Team Leader

The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is comprised of 2,000 employees and with an annual operating budget of over $1 billion is one of the largest organizations of its kind committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City. Collaborating with other public agencies and not-for-profit partners, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it occurs, reduce street homelessness, and assist New Yorkers to transition from shelter into appropriate permanent housing.

DHS is responsible for management of over 200 facilities, which mainly are individual and family shelters used as overnight residences for over 38,000 adults and children. DHS's portfolio covers approximately 4M square feet.

The Client Responsibility Office is a highly specialized unit within the Department of Homeless. The Client Responsibility Office exists to help the agency meet its core mission of supporting clients in moving from shelter to permanency and ensures that DHS contracted providers and clients understand and are held accountable to expectations of the Agency.

The selected candidate for this position will report directly to a Senior Team Leader in the Client Responsibility Office and under this supervision with some latitude for independent action and decision-making and will review Client Responsibility case records and documentation that are submitted to the agency by DHS contracted providers. This includes identifying, developing and implementing social service plans for these clients and determining whether clients should be monitored by the CR office and other counseling and investigative activities.

The Department of Homeless Services is recruiting for five (5) Caseworkers who will:

• Manage client responsibility cases, assesses client needs and guides shelters on services and referrals that may benefit the client; takes other appropriate actions, monitors client progress; follows-up and coordinates services in partnership with shelter staff.

• Read client case records to gather information on background and relevant matters to assess eligibility and/or need for client responsibility services; prepare and maintain documentation and recommendations for next steps based upon client case record review which are shared with their direct supervisor (Senior Team Leader).

• Interview and work with clients to determine their need for Client Responsibility involvement; gather and record required information to support the decision; make initial assessments and referrals; interview and meet with clients, as needed, to determine if case meets the agency's criteria for sanction.

• Conduct site visits to support and assess client progress, noting, recording and reporting on these visits' critical information for the Client Responsibility office which includes client's ability to function and progress towards permanency provide.

• Request additional information from shelter sites, as needed, to investigate and very information obtained concerning clients.

• Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team; meet with team to report on activities, share information, evaluate progress and plan future actions to be taken on client responsibility cases.

• Appear at administrative and/or court hearings related to cases, as needed.

Work Location: 33 Beaver Street, New York, NY

Hours/Schedule: Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm

Minimum Qualifications

1.A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university accredited by regional, national, professional, or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Additional Information: Section 424-a of the New York State Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-care responsibilities is or has been the subject of an indicated child abuse and maltreatment report on file with the State Central Register for child abuse and maltreatment.

State Central Register screening will be conducted prior to considering a candidate for employment as a Caseworker. Candidates who have been the subject of an indicated child abuse and maltreatment report will not be assigned to any position which requires child-care responsibilities. Employees who have been the subject of such a report may be reassigned or terminated from employment from their positions as Caseworker.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.