Police Assisted Social Worker

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Coordinate care for overdose survivors to receive treatment, including but not limited to pathways to recovery;
• Assist police department personnel with implementation of police-based programs designed to address the overdose crisis;
• Responds to "on the scene" calls at the discretion and approval of on-scene uniform or Investigative field supervisors;
• Provide substance abuse counseling;
• Offer psychoeducational opportunities families and friends of Opioid Victims;
• Develop individual treatment plans and coordinate follow-up appointments and care;
• Maintain current case notes, documentation, and records;
• Provide crisis interventions, as needed;
• Provide referrals to outside agencies;
• Participate in professional development opportunities;
• Assist in community outreach and community education;
• Assist with educating all law enforcement officers regarding appropriate practices and precautions when dealing with fentanyl or other drugs;
• Build a support network with Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), and other related programs throughout the State;
• Collecting and analyzing aggregate data to inform policy and program changes across all Intercepts;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science field, required. Master's degree, preferred.
• 1 year experience in substance abuse counseling and/or case management, preferred.
• Certified Addictions Counselors (CAC); Licensed Addiction Counselors (LAC); will accept candidates who are in the process of obtaining their CAC, LPC, or LMSW, preferred.
• Must possess a valid SC Driver’s License.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of providing case management;
• Knowledge of serving individuals living with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, and homeless/housing instability;
• Knowledge of and ability to serve individuals living with a mental health condition and/or substance use disorder;
• Knowledge of and ability to serve individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system.
• Ability to effectively interact with people from diverse backgrounds including efforts towards disparity reduction.
• Knowledge of diversity of cultural and lifestyle experiences, beliefs and practices relating to spiritual, mental, and physical health, community, family structure and dynamics and disparities.
• Knowledge of County and community resources for mental health, substance use disorder, social services, and basic needs.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement harm reduction principles.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement trauma-informed care principles.
• Knowledge of person-centered thinking.
• Knowledge of social determinants of health.
• Knowledge of social work best practices and ethics.
• Knowledge of and ability to partner with community resources and providers.
• Ability to function well in unpredictable and challenging situations calling for confidentiality, sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.
• Ability to collaborate with law enforcement to address the safety and needs of individuals.
• Ability to work well independently and as a team.
• Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal, organizational and computer skills.
• Ability to write reports, prepare business letters, summaries and emails using proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar. 
• Ability to operate a city vehicle to meet individuals in the field/ respond to “on the scene” calls if necessary.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Primary work location is in an office environment setting. Occasional exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and/or hazards.  Occasional outside work.  Seasonal exposure to extreme temperatures, wetness and/or humidity, respiratory hazards, and physical hazards.    

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Continuously requires vision, hearing, and talking. Frequently requires standing, reaching, climbing, fine dexterity, handling, walking, using foot controls, balancing, carrying, bending, sitting, crouching, kneeling, twisting, lifting, climbing, crawling, and pushing/pulling. Perform duties in situations that range from inactive to situations requiring extreme physical exertion.  Strength demands include constantly exerting 10 pounds, frequently exerting 20-50 pounds and occasionally may require exerting up to 150 pounds.

MENTAL DEMANDS

Constantly requires working closely with others as part of a team. Frequent change of tasks and working in noisy/distracting environment. Occasionally requires time pressures, performing multiple tasks simultaneously, tedious, or exacting work, emergency situations, and irregular schedule/overtime.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The City of Goose Creek is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Prospective and current employees should contact Human Resources to request an ADA accommodation. 

                                                 The City reserves the right to revise this position description at any time.