MIRIAM’S KITCHEN MISSION
Miriam’s Kitchen works to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC. We advocate for permanent supportive housing as a long-term solution while meeting short-term needs by providing healthy meals and high-quality social services to chronically homeless individuals.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Social Services Program works to help guests connect to needed services and care, with a priority on securing housing and maintaining housing with support from Miriam’s Kitchen and community providers. The program seeks to help guests be as healthy as possible and be able to successfully pursue their goals.
Services are delivered in our dining room in conjunction with the breakfast and dinner we serve every weekday. Miriam’s Kitchen case managers invite guests to receive a wide range of social services either at Miriam’s Kitchen or through community services, including mental health, medical, and substance abuse services, assistance finding adequate shelter and permanent housing, connection to employment, and help meeting other immediate needs such as clothing, toiletries, transportation, and haircuts. By creating an atmosphere of hospitality where guests can choose how they receive support, Miriam’s Kitchen is able to build relationships with many vulnerable individuals who have difficulty connecting with services due to complex barriers such as mental illness or problems with substance abuse.
The Assistant Director of Social Services will provide a variety of direct services to homeless individuals, supervise Case Managers and/or interns as determined by the Clinical Director, work to continuously improve effective program performance, and collaborate with other providers and policymakers to meet the needs of homeless individuals in Washington, DC.
The schedule of the Assistant Director of Social Services has some flexibility with shifts available for the Morning Program (6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.), the Evening Program (10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.), or a combination of some morning and some evening programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Critical functions that the individual who holds or desires the position must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.
- In the extended absence of Clinical Director (e.g. sabbatical, extended sick leave, etc.), the Assistant Director of Social Services will assume primary responsibilities of Clinical Director including management for operations of the Social Services team/program, personnel management, payment of department bills, and acting as primary point of contact for the Social Services team.
- Provide oversight for collection and management of data for the Social Services team. Responsibilities include ensuring that team members are meeting data entry deadlines, coordinating with the MK evaluation staff on monthly departmental reports, and facilitating monthly team discussion of data including identifying trends, progress toward target goals, and addressing any data quality issues.
- Provide leadership on development and implementation of policies and procedures for the daily operations of the Social Services program.
- Provide oversight for onboarding and training for new staff and interns.
- Act as one of the lead case managers in busy case management and meal program serving 200+ guests per meal. Coordinate services through program hours to ensure that all aspects of the program run smoothly and respond to any crises that arise.
- Develop trusting relationships with guests and engage them in services for housing, mental health, substance abuse, health, education, and employment. Facilitate referrals to services to ensure a smooth and established connection.
- Help to promote organizational culture of treating our guests with dignity and respect, and creating a community where guests feel welcomed and safe.
- Provide weekly supervision to Case Managers and/or interns, and create a positive, productive work atmosphere for Social Services team.
- Evaluate and improve performance of Miriam’s Kitchen programs. Actively look for ways for Miriam’s Kitchen to expand or change programs to fill unmet needs.
- Support and encourage activities of Miriam’s Kitchen volunteers.
- Identify advocacy priorities of guests and be a strong leader in Miriam’s Kitchen advocacy efforts to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC.
- Participate in relevant homeless services provider groups, advocacy coalitions, and city policy workgroups.
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Functions that do not fundamentally alter the position.
COMPETENCIES & KEY ACTIONS: The knowledge, skills, and behavioral attributes necessary for satisfactory job performance.
- Supervision and Program Management - Intermediate training and/or experience in supervision and program management
- Knowledge of Community Resources - Knowledge of community resources available to individuals experiencing homelessness in DC
- Work Successfully with MK guests/Vulnerable Individuals - Knowledge, experience, and ability to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, and/or substance abuse.
- Work Successfully with MK Team Members - Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a culturally diverse team.
- Communication - Strong written, verbal and presentation skills
- Boundary Setting - Ability to establish and maintain strong professional boundaries
- Mission Alignment - Strong interest in and commitment to ending chronic homelessness in DC. An understanding of the structural and systemic causes of homelessness
- Spanish Language Proficiency - Proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not required.
Benefits
Miriam’s Kitchen is proud to offer comprehensive benefits that support the continued health and well-being of our team, including 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous medical coverage for dependents; 100% employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance; employer retirement contributions; generous annual paid leave; and annual professional development funds for all full and part-time team members.
Miriam’s Kitchen values diversity in thought and experience and is committed to assembling a diverse workplace. People of color, people with lived experience in the issues MK works on, veterans, and LGBTQIA persons are strongly encouraged to apply.
QUALIFICATIONS: The individual who holds or desires the position must have the experience, education, certifications, skills, etc., to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Minimum of two years of experience working in services for people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, and/or substance use issues.
- Master of Social Work with licensure at the LICSW level or LGSW with at least one year post-LGSW certification preferred.
- Proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not required.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS: Physical and mental capabilities are required to perform the position's essential functions.
Physical Demands: Regularly required to sit; Regularly required to stand and walk in program areas during program service times to engage guests; frequently required to talk or hear; occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch; must be able to lift objects up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
Mental Demands: Ability to communicate (written and spoken) effectively in English is required.
TRAVEL DEMANDS: This position occasionally requires local travel between Miriam's Kitchen and partner sites. Where the need arises for business travel, appropriate compensation
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Hybrid work schedule (in-person work schedule for program work, in-person team meetings, and other in-person times designated by MK; option for remote work during other times). After-hours project work and representing Miriam’s Kitchen at community events are sometimes required. This position occasionally requires local travel between Miriam's Kitchen and partner sites.