Social Worker, Family Advocacy & Support Services

Overview

The Social Worker is a full time, non-civil service position who performs professional and technical duties involved in assisting all litigants who come through General Sessions Court, including their families, by providing services designed to help them meet a variety of human, personal and environmental needs. This includes engaging and connecting community resources to the General Sessions Court and the people served through the court.

• Work collaboratively with judges, attorneys, law enforcement, probation officers, and other system personnel to assist litigants with social service needs ranging from housing, mental health resources, food access, and any other services to assist with the holistic well-being of the individual.
• Provide appropriate services to clients and information to the general public.
• Provide information and referral services to clients and the public.
• Formulate service plans and review them with clients and other service providers.
• Coordinate with existing court social services, including specialty courts, outside agencies, and faith-based programs.
• Provide clients with information to enable them to understand and use the program’s services and to understand any conditions for the continuation of services.
• Counsel with clients on an individual, family, or group basis.
• Participate in providing specific services, benefits, technical assistance and/or support to clients, lawyers, judges, and other system personnel.
• Responsible for managing a case load, keeping documentation, creating reports, and other information necessary to track referrals, services rendered and determining other metrics to improve General Sessions services, identify barriers and needs of those coming through the system, and to reduce recidivism and create greater opportunities for these persons.
• Review and evaluate service plans and monitor progress, making revisions as needed.
• Prepare clients for termination of services.
• Must participate in trainings, including areas related to domestic violence, mental health awareness, diversity, professional development.
• Must become well-versed in the operations of General Sessions court and its dockets.
• Ability to exercise confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Ability to interact professionally on a regular basis with a diverse population within the Court’s jurisdiction, including people from many different geographic, socioeconomic, religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• Performs related administrative duties:
• Assists with development and design of program objectives and content.
• Researches and recommends alternative methods of program management.
• May perform needs analysis studies in order to identify specific needs for the General Sessions Court.
• Assist the General Sessions Court with specific projects.
• Maintains accurate case and professional records.
• Writes letters, narratives, statistical reports and completes forms.
• May assist with budget preparation for the program.
• Attends meetings as needed.

Master of Social Work (MSW) from an accredited college or university and have licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

• Knowledge of basic principles, methodologies and ethics involved in social work.
• Knowledge of a wide range of community resources, outside agencies and the services they provide.
• Knowledge of the development and operation of major social service programs.
• General knowledge of significant problems of human behavior and community living.
• General knowledge of laws, regulations, policies and procedures governing social service programs.
• General knowledge of a variety of treatment modalities.
• General knowledge of therapeutic group techniques.
• Skill in interviewing, making case assessments, counseling with and assisting clients in goal formulation and…