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Summary:
In alignment with DMPL’s mission “to strengthen our community by connecting people with ideas and the tools they need to enrich their lives,” the Community Resource Specialist addresses patrons’ unmet social service-related information needs and serves as a resource for staff to connect people to needed services in the local Des Moines region. Primary responsibilities include providing information, resources, and referrals directly to individuals in need who visit the library, and building and maintaining relationships with other relevant community partners to help support patrons. The person in this position will also serve as a resource for library staff and security team and model effective techniques for working with patrons experiencing mental health, substance abuse, unstable housing, or other needs. This position primarily serves Central Library but may provide limited support to additional locations as needed and as their schedule allows. This person will represent DMPL interests in interactions with area social service agencies, governmental entities, and other relevant organizations and coordinate services with community partners to help support patrons and the DMPL.
Essential Job Functions
- Identify and offer services to library patrons who may benefit from social service support through outreach, direct observation, or referral by DMPL staff.
- Assess patrons’ identified needs and provide support, information, referral, and/or brief service coordination for those needs, including those related to housing, mental health, primary care, substance abuse, and/or other areas of psychosocial need.
- Coach, model, and serve as a resource for DMPL staff in best practices related to working with vulnerable populations and customers.
- Develop and sustain relationships with community partners to ease referrals for patrons and improve linkages with local organizations for potential library programming and collaboration.
- Collaborate with DMPL staff and/or the management team to develop community-relevant services and programming related to patron psychosocial needs.
- Provide expert information as part of library planning processes, lead projects that intersect with services to vulnerable or at-risk populations, identify and advocate for vulnerable populations, and help guide efforts to evaluate and assess service delivery to at-risk customers.
- Provide guidance to DMPL staff, administration, and security personnel about underlying issues related to disruptive patron conduct and collaboratively design protocol to help distinguish between library security issues versus opportunities for connecting patrons with social work support.
- Represent the DMPL by participating in local task forces or other community meetings to address the systemic issues and needs faced by at-risk library patrons who spend time in and around the DMPL.
- Maintain professional engagement on a state and/or national level, tracking trends among library-based social workers and implementing promising new practices.
- Prepare reports on services provided, including statistics, outcomes, and service impacts.
- Perform other directly related duties consistent with the role and function of the classification.
Essential Physical Abilities
- Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be able to communicate effectively.
- Sufficient vision, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be able to produce and review a wide variety of reports and related materials in both electronic and hard copy form.
- Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be able to access relevant library materials and operate a keyboard.
- Sufficient mobility, with or without reasonable accommodation, to be able to transport materials and equipment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of library policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of general social work principles and available resources.
- Knowledge of social services procedures, practices, and methods.
- Knowledge of social services related laws, rules, and regulations relating to provision of public assistance, and social welfare.
- Knowledge of services offered by local public and private community-based service agencies.
- Skill prioritizing work.
- Skill managing and executing multiple tasks.
- Skill using computers and related software applications.
- Skill exercising judgment and discretion.
- Ability to provide outstanding internal and external customer service through the use of excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to instruct, train, and supervise students, social worker interns and volunteers.
- Ability to work in a team environment.
- Ability to keep records, files, compile reports, and analyze and evaluate records and statistics.
- Ability to meet assigned project deadlines.
- Ability to serve the public in a positive manner.
- Ability to plan and present library programs for the public.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Acceptable Education and Experience
- Master’s Degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited school and two years of relevant experience OR a Bachelor's Degree in social work or related field plus a minimum of five years relevant experience.
- Previous work experience should include at least some of the following- community-based settings, crisis intervention/response, counseling, and/or advocacy with people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and/or substance use disorders.
- Experience supervising Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and/or MSW students is preferred.
- Experience training others on social work or related skills or strategies is preferred.
- Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
Other Qualifications
- Active social work license in the State of Iowa (LBSW, LISW, or LMSW) is preferred.
- Candidates for positions in this class must pass a post-employment offer physical examination, drug screen, and background check.
- Must possess valid driver’s license.
Application information
Send resume and letter of application to Jon Hobbs, Deputy Director, Des Moines Public Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Applicants deemed most qualified based on qualifications may be contacted for an interview. Qualified applicants who need reasonable accommodation must inform City HR at (515) 283-4213 or TTY at Iowa Relay at 711 or 1-800-735-2942 at time of application.
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