Social Worker - Adult Program

**The Organization:**The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.

Social Worker:

This position works in coordination with the Integrated Social Services Program and the Direct Representation team, under the supervision of the Managing Social Worker.  The Direct Representation team provides legal representation and social service support to vulnerable adults, primarily with serious mental health conditions, who are in immigration removal proceedings.  The Social Worker will work on a team of Attorneys, Legal Assistants, and Social Workers to provide social services and advocacy to detained and formerly detained clients who have been found mentally incompetent by an immigration judge and who are appointed a “Qualified Representative” by the Executive Office for Immigration Review along with other represented individuals in need of social services. The Social Worker will identify and advocate for services both in detention and upon the client’s release to support client’s access to services to meet their mental health, medical, housing, and social services needs as appropriate.  While this is not a therapeutic or counseling position, the Social Worker will provide trauma-informed and strengths—based case management and psycho-social support through the duration of their legal case.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Create and implement culturally appropriate case plans and case management for client’s most pressing social needs. Promote strengths-based work and self-determination of the client.

• Work with maximum 25-30 clients for our Direct Representation Team for clients who have been found mentally incompetent by an immigration judge who are appointed a Qualified Representative.

• Act as a liaison between clients and staff attorneys, including assisting clients in scheduling meetings with attorneys and other legal case-related appointments, understand the legal processes, and gather factual information from clients for legal cases, as needed.

• Respond to clients in crisis and refer clients to appropriate agencies.

• Help clients prepare and understand forms and paperwork.

• Visit detention facilities to meet with clients, creation of plans to ensure access to and continuity of services upon release, writing requests for release from detention for humanitarian reasons, and meetings with appropriate referral services in the community.

• Teach clients how to use public information resources (i.e., library) and transportation systems.

• Communicate effectively in person and by telephone with clients.

• Under the supervision of the Managing Social Worker, conduct needs assessments and case management plans of those in detention, support clients throughout their immigration court proceedings, consult with staff attorneys on mental health and psychosocial issues of clients.

• After training, be able to write requests for release on humanitarian reasons, create plans regarding continuity of care and/or access to services upon release, and declarations regarding mental health status to the immigration court.

• Respond to clients in crisis and critically and creatively problem solve to meet their needs.

• Successfully collaborate and communicate with Florence Project legal team, and other providers.

• Able to set and maintain professional boundaries

• Provide resource development for and clinical skills trainings to legal team.

• Actively participate in the design and improvement of the social services program through the creation of best practices, improved assessment, program meetings, and staff development.

• Adhere to organization's policies particularly those related to confidentiality and client privacy.

• Administrative work including file management, data entry, and referral services, as well as supporting attorneys and legal staff.

• Participate in organizational fundraising and communications efforts as needed.

• Participate in outreach activities and collaborative projects within a national network of immigrant service providers, under the supervision of the Managing Social Worker.

• Other related duties as assigned.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.
• Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must have a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited university.
• Prior supervised experience with social services case management.
• Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish is required.
• Ability to assess situations, develop client-centric case plans, and respond to crises and difficult situations.
• Proven skills in achieving focused outcomes.
• Ability to connect clients with appropriate resources and build positive relationships with outside service providers.
• Aptitude for critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Strength of character, ethics, and commitment, and reliability.
• Ability to develop and implement case management documentation processes, organizing and tracking records and other data as needed.
• Demonstrated commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way, zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission, and displays a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Highly organized, an innovative thinker, and work in high-volume settings with limited resources.
• Accuracy and attention to detail a must.
• Ability to do repetitive tasks for long periods of time.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Excellent problem solving, research, and analytical skills.
• Effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client-centered work environment.  Ability to work independently, be adaptable, and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis, or changing priorities.
• Exhibits high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Must be able to pass federal and state background checks.
• Travel is required for this position.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Proven computer skills.  Advanced understanding of basic office applications.

Preferred Requirements:

• Prior experience working with individuals with mental health issues, immigrant populations, or trauma survivors is a plus.
• Prior work or internship experience in immigration rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, experience working with trauma survivors is a plus.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

• This position requires regular travel to Florence and Eloy at least 2 days a week, as well as monthly travel to Phoenix, and bimonthly travel to Florence for team meetings.
• This position can be located in Phoenix with required travel at least days a week to Tucson.
• Operate in a professional office environment and requires the ability to sit for long periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling and pushing.
• Ability to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Requires the ability to lift up to ten pounds - accommodations may be available.
• Travel regularly between offices and secondary work locations.
• Effective September 1, 2021, FIRRP has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. To comply with this policy, active employees must be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021. Employees seeking an exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely-held religious belief should contact our Human Resources Department at humanresources@firrp.org.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area and is commensurate with experience: $56,000-$67,000 Annually DOE. We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:

• Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms

• Short Term Disability

• Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods

• Retirement plan, subject to plan terms

• Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually

• Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually

• One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly

• Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment

• Bereavement leave.

• Company-paid federal holidays, all observed

• Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (12) paid weeks

• Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.

• Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires.

Application Process:

This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references and email a writing sample to jobs@firrp.org (choose a writing sample that you consider will be most relevant to this position). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.

At FIRRP, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job.  If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at FIRRP.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.  Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

This job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position.  This position is eligible for membership in the union Proyecto Solidaridad-FIRRP affiliated with OPEIU Local 251.