Housing Court Chief Social Worker

JOB PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW

The Chief Social Worker provides social service referrals for litigants within the Housing Court.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

The following duties indicate the general nature and level of work performed by the Chief Social Worker.  They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of this position.  Other duties may be required or assigned at any time.   

1. Conduct intake and assessment for Housing Court litigants to determine qualifications for social service assistance.
2. Coordinate and assist in crisis intervention and de-escalation for litigants during Court hours and in the field. 
3. Engage local service providers and create referral processes. 
4. Refer eligible litigants to appropriate community service providers.
5. Assist Court employees with social service questions and concerns related to cases.
6. Seek out service providers for litigants who do not qualify for services from current agency partners.
7. Update and maintain community resource and service provider lists.
8. Create and maintain longitudinal, qualitative, and quantitative data including demographics, referral outcomes, and unmet needs.
9. Assess outcomes in order to facilitate better service provision. 
10. Evaluate program outcomes in order to facilitate better service provision and Court operations. 
11. Identify and draft grant proposals.
12. Attend and participate in neighborhood or agency meetings to provide the public with information regarding the Housing Court.

KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES, and REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and ability required. Alternative qualifications may be substituted if sufficient to perform the duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

1. Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, to diverse audiences.
2. Ability to make observations regarding social services and or community resources needed to assist litigants.
3. Advanced knowledge of community resources and services.
4. Basic knowledge of the Court system to work within the department effectively.
5. Knowledge of common office practices, procedures, and equipment.
6. Proficiency in operating a personal computer and using Microsoft Office products such as Word, Outlook, and Excel.

EDUCATION and/ or EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Science or a related field is required. A Minimum of 3 years in providing psych-social assessments and community referrals or equivalent experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here represent those an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position requires working in a normal Court environment with no unusual demands. However, occasional contact with angry and/ or disruptive individuals may occur, requiring the ability to assess, de-escalate, and appropriately respond to unpredictable and potentially volatile and high-risk situations.

COURT EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEE

The Court expects all members of its staff to adhere to all Court policies, guidelines, practices, and procedures; act as a role model both inside and outside the Court; perform duties as workload necessitates in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner; be conscientious about meeting department productivity standards; and communicate regularly with supervisor about department issues.  Additional requirements for employment with the Court include the following.

1. Ability to effectively communicate with the public, governmental agencies, attorneys, and court staff professionally.
2. Possess good conflict resolution, problem-solving, mediation, and presentation skills.
3. Ability to prioritize work assignments, and work independently on assigned cases. Must have good time-management skills and be highly organized and detail-oriented.
4. Must be conscious of and sensitive to the diversity within the Court’s jurisdiction and be able to interact professionally with this diverse population of people from many different geographic, socioeconomic, religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds regularly.
5. Patience, objectivity, maturity, effectiveness under stress, initiative, adaptability, and sound judgment.
6. Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.
7. Professional appearance and demeanor appropriate for the position and expected of a representative of the Court.
8. Demonstrated dependability, reliability, and excellent attendance record.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

The Chief Social Worker is an at-will employee and services at the pleasure of the Court; he/she is not in the classified civil service system and is not a member of a bargaining unit. The Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religion, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or disability. 

DRUG SCREEN AND BACKGROUND CHECK

Required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by the City of Cleveland. These screenings include but are not limited to a criminal background check and drug screen. New hires will be placed on a 180-day probationary period.

This is not a civil service position.

The Housing Specialist serves at the will of the Housing Court Judge.

This position carries a six-month probationary period.

Salary : $35,000 - $70,000