Aging Services Case Manager (West 88th St Older Adult Center)

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families. The Isaacs Center focuses primarily on the needs of children and low-income families, out-of-school and out-of-work youth, and aging New Yorkers. We operate at community centers located in the neighborhoods of East Harlem and Yorkville, and seek to deliver programs that are impactful, innovative, and intergenerational.

Program Description: Our vibrant Older Adult Center helps older members of the community live life to the fullest by providing case assistance, support services and activities to more than 3,000 center members. Birthday, holiday parties and other social events strengthen the sense of community. Our hot lunches provide, vital nutrition support at an affordable price. Our seniors are actively involved in the center, so services and activities reflect their needs and interests.

Position Summary: The Case Manager provides individualized services to enable seniors to live independently. The Case Manager works with residents, their families, and support systems to access any additional services that promote healthy, safe and meaningful lives. Specific services include: assistance with applications and recertifications for benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid, long term care, SNAP, HEAP, accessing Food Resources, referrals and providing connections to medical care, in-home care, legal services, and coordination with the OAC staff for assistance services such as chore assistance, escort services, home visits, telephone reassurance calls. Additional services include helping members access educational, cultural and recreational activities that provide a sense of value, well-being and community.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 35 hours a week (8:00 am to 4:00 pm)

Salary Range: $48,000 - $52,000

Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account.

Roles, Responsibilities and Essential Duties

• Provides case assistance services to seniors in housing development and surrounding communities.
• Develops care plans to promote client self-determination; to assist seniors with staying in the community; and to promote healthy and independent aging.
• Conducts psychosocial registration assessments and makes referrals as appropriate.
• Conduct outreach to potential members and engage members with low attendance
• Provides assistance with Benefit and Entitlement applications, recertifications, or makes appropriate referrals for additional assistance and services.
• Provides supportive counseling to seniors and their families. Make referrals to mental health agencies as appropriate.
• Prepares documentation (assessments, case logs, case notes, etc.) as stipulated by contractual and agency standards and procedures.
• May be assigned to handle more involved cases
• Performs other duties as required.
• Participate in staff meetings, interdisciplinary case conferences, supervision, and training
• Assist with outreach efforts to increase participation through new registrations and reassessments. Ensure timely response and follow-up to referrals made.
• Ensure participants gain access and opportunities to a whole range of social services, wellness education, socialization, arts and culture, and recreation activities through the programming at the Isaacs Center.
• Plan and implement group for members.
• Develop professional provider relationships with older adults, their families and caretakers guided by standards of professional social work practice. This will include counseling, crisis intervention, follow up reassurance phone calls, advocacy, information/referral and in- office meetings.
• Develop an individualized service plan, with mutually agreed upon goals and objectives and reassess on a regular and consistent basis.
• Advocates for clients’ rights, entitlements, and other benefits. Develop and foster strong relationships with consultants, community partners, and government agencies. 
• Work with supervisor in conjunction with the NYC Department for the Aging, New York State Office for the Aging, and Goddard Riverside to ensure that the appropriate processes for staff are in compliance with personnel policies and procedures

Education/Skills/Experience

• Bachelor of Social Work or Human Services and 2 years experience working in case management.
• Working with the elderly highly preferred
• Bilingual, English/Spanish is preferred.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Ability to work some flexible hours (e.g., evenings, weekends, Thanksgiving or Christmas Holiday)
• Working knowledge of community resources and service providers to older adults.
• Ability to work effectively with culturally, economically and educationally diverse populations.
• Ability to form positive interpersonal relations in dealing with a wide range of staff as well as external contacts
• Strong verbal, written, technological, and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of working with the elderly and knowledge of the process and issues of aging, including disability, mental health and abuse issues. Must be flexible in dealing with others.
• Computer literacy including ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to circulate within the center, engage with clients in common areas, and escort individuals to appointments as needed.
• Ability to stand and walk frequently during programming activities.
• Ability to travel locally for home visits, hospital visits, and fieldwork.
• Work environment includes a senior center located in a NYCHA facility, with shared office space

Employee Benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision

• Life Insurance/Commuter benefits/Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Flexible Spending Accounts

• 403B Thrift Retirement Plan

• 12 Annual Sick Days

• 12 Agency Holidays

• 20 Days or 4 Weeks of Paid Time off and an additional week (5) days after 5 years of employment

• Total of more than 6 weeks (a month and half) of paid time off

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace community grounded in respect for differences. We support hiring a broadly diverse team of qualified individuals who will contribute to our organizations.

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.