Director, Social Services

For Water Street Mission to fulfill its mission and purpose, it is critical for all staff to participate in the development and maintenance of a healthy Christian Community. By living out our faith with one another and creating a space where our guests are invited to experience that community with us, we participate in lives being restored. Even as some positions have minimal direct contact with guests, each staff member has an essential role in forming and maintaining Christian community. The love of Christ, evidenced in our Water Street community, is the real impetus for change with our guests.

Job Summary: Lead WSM's Social Services Ministry, including Social Work and Access Center, into quality, consistency and effectiveness in its areas of mission. Supervise Social Workers and Access Center Manager. Lead and develop team as an effective whole and an integrated part of WSM's ministries.

FLSA: Full-Time; Exempt

All Water Street Mission staff must be:

• Willing to sign the Water Street Missions' Statement of Faith

• A current and active member and/or regular attendee of a local church.

• Able to fully support the Water Street Mission's core values and ministry philosophy.

Essential Functions:

Culture and Values

• Share the Good News of Jesus Christ in words and actions with people we serve, communicating hope and dignity.

• Walk alongside fellow WSM staff in Christian community as we journey toward maturity.

• Encourage restoration in the lives of coworkers and guests, recognizing we are each restored by God to become restorers.

• Work in full coordination with other WSM staff at all times to identify, report and respond appropriately to any potential threats to the safety and wellbeing of guests.

• Embody, encourage, and cultivate WSM culture, purpose, mission and values in words and actions.

Role Specific Responsibilities

• Direct Social Services ministries, including staff team and volunteers, so that who we serve and how we serve is a true expression of our purpose, mission and values.

• As a manifestation of the Strategic Plan, and with the VP, Residential Life and fellow Directors, vision for next specific operational steps of growth for Social Services, including improvements to existing programs; develop ministry from current to envisioned.

• Maintain a thorough, up-to-date understanding of WSM programs, philosophies, policies and procedures, both specific to your team and those which also apply more broadly. Maintain Social Service/Access Center handbook. Ensure accurate and timely communication of all the above.

• Make or participate in decisions regarding guest status and services, according to relevant policies and procedures.

• Coordinate and screen referrals from outside agencies to determine eligibility for guest services.

• Serve as hiring manager for open positions in your ministry area.

• Collaborate with VPs and Directors to ensure Social Services and other WSM programs function as a consistent whole.

• Meet with guests as needed to support the restorative journey, including criteria to stay or return, contracts and end of services. Hold a caseload only if necessary, in times of staff transition.

• Collaborate with key community partners working upstream, downstream and in parallel with WSM as we seek to provide the best possible service to guests.

• Actively participate in ensuring accurate and up-to-date guest and staff data and documentation, including key communications between staff teams and departments.

• Manage program resources and budgets to optimize program delivery and effectiveness.

• Attend relevant internal and external educational, developmental and collaborative meetings.

• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision

• Supervise Social Workers and Access Center Manager.

• Actively support the professional progress of these individuals and teams, through coaching, training and development opportunities and using WSM standards for staff feedback and development.

• Organize and support meetings for the Social Services team.

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree and 4 years of experience in human services, including supervision. A related master's degree and/or clinical license preferred. Demonstrated experience working with a clinical/multidisciplinary team and making sound decisions from a trauma-informed, mental health best practices framework. Strong and accurate interpersonal communication, in person and electronically. Experience in staff development and organizational management preferred.

Reports To: Vice President, Residential Life

Key Internal Relationships: Residential Life Directors, all Directors involved in residential ministry.

Physical Demands: Occasionally = 1%-33%; Frequently = 34%-66%; Continuously = 67%-100%

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Stand, walk, or sit- Continuously

• Use of fine motor skills- Continuously

• Bend, squat, kneel, and reach- Occasionally

• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds- Occasionally

• Weekend and evening availability- Occasionally

Christian Life: Water Street Mission is a privately funded 501(c) 3 non-profit, evangelical Christian ministry. Our designated purpose is religious, and we are a Christ-centered ministry that is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. We consider every position to be essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and purpose statement. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. All employees must:

• Be able and willing to share the Gospel and participate in ministry activities of Water Street Mission.

• Subscribe to the Water Street Mission Statement of Faith and Qualifications of Employment upon hire and continuously while employed.

• Adhere to the Water Street Mission Employee Handbook.