Youth Services Social Worker

This position is accountable for performing intermediate professional work involving the assessment of client needs, counseling and providing access to needed and appropriate services including treatment, rehabilitation and service linkage, case monitoring and client advocacy functions as well as related work as required.

The Youth Services Social Worker provides counseling, case management, and program coordination within the Youth Services Bureau (YSB). This position works closely with Social Services, the Youth Diversion Team, Fairfield Public Schools, families, and community partners to provide intervention, prevention, and enrichment services. The role supports the positive development of youth, assists with diversion from the juvenile justice system, and strengthens family and community engagement, in accordance with CT Gen. Stat. -10-19m

Examples of Essential Duties:

• Act as a mandated reporter of child abuse or neglect as required by law.
• Assesses client psycho-social needs and presents options and services based upon needs assessment.
• Assists with outreach, program communications, and community partnerships.
• Collaborates with Fairfield Public Schools, police, courts, and families to support youth.
• Collaboratively develops intervention plan with clients.
• Collects and reports program data for YSB grants, compliance, and evaluation.
• Conducts assessments, develops service plans, maintains case records, and provides follow-up services.
• Coordinates client services, consults and collaborates with schools, police, the courts and other agencies and service providers.
• Delivers or coordinates prevention programs such as substance abuse prevention, suicide prevention, and violence prevention.
• Develops and implements positive youth development mentoring and prevention programs as indicated.
• Develops and leads parent education and support and therapeutic groups as directed by supervisor.
• Directs work in the school with groups of children and individuals for therapeutic purposes as well as positive youth development and prevention. and attends parent placement meetings, crisis meetings and conferences to facilitate positive outcomes for clients.
• Facilitates youth development opportunities including recreation, mentoring, leadership, and enrichment programs.
• Is responsible for coordinating prevention programming and positive youth development activities.
• Maintains confidentiality in accordance with Connecticut Social Work Confidentiality Law (- 52-146q).
• Maintains case records and files and prepares reports.
• Participates in or supports the YSB Advisory Board and contributes to community needs assessments, planning, and resource development.
• Provides individual and group counseling to youth referred through diversion, truancy, or other intervention pathways.
• Provides clinical and case management services to children and families.
• Provides individual, family and group therapy, collaboration, and case management with other behavior health professionals.
• Provides information and referral services and works closely with State and local agencies.
• Recruits, trains and supervises volunteers and interns.
• Schedules appointments and meetings.
• Serves as liaison to the Youth Diversion Team, ensuring effective case coordination and compliance with best practices.
• Transports clients as directed and conducts home visits.
• Works collaboratively with the judicial system when necessary and supports restorative justice diversion programming.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Cultural competence and ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Knowledge of child, adolescent, and adult behavioral issues and the problem-solving process.
• Knowledge of human development and behavior. knowledge of the theories, principles and techniques of individual, family and group therapy.
• Knowledge of juvenile justice, diversion, truancy, and youth prevention programming.
• Knowledge of programs and services impacting youth and their families.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and case documentation systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Strong counseling and case management skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to analyze facts and exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with schools, families, law enforcement, courts, and community agencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families, associates, other professional and technical staff, social agencies, schools, and the general public.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work with individuals from dive