Student Practicum at St. Louis County Library

Salary Range:$18.00 Hourly

Summary

Under the supervision of the Field Instructor, the Practicum student /Intern conducts individual and group meetings and follow-up contacts with patrons seeking resources and guidance at any requested branch of the St. Louis County Library.

Your Impact and Primary Responsibilities:

• Shadow and observe current Library Social Workers in practice.
• Assess client/patrons’ needs throughout St. Louis County and make appropriate referrals in areas such as access to food, housing, employment, counseling (mental health service), emergency shelter, substance use treatment programs, child abuse and neglect prevention support.
• Implement crisis management techniques when required.
• Attend Library Social Worker weekly team meetings to remain current on program requirements, review cases, and receive feedback and/or suggestions to achieve desired outcomes.
• Collect demographic information to be used in assessment of program outcomes.
• Assist the Library Social Workers with follow-up contacts and walk in patrons.
• Track service delivery through documentation in Epworth’s database.
• Meet weekly with MSW Field Instructor to discuss service delivery and related issues.
• Completing other tasks as assigned by the Field Instructor.

Qualifications:

• Graduate-level student seeking a degree in human services, MSW preferred
• Available to work approximately 20 hours per week for two semesters.

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Adhere to agency rules, policies, and procedures, including attendance, program/department-specific procedures, workplace safety, code of conduct, social media, training requirements, and confidentiality.
• The ability to operate in a non-judgmental manner and to assess client needs.
• The ability to be flexible and the willingness to try new tasks.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, or government regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, public groups and/or clients.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Able to make independent decisions through application of common sense, data, and knowledge gained through training and education.
• Ability to solve problems and deal with abstract and concrete variables in situations and to synthesize information consistent with the organizational strategy and mission.
• Email, Typing, and Microsoft Word
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate effectively. The physical requirements of this job include sitting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs on a regular basis, lifting up to 25lbs, and pulling and/or pushing on occasion.

Other: Must be 21 years of age. Must possess a valid driver’s license, reliable access to an automobile, and valid automobile insurance is required.