Social Work Intern

Job Title: Social Work Intern

The Social Work Intern will support R&H Community Services in providing person-centered, trauma-informed, and community-based services to individuals and families. Under the supervision of qualified R&H staff, the intern will gain hands-on experience in behavioral health, case management, care coordination, client advocacy, community resources, and social work practice. The intern will assist with client engagement, resource coordination, documentation, outreach, and program activities while learning how social workers collaborate with individuals, families, behavioral health professionals, schools, healthcare providers, and community partners to address social, emotional, and environmental needs.

This internship provides an opportunity to develop practical skills in assessment, advocacy, service planning, documentation, crisis support, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration while strengthening the intern's understanding of ethical social work practice and culturally responsive care.

The ideal candidate is a compassionate, dependable, culturally responsive, and motivated student who is committed to supporting individuals and families and interested in pursuing a career in social work, behavioral health, or community-based services.

Department                                                                           Reports To

Clinical Services                                                                    Program Director

Salary                                                                                     Job Type

Paid                                                                                         Seasonal – Internship

Academic credit offered 

Potential for future employment opportunities based on performance

Language                                                                               

English (Preferred)                                                                 

Shifts Flexible based on academic     requirements (10–20 hours per week)

Work authorization                                                              

United States (Required) This job will require you to pass a background check

Roles and Responsibilities 

The Social Work Intern will work under appropriate supervision to gain practical experience in behavioral health and community-based social work while supporting R&H Community Services’ programs and the individuals and families served.

Client Engagement & Support

• Assist with client engagement, outreach, and follow-up under supervision.
• Build professional, strengths-based relationships with clients and families.
• Assist clients in identifying needs, strengths, goals, and available supports.
• Promote client self-advocacy, independence, and participation in services.
• Provide supportive listening and appropriate assistance within the intern’s scope of practice.

Assessment & Service Planning

• Observe and assist with psychosocial assessments as permitted by the intern’s academic level and supervision plan.
• Assist with gathering relevant psychosocial, family, educational, and community information.
• Participate in identifying client needs, strengths, barriers, and resources.
• Observe and support the development and review of individualized treatment or service plans.
• Assist with monitoring progress toward identified goals.

Case Management & Resource Coordination

• Assist clients and families with identifying appropriate community resources.
• Support referrals for housing, food assistance, healthcare, behavioral health, education, employment, transportation, and other social needs.
• Assist with referral follow-up and coordination of services.
• Maintain current information regarding community resources and support programs.
• Collaborate with staff and community partners to promote continuity of care.

Behavioral Health & Clinical Exposure

• Observe appropriate clinical and behavioral health services under supervision.
• Participate in case consultations and interdisciplinary team meetings when appropriate.
• Gain exposure to evidence-based, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and person-centered interventions.
• Assist with psychoeducational and skill-building activities as appropriate.
• Learn to recognize behavioral health concerns and appropriately communicate concerns to the assigned supervisor.
• Observe crisis assessment, safety planning, and crisis-response procedures when appropriate to the internship level.

Documentation

• Assist with documentation in accordance with organizational and academic requirements.
• Gain supervised exposure to electronic medical record (EMR) systems.
• Assist with maintaining accurate, timely, and professional records.
• Learn appropriate documentation practices for behavioral health and community-based services.
• Maintain client confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and organizational privacy requirements.

Community Outreach & Advocacy

• Participate in community outreach, resource fairs, workshops, and educational events.
• Assist with connecting individuals and families to community resources.
• Support advocacy efforts addressing barriers to services and community participation.
• Assist with developing resource guides and educational materials.
• Support partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community organizations.

Professional & Ethical Development

• Participate in scheduled individual and/or group supervision.
• Attend staff meetings, trainings, case consultations, and professional development activities as assigned.
• Apply social work ethics, professional boundaries, cultural humility, and confidentiality standards.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and respect when working with diverse individuals, families, and communities.
• Seek supervisory consultation when encountering ethical concerns, safety concerns, or situations outside the intern’s scope of practice.
• Accept and incorporate supervisory feedback into professional development.
• Complete learning objectives and academic field-placement requirements as applicable.

Program & Administrative Support

• Assist with program activities, data collection, and outcome tracking.
• Support preparation of client resources, educational materials, and program documents.
• Assist with special projects that support R&H Community Services’ programs and community initiatives.
• Perform other internship-related responsibilities consistent with the student’s educational level, learning objectives, scope of practice, and supervision plan.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) program, or a closely related academic program when appropriate for the internship placement. 
• Demonstrated interest in behavioral health, mental health, case management, community-based services, and supporting individuals and families. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to engage individuals and families in a professional, compassionate, respectful, and nonjudgmental manner. 
• Understanding of, or willingness to learn, person-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices. 
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and protect confidential information. 
• Ability to comply with HIPAA, ethical standards, organizational policies, and applicable internship requirements. 
• Strong organizational, time-management, and documentation skills. 
• Ability to work independently within assigned responsibilities while collaborating effectively with an interdisciplinary team. 
• Willingness to participate in supervision, training, case consultation, and professional development activities. 
• Ability to receive and incorporate constructive feedback. 
• Basic computer proficiency and willingness to learn electronic medical record (EMR) and other organizational systems. 
• Commitment to ethical social work practice, cultural humility, client dignity, self-determination, and advocacy. 
• Successful completion of all required background screening and onboarding requirements prior to placement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous internship, volunteer, employment, or community service experience in behavioral health, social services, education, healthcare, or human services. 
• Experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and/or families. 
• Familiarity with community resources, social service systems, or care coordination. 
• Interest in mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation, clinical social work, family services, or community-based practice. 
• Familiarity with documentation, case management, crisis intervention, or resource navigation. 
• Ability to effectively engage and communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Supervision & Support

Interns will receive weekly supervision from qualified professionals and ongoing mentorship throughout the program.

Disclaimer & Equal Opportunity Statement

This document outlines the primary responsibilities and expectations of the position. It is intended to provide a general overview and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. As organizational needs and priorities evolve, R&H Community Services reserves the right to modify, add, remove, amend, or otherwise adjust job duties and responsibilities at any time based on the needs of the organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

R&H Community Services is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable, and respectful environment for all applicants, interns, employees, and team members. Employment and internship decisions, including recruitment, selection, hiring, placement, promotion, and other employment-related decisions, are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

R&H Community Services is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We value diversity, inclusion, mutual respect, and the unique contributions of every member of our team.