Statement of Duties

The Social Worker, in partnership with Library and other City staff, will foster equity and access to behavioral health, substance misuse, housing, employment, education, and other resources by engaging vulnerable populations through the Library community. They will assist community members to advocate for themselves, and provide referral services to support mental, social, and physical wellbeing. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties. 

Essential Functions: 

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. 

• Provide comprehensive direct and indirect support service and assistance to community members, including referrals, application assistance, resource navigation, and mental health/substance misuse linkage.

• Serve as an advocate for community members and assist addressing diverse needs.  

• Develop and conduct programming for constituents and staff with a focus of improving quality of life as well as increasing understanding of behavioral health concerns across the lifespan. 

• Maintain records of program attendance, program activity details, and thorough assessments of referrals and resource allocation.  

• Build strong partnerships with library colleagues, community resources, city and state departments, and community leaders, including collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Somerville Police Department, including the Community Outreach, Help and Recovery (COHR) program. 

• Participate in professional development activities, conferences, and meetings to stay updated on best practices and community resources, collaborating with library staff on social service projects and guides for vulnerable populations. 

• Compile and report monthly data on the impact and successes of social work interventions within the library and collaborative partnerships, informing future strategies to better serve the Somerville community. 

• Deliver and coordinate training sessions for library staff, covering essential topics such as conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques, and stress management strategies to enhance staff ability to support member needs effectively. 

• Conducts individual counseling as needed. 

• Manage special projects and other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school for mental health counseling and three to five (3-5) years’ experience in clinical social work, counseling, or psychology; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. 

Special Requirements 

• CPR/First Aid Certification within three months of hire and continually maintained thereafter. 

• Position requires ability to travel independently within the City during the work shift. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill 

Knowledge: Strong clinical and diagnostic skills.  Demonstrate a working knowledge of programs and resources available within the City of Somerville and neighboring areas, leveraging this familiarity to effectively address the diverse health and social issues encountered by residents. Possess an understanding of State and Federal programs, best practices, and services aimed at meeting the needs of the community, ensuring efficient access and utilization of available resources. 

Abilities: Ability to engage with residents in a manner that is both appropriate and sensitive to their unique circumstances, fostering an environment of trust and support. Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, enabling effective communication and collaboration with staff, program participants, and caregivers alike. 

Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills; working hardware and software computer skills; skill in working with individuals with mental and/or physical challenges; patience and understanding. 

Work Environment  

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments. 

Physical and Mental Requirements  

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 position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills  

Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing.  May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.) 

Motor Skills 

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.  

Visual Skills 

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes. 

Hours: Full-Time

Salary: $64,945.93 annualized, plus benefits

FLMA: Non-Exempt

Date Posted: 4/30/2024

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance

• Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

  Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract

• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City

• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna

• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)

• Long term disability through Sun Life

• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual

• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies

• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors

• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health

• Annual cancer screening & wellness release

• Somerville Retirement Pension System

• Tuition reimbursement

• MBTA pass program

• FREE Blue Bikes membership

• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.

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