What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Case Specialist, Community Services - Boston, MA position at International Institute of New England?
The mission of the International Institute of New England (IINE) is to create opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. One of the oldest and largest human services organizations for New Americans in the region, IINE serves more than 9,000 people each year in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Our programs include case management, youth and family services, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), employment and skills training, and immigration legal services.
A dynamic, forward-looking, smart and rapidly growing non-profit organization, we seek well-qualified, solutions-focused candidates who are experts in their respective fields. Successful candidates will join a committed team of professional staff and volunteers who are devoted to welcoming and serving new Americans.
Overview
The Lead Case Specialist supervises staff who provide placement, orientation, social services, and case management to refugees, asylees, SIVs, Afghan and Ukrainian evacuees and their families. In addition, the Lead Case Specialist maintains a caseload of clients to whom they provide direct services. The Lead Case Specialist assigns cases within the team and coordinates the day-to-day activities of the Reception and Placement program and other case management programs, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of clients while fulfilling contractual obligations. Working closely with the Manager of Community Services, the Lead Case Specialist ensures proper and timely case documentation and is responsible for contributing to reports as assigned.
Position: Lead Case Specialist, Community Services
- Department: Community Services
- Reports to: Community Services Manager
- Supervises: N/A
- Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time
- Location: Boston, MA
- Position Format: Hybrid
- Pay: $26.87/hour
Benefits:
Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including vacation, personal, sick days and twelve paid holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that IINE establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, IINE offers medical, dental and vision. Company-paid life insurance, company-paid short-term disability (STD), long-term disability (LTD), accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), other benefits including 403(b) with company match plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 403(b)-plan document. Other perks such as discounts through our vision plan, fitness reimbursement and more.
Responsibilities
- Supervise Case Specialists provide regular feedback and evaluation according to IINE policies and procedures, hold weekly check-ins with each direct report.
- Assign cases within the team while maintaining a caseload.
- Coordinate the day-to-day activities of the team, ensuring the highest priority cases and tasks are completed.
- Conduct and supervise weekly intakes and referrals to relevant health, social, housing, educational, and employment-related services.
- Provide and supervise comprehensive case management services to IINE clients including case planning, home visits, program enrollment, advocacy, and coordinating core services appointments.
- Coordinate volunteers to support clients in collaboration with the Volunteer Specialist.
- Ensure eligible clients are referred to IINEs Immigration Legal Services.
- Maintain an individual client caseload and assist families in adjusting to life in the United States by obtaining appropriate services; coordinate client services to accomplish goals of individual and family self-sufficiency. Work to identify at-risk clients; help develop and implement appropriate client service plans.
- Ensure clients receive Cultural Orientation and assessment are conducted.
- Maintain professional and accurate documentation using centralized database, including assessments, client service plans, and case notes. Ensure that the team completes case notes and case documentation on time and accurately.
- Triage difficult situations for own clients and for direct reports clients, as needed - housing issues, medical and behavioral cases, and public benefits complications.
- Coordinate with Housing Coordinator to secure housing and address tenant concerns; set up apartments as needed.
- Attend staff meetings, weekly client-focused meeting, and all other meetings and trainings as assigned.
- Perform all other duties assigned by supervisor.
Required Skills/Abilities
- Proficiency in additional languages strongly preferred, particularly Creole, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Swahili, Ukrainian, Spanish, or French.
- Interest in international, refugee, and asylee issues.
- A command of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to work with clients needing a range of support services
- Excellent organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
- Solid knowledge of public benefits processes and systems and ability to learn new systems
- Access to reliable transportation.
- Extremely well organized, detail oriented, flexible, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- High levels of discretion and professionalism in dealing with confidential information.
- Ability to work independently and as a team.
- Ability to work under pressure and remain calm and composed in stressful situations.
- Ability to work collaboratively with staff, clients, service providers and others.
- Ability to evaluate/interpret information and make good and independent judgments or decisions.
Education & Experience
- Bachelors degree in human services, counseling, social work or related field preferred.
- Minimum of one year of related experience in case management (intern experience will be considered) required.
- Experience working with immigrant populations preferred.
- Minimum of one year of experience managing staff preferred.
Work Environment Conditions
- Requires travel to client homes and surrounding towns.
- Exposure to bright, overhead office lighting, use of office technology such as laptops, printers, mail machines, and other in-office equipment.
- Frequent driving to/from client homes
- Frequent interruptions from employees and clients. Must have ability to multitask.
Physical Demands
- Occasional lifting, pushing, and pulling materials (boxes, equipment) of 50 pounds or more.
- Continuous sitting (or standing) at a desk for long periods of time.
- Occasional driving to and from IINE offices as needed.
Covid-19 Policy
IINE does not require applicants for most positions to show proof of Covid-19. Some federal contracts, however, require IINE staff to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination, and some immigration status adjustments, such as a Green Card, require proof of Covid-19 vaccination as well. Consequently, for some positions, IINE staff may be required to show proof of vaccination, and in others, IINE staff will be supporting clients who are required by law to have proof of vaccination in order to adjust their status in the United States.
US Work Eligibility Notice
This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States, and IINE is unable to provide visa sponsorship in connection with this.
Salary : $27
