Social Service Coordinator

Embrace Living Communities has an opening for a Social Service Coordinatorat North Orchard Place, 1600 N Orchard St, Chicago IL 60614. This full-time position provides coordination of supportive as well as educational services to residents. Serves as residents' advocate and ombudsperson and connection between residents and family members. Counsels and aids residents and families by performing the following duties. Supports the Embrace Living Communities wellness culture that encourages active aging and "living well."

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Creates a respectful living environment for seniors and physically challenged individuals that is aligned with the mission, vision, and values of the organization. Works collaboratively with assigned housing community employees to promote harmonious relations among residents, employees, families, and partners.
• Interviews new residents to determine needs and advise new resident of benefits and services available. Encourages and eases acclimation and socialization process for new resident by identifying common interests with existing residents and socialization/incorporation of new resident into groups and activities.
• Meets with residents to identify challenges they are facing including, but not limited to, personal and family adjustments, finances, employment, food, clothing, housekeeping, and physical and mental health to determine nature and degree of need and recommends potential resources, referrals, and solutions. Assists residents in accessing resources and implementation of solutions including assisting residents with annual re-certification, Social Security and Medicare claims processes, application for public aid, para-transport, food pantries, food stamps and other assistance programs, utility bill payment assistance, etc.
• Develops a supportive service plan for each resident to address their individual needs and wants.
• Maintains a network of community agencies, resources, and services and monitors their effectiveness. Refers residents to outside community agencies, resources, and other organizations as appropriate. Performs follow-up to determine status as well as quantity and quality of service provided to resident.
• Arranges, schedules, publicizes, and hosts outings, activities, health screenings, entertainment, educational meetings, workshops, and seminars for residents by outside resources such as health education, health care, home help and elder care providers, Medicare and insurance representatives. Maintains monthly calendar of events and submits articles for newsletter.

• Maintains a welcoming rapport with residents to build trust and confidence. Engages in casual conversations with residents as appropriate as well as private, confidential meetings as needs arise.
• Conducts well-being checks of residents' health and welfare.
• Intervenes as needed to mitigate and minimize crises involving residents and assists in conflict resolution involving or among residents.
• Educates and orients new residents regarding house rules and explains lease violations as needed.
• Maintains residents' files in accordance with applicable regulations and privacy/confidentiality needs. Compiles records and prepares reports.
• Develops a property profile to create a robust annual service plan for the community.
• Adheres to the HUD regulatory guidelines and industry best practices of the Service Coordinator program. 
• Commits to organizational growth & sustainable building practices, energy efficiency and green product use where prudent.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Experience/Education

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; and one to two years related experience and/or training. Experience in social work or Social Service preferred.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office and AASC Online.

Certificates and Licenses

• Willingness to obtain PSC designation preferred.

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