St. Vincent’s Cardinal Manning Center Position

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL
St. Vincent’s Cardinal Manning Center

Position: Social Worker/Men's Advancement Program and the Women and Children’s Program
Hours: As scheduled/needed
Minimum 40 hours a week

Status: Exempt

Reports to: Shelter Director


Requirements: Master’s Degree in Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
Five year’s experience, two of which must have been in a supervisory capacity
Valid California Driver License

Qualifications:
Personal and work references indicating history of responsibility, honesty,
compassion and objectivity
Understanding and ability to work with principles of harm reduction as well as of
abstinence in dealing with addictions
Commitment to principles of Social Work as they involve person-in-environment concept
Commitment to principles of Social Work as they involve ability of people to change
Experience in leading groups
Ability to multi-task and willingness to work outside the constraints of the Job Description


Purpose – to provide clinical supervision and coordination of the Men's Advancement Program and the Women and Children’s Program

To represent the Center/Society in the community by regular attendance at assigned community meetings

To be a part of upgrading skills of all Center staff by developing, leading and participating in staff development curricula and programs.

Background –

Men’s Advancement Program
The Men's Advancement Program is not a 'treatment program' as such nor is it a recovery program. It is a program for employed men who have the desire and capacity to retain their employment, to advance in it where possible while concomitantly upgrading their skills either for current job advancement or for future employment, and to save a substantial portion of all their earnings toward eventual independent housing. It provides the support system for these behaviors to take place.

Having said that, the clients eligible for the program are generally late-middle-age formerly addicted men with past incarcerations and spotty work histories who have only been employed in their current positions for a short time. Some have mental health issues that can be addressed successfully in the community by therapy and medication. Most need help in understanding, developing and integrating a work ethic. Many of the services required by these men are similar to or identical to those offered in a formal treatment program designed to deal with mental health, recovery, and developmental issues. These issues must all be handled in the Program's non-specialized residential setting. Most mental health, family, and work issues are handled in-house; it is for these skills that trained Social Workers are employed. Other more specialized needs – medications, recovery meetings, et cetera – are appropriate for referral to services in the community.

Women and Children’s Program
The purpose of the Women and Children’s Program is to provide temporary housing to mothers with the intended goal of helping them secure permanent housing. Clients must be single mothers with at least one child. Similar to the Men’s Advancement Program, clients are required to attend weekly case management sessions as well as save a substantial portion of their earnings (or government benefits) toward eventual independent housing.

Women in the program range in age from mid 20’s to late 40’s and often have multiple children. Some of these children may not be in the mother’s custody. The women (and sometimes children as well) often present mental health needs that can be addressed successfully in the community by therapy and medication. Many need help in developing realistic budgets and goals that will lead them out of their homelessness. The social worker will assist in advocating for a client’s government benefits, provide assistance with Section 8 or other low-income housing referrals as well as connecting the children to appropriate resources. A key role for the social worker will be in assisting clients in their social functioning as it pertains to relating with other women in the shelter. The social worker will work individually (and in groups) with women to resolve conflict that may occur between clients within the program.

Duties:

Assure that the population of the Programs is consistent with that of the Program’s missions and stated goals they are designed to serve.

In consultation with the Director, other Center Social Workers, and program staff, revise
the Programs goals as justified by research and program experience to better meet the
needs of the skid row client population.

Assume case management responsibilities for all men and women in both Programs. Delegate some of this responsibility to graduate level interns or other staff members, as appropriate.

Recruit applicants both Programs.

Evaluate applicants for admission to both Programs. Develop a system for involving input from other Center staff in the evaluation process before being accepted into a program.

Oversee development of Program Plans for all clients at the point of intake. Assure that clients agree to all aspects of that Plan.

Assure that all Program participants are assigned to – and attend - at least weekly case management sessions and appropriate group meetings at least bi-weekly.

Ensure that all assigned chores are completed as scheduled.

Ensure that all clients (in the Men’s Program) are employed and saving in accordance with their Program Plans. Also, unless otherwise designed in the Program Plan, ensure that all men clients are enrolled in and attend an appropriate skills enhancement program.

Ensure that clients within the Women’s Program are seeking appropriate employment or schooling

Assure that all case recording is current and is completed and stored in accordance with Program standards.

Assure that clients unable or unwilling to follow their Program Plans are referred to more appropriate programs within the Program' guidelines of tolerance for non-compliance.

Supervise and evaluate all staff assigned to each Program.

In concert with the Director and other Center Social Workers, assume responsibility for regularly attending assigned community meetings. Meetings will be assigned based on the Center's needs and the Social Worker's interests.

Provide direct supervision to interns assigned to the program. (In some situations, this may involve being a 'preceptor' since some graduate schools require that a primary supervisor has been employed by the agency for at least one year.)

Assist the Director and other Center Social Workers and staff in determining staff meeting agenda and training programs.

Such other duties as assigned

All parties interested in the above position should contact Jim Bibb at jamesbibb@svdpla.org or at (323) 224-6280