTA online database system (PeerPlace) and, according to program and agency guidelines
  • Plan and implement groups in the senior center or remotely as necessary
  • Caregiver and family support including referrals to caregiver support programs
  • Work with onsite nurse to coordinate medical care and provide medication management
  • Ongoing appointment coordination and reminders
  • Emergency assistance and outreach for over 300 clients

 

2. Senior Center/NORC team member:

  • Attend staff meetings, supervision sessions, training programs and case conferences
  • Participate in program assessment and improvement plans
  • May be asked to provide coverage in the dining room as needed to ensure a safe and welcoming environment
  • Coordinate and/or participate in activities as needed
  • Assist with outreach and engagement of new and continuing members
  • Provide training to new staff members if necessary
  • Supervise case assistant, program aides and volunteers on new clients registration/reregistration, telephone reassurance, escort, friendly visiting and recordkeeping of services
  • Participate in reviews of data for purposes of continuous improvement provide training to new staff members if necessary
  • If necessary, provide services remotely
  • Cooling Center Administration if needed ( occasionally, summer only, rotating schedule)
  • Other duties as required

 

3. Willing to perform other tasks as assigned by supervisor.

 

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

  • Bachelor of Social Work or equivalent required, Master of Social Work preferred
  • Relevant experience working in a professional environment with older adults
  • MUST be fluent in Spanish

 

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

  • Sensitivity to the strengths and needs of older adults
  • Strong work ethic
  • Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to write concise and clear case notes
  • Ability to communicate with clients who may have disabilities (physical, hearing impairment, visual)
  • Ability to work as member of a cooperative team

 

Computer Skills:

  • Able to use Microsoft Office Suite programs
  • Able to use or learn electronic databases
  • Knowledge of DFTA online Data Base Peerplace ( STARS) preferred

 

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to circulate in lunch room for about an hour a day and to greet clients in hallway to accompany to office
  • Preferred: ability to walk and stand frequently and to make home visits

 

Work Environment

  • Senior center environment/ NYCHA facility
  • Shared office space
  • Second floor accessible by elevator
  • Occasional home visits and fieldwork to accompany participants to appointments
  • Remote work if necessary

 

 

 

 

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

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