Lead Social Worker: Housing Stability & Crisis Care

East-Side-House-Settlement; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

East Side House is seeking a Lead Social Worker for the North Cove site to provide assessment, crisis response, advocacy, and care coordination for residents with complex needs. The role supports case managers, develops individualized service plans, and links clients to behavioral health, housing, legal services, and other community resources.

The position requires an MSW and experience with homelessness or housing instability, trauma-informed approaches, and strong documentation and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution required.
• Experience with homelessness, housing instability, poverty, or related complex needs preferred.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based, and person-centered practices.
• Experience with needs assessment, crisis intervention, care coordination, and community referrals.
• Knowledge of New York City social services, behavioral health resources, and public benefits.
• Strong engagement, documentation, advocacy, communication, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary social work resource at the site and guide the team.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments for residents with barriers, crisis situations, safety concerns, or needs requiring professional social work judgment.
• Provide focused case support and social work interventions for higher-acuity cases, including crisis response, safety planning, advocacy, stabilization, and coordination of care.
• Develop individualized service plans with residents and monitor progress toward housing stability, family well-being, economic mobility, and other identified goals.
• Provide case consultation and practice guidance to Case Managers, helping to determine interventions, referrals, follow-up, and escalation.
• Connect residents to behavioral health services, healthcare, benefits, housing stabilization, legal services, education, workforce development, childcare, food assistance, and other resources.
• Facilitate warm handoffs and coordinate with external providers for specialized or ongoing services.
• Facilitate or coordinate psychoeducational workshops and groups responsive to identified needs and trends.
• Review case documentation and support confidential practices at the site.
• Identify recurring resident needs, service gaps, and communicate them to inform program planning.
• Participate in case conferences, staff meetings, supervision, professional development, and cross-site activities.
• Escalate safety, risk, and service-quality concerns per protocols.

Skills

Needs assessment

Engagement

Motivational interviewing

Trauma-informed care

Crisis intervention

Care coordination

Advocacy

Service planning

Cultural responsiveness

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

MSW

Job description

East Side House is seeking a Lead Social Worker for the North Cove site to provide assessment, crisis response, advocacy, and care coordination for residents with complex needs. The role supports case managers, develops individualized service plans, and links clients to behavioral health, housing, legal services, and other community resources.

The position requires an MSW and experience with homelessness or housing instability, trauma-informed approaches, and strong documentation and