Case Manager - Domestic Violence Shelter

Equinox is a non-profit human services organization in the Capital Region.

For more than 40 years, Equinox has reached out to people who need us most with innovative and effective programs that truly change lives, allowing us to fulfill our purpose of helping those we serve move forward on their paths to recovery, healing, and independence.

Equinox is Albany County’s primary provider of services for victims of domestic violence. Our Domestic Violence Programs provide safety for victims of Domestic Violence, including the elderly, and offer the support, assistance and tools they need to escape abusive situations and take control of their lives. Domestic Violence Services are available to all victims and their dependent children, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Position Summary: The Case Manager for the Domestic Violence Shelter is responsible for ensuring that each resident receives quality, comprehensive case management services in accordance with program objectives and regulatory requirements. The core duties include case management, accompaniment and liaison services, information and referral, conduct intakes, transport residents and maintain appropriate records and statistics. The Case Manager works closely with counselors and other shelter staff to provide coordinated comprehensive services to residents and will serve as the point of contact for the New York State Civil Legal Network.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Completes intake process, needs assessment and service plans with clients.
• Develops safety plans with clients and updates regularly as needed.
• Assesses client needs and abilities, determining level of support needed to provide adequate assistance. Continually assesses each resident’s emotional, physical, & social needs while in the Shelter and adjusts service plan accordingly.
• Accompanies clients to DSS, community agencies, financial institutions, etc. to provide crisis intervention and ongoing assistance with other agencies as needed; advocates for clients both in person and through phone and written contact.
• Connects clients to all other Equinox, Inc. services and appropriate community services as needed.
• Enrolls or re-enrolls children of residents into school immediately upon admission. Communicate needs of children to Children's Programming Coordinator, record in case file.
• Assists clients in finding safe and affordable permanent housing and moving into the same.
• Maintains accurate case records; completes necessary paperwork and statistic requirements for the agency and funding sources.
• Answers the 24-hour hotline, providing telephone counseling, information and referral, conducting shelter intakes, and scheduling counseling appointments.
• Utilize, model and encourages a trauma informed, strengths based, asset development approach with clients throughout the program.
• Maintain a teamwork approach to assist program staff to ensure a safe and clean shelter environment and provide comprehensive quality services.
• Takes scheduled on-call shifts at night and on weekends, consulting with on-site staff about shelter situations, screening and transporting prospective residents to the shelter and/or motel; covering residential counselor shifts in emergencies.
• Prepares weekly case reviews, including input from others involved in the case.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with community services. Assures that local service organizations, police departments, legal services, etc. are aware of the services provided by the shelter. May represent the agency in formal and informal groups related to domestic violence services.
• Participates in staff meetings, as well as individual supervision meetings.
• Participate in agency committees, events and forums as needed.
• Serve as the point of contact for the New York State Civil Legal Network. The network requires navigators to assist victims in accessing the Civil Legal Network, and the OVS funded case managers serve as a point of contact for those network navigators.
• Reports suspected incidents of child abuse, as required by law as a mandated reporter.
• Acts in accordance with Equinox and Domestic Violence Services Program mission.
• Performs other duties as requested for the enhancement and continuation of programming