Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Grant Funded

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the Center for Legal and Social Justice (CLSJ) provides social work services for the St. Mary's University School of Law Clinical Program.

This position is fully funded by an external financial gift for two years, with partial funding for a third year if matching funds are secured for that year. While funding for the position may continue beyond that period, the position is subject to termination if gift funding ceases. No employee in such a position may file a grievance over the termination of the position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Advocacy and Accompaniment:

• Provide trauma-informed needs assessments and referrals, assist in scheduling appointments and provide advocacy and accompaniment resources and services;

• Support colleagues as able in responding to the urgent or unanticipated needs of clients

Counseling:

• Provide short- and longer-term client-centered, strengths-based and trauma-informed counseling services to adult immigrant individuals and families for a variety of mental health needs including anxiety, depression, homesickness, loneliness, isolation and other trauma-related conditions;

• Maintain an ongoing caseload of clients with exceptional needs, including safety planning and post-release plans (for immigrants in immigration detention) as necessary;

• Liaise with social service providers to develop relationships so clients can better access social services from these agencies;

• Provide clients with information, coordination, and appropriate referrals to address various needs, including safety planning, housing, translation, protection orders, health services, counseling, education, employment, family law and public benefits, all while maintaining confidentiality;

• In collaboration with clients, formulate and work toward identified goals and objectives and track progress over time in client's record;

• Consult with students as needed throughout their clinic enrollment, including debriefing after client meetings

Administrative:

• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting such as timekeeping, submitting timesheets, tracking training and other duties in a timely manner;

• Maintain up-to-date client records and contact notes for all client-related work;

• Identify and share with team relevant resources for organization's client work;

• Participate in regular team meetings

Intern Coordination and Supervision:

• Collaborate with graduate schools to facilitate mutual learning/learning exchange;

• Oversee sourcing, recruitment, selection, and onboarding of graduate interns, specifically focusing on creating pathways for students with lived immigrant experience;

• Provide one-on-one supportive supervision and evaluation of interns;

• Coordinate with legal staff to assign client referrals to interns

Other:

• Co-teach classes on secondary-trauma and working with trauma survivors

• Attend community partner meetings and events on behalf of the CLSJ;

• Build relationships and referral pathways with community mental health centers and private therapists who can provide culturally-informed and linguistically aligned client services;

• Support legal staff with coordination, decision-making, and distribution of client financial assistance

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master of Social Work degree from an accredited university required;

• Licensure in state of Texas as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required;

• Bilingual in English and Spanish with the ability to read and write and communicate verbally in both languages preferred;

• Some familiarity with immigration law and policy preferred;

• Ability to provide client-centered services with a trauma-focused approach;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to organize information in a clear and concise manner, including strong problem-solving, research, and analytical skills;

• Must be resilient and empathetic with a high level of personal integrity and excellent interpersonal skills when engaging with clients and staff;

• Must have high ethical standards and a strong sense of confidentiality; use sound judgment in responding to issues and concerns; and work well independently and as part of a team.

• Must be able to efficiently manage multiple tasks and work well under high-stress situations;

• Ability to interface with the impact of secondary trauma;

• Commitment to and experience in working with and providing services to a wide range of racial and ethnic populations;

• Highly motivated, resourceful, open-minded, flexible, and easily adaptable to change;

• Commitment to the overall mission and values of St. Mary's University School of Law and the Center for Legal and Social Justice;

• Proficiency in use of web-based software, Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel, and web peer-to-peer communication platforms;

• Must clear and maintain a favorable background investigation and clearance;

• Must be able to work some nights, weekends, travel, and attend special events as needed;

• Must have a valid driver's license, motor vehicle liability insurance, and personal injury insurance, or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business on a daily basis;

• Must not be a "relative" including a former or current spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, first cousin, nephew, niece, in-law, step relative, domestic partner (persons whose lives are interdependent and who share a common residence), or domestic partner's daughter or son of a member of the University Board of Trustees, CLSJ Executive positions, University or Law School Finance Executive positions, University Human Resources Executive positions or comparable positions within the University with different working titles yet performing substantially similar functions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Working conditions are in an office environment and university campus setting. Must be able to move across the university campus to conduct day-to-day business.

• While performing this role, the employee will be regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; and use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

• Frequently communicates with others using approved technological resources; must be able to exchange accurate information through designated systems within a timely manner.

• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

St. Mary's University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates apply.