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At BCPL, staff members have the opportunity to enrich individual lives and build strong communities by delivering exceptional customer experiences, establishing meaningful partnerships, and creating innovative learning spaces. We seek enthusiastic, open-minded, self-motivated individuals who can work well independently and with others. BCPL circulates over 10 million items and provides library services through its 19 branches, 4 mobile library vehicles, and an extensive outreach network. If you are forward thinking and passionate about public service, consider joining BCPL in this position.

Schedule:

This is a full time position working 40 hours a week. All library branch staff will be required to work evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the year as part of the normal work schedule.

Job Summary:

Find out about Social Work in the Library here!

Under the direction of the Social Work Supervisor, the Social Worker is responsible for supporting services to customers at Baltimore County Public Library, especially those experiencing homelessness and behavioral health issues, and supporting library staff in the development of trauma-informed practice. This position will provide trauma informed assistance, information, referrals, outreach and public programs and services to customers of all ages from all socio-economic backgrounds who frequent our 19 library branches and our mobile vehicles. This role will also provide support as appropriate for behavioral health crises when they emerge at branches when the social worker is present and support training development for staff in how to navigate similar situations at their branches.   This position will support partnerships with community agencies and programs through referrals, attending community meetings and exploring collaborations. 

• Provide one-on-one assistance to customers of all ages in branches or library vehicles, virtually or by phone. Proactively engages in outreach with customers, including those with significant behavioral health-related behaviors, and with local community providers and events.
• Provide direct intervention using clinical skills during a customer's behavioral health crisis.
• Assist library staff in appropriate navigation and lead post-crisis debriefing.
• Supports developing and established partnerships with organizations and Baltimore County agencies that provide service to vulnerable customers to ensure seamless coordination and maximize service delivery.
• Provides referrals to service agencies to support identified needs, including housing, employment, education, income, food insecurity, health care, etc.
• Develops collaborative methods to connect these populations with Library resources and provides access and instruction.
• Develops services and programs for the public that foster the spirit of inclusion and equity within BCPL, such as coffee circles, resource fairs and specialized programming targeting the needs of vulnerable customers.
• Provides education to library staff on issues affecting our most vulnerable community members, including domestic violence, child abuse and adult abuse.
• Develops resources with and for library staff such as resource sheets and guide, information for our website, and specialized programming targeting the needs of vulnerable customers.
• Facilitates training in trauma-informed services to staff to help them provide improved service to all customers and better understand the resources available for customers experiencing complex social needs.
• Completes community needs assessments to inform the Library's capital projects and strategic plans.
• In collaboration with appropriate staff, develop and maintain measurable program outcomes and reporting methods to ensure program effectiveness, including performance measures and preferred outcomes.
• This position will primarily provide in person services from two libraries in the same geographic region and on-call virtual (and limited in-person) services for customers at other library branches.  This position would involve direct service approximately 50% of regularly scheduled hours.
  • The Social Worker on the East side will be based out of the North Point and Essex branches.
  • The Social Worker on the West side will be based out of the Randallstown and Owings Mills branches.

Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible

Salary Range: $65,136 - $92,690

Job Requirements:

• Master's degree in Social Work
• Current LCSW-C licensure, active and in good standing with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners.  (For applicants with an out-of-state license, an application to the Maryland Board of Social Workers must be marked as "pending" and a Maryland license would need to be obtained within six months).
• Minimum of three years of post-graduate experience providing direct clinical services. Previous experience in crisis de-escalation, providing training and systems navigation preferred.
• Experience in group facilitation or workshops preferred.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Willingness and ability to acquire knowledge of library computer systems and applications and awareness of library services.
• Excellent communication skills, and public speaking experience.

* Applicants for this position will remain in consideration for any Social Worker position openings within the next six months and do not need to reapply. *

We have a 14 step pay scale. Internal applicants starting pay varies based on their current step on the salary scale. We also offer, as appropriate, overtime pay, comp. time, and differential pay.

The Library offers an excellent benefits package that includes pay holidays, 20 vacation days, 15 sick days, and seven personal days per year. In addition the Library also offers health, dental, vision, life, voluntary long-term disability, pension, deferred compensation, an employee assistance program, flex spending, and Commuter Choice parking and transit accounts.

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