Mental Health Social Practitioner

Fountain House•New York, NY

About The Position

Fountain House is seeking a Social Practitioner to support adults with serious mental illness through its clubhouse model: an intentionally designed, strengths-based community where members and staff work side by side toward recovery and personal, social, employment, and educational goals. The role focuses on fostering relationships, connecting members with community resources, and supporting their goals in settings that may include social services, employment, education, and housing. Staff are expected to be optimistic, professionally curious, flexible, resilient, willing to take creative risks, and persistent in finding solutions.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Ability to effectively manage and handle member concerns and behaviors.
Proven experience supporting and counseling members experiencing emotional distress or mental health crises.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements; reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
Submit a cover letter with the application.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree or equivalent.
1–3+ years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and/or hands-on experience in a community setting.
1–2 years of coaching and counseling experience.
1–2 years of vocational rehabilitation, training, or employment specialist experience.
1–2 years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and/or hands-on experience in a community setting.

Responsibilities

Engage members, develop relationships, assess needs, provide therapeutic interventions, and support members in transitional environments.
Help develop a therapeutic community based on Social Practice and the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs.
Use the community to design positive interventions addressing barriers such as social isolation, low self-esteem, anxiety, symptom management, and poverty.
Create access to settings outside Fountain House to build members’ skills, confidence, and self-efficacy, including providing on-site support in employment, education, and housing environments.
Build relationships with members and community partners that support positive change, risk-taking, meaningful connections, and access to new opportunities.
Design environments and social interactions to achieve therapeutic outcomes and develop an accessible, positive community.
Observe and assess members in naturalistic environments and create specific rehabilitation interventions.
Provide daily advocacy and engagement, and guide members in developing appropriate problem-solving techniques.
Counsel members individually and in groups to help them overcome dependencies, adjust to life, and make changes.
Provide vocational training support for transitional employment and maintain employer relationships to develop job opportunities.
Support or fill in for members in Transitional Employment opportunities when needed.
Assist members with entitlements and benefits, including food stamps, SSI/SSDI, Medicaid/Medicare, Ticket to Work, ACE/Access VR, Supplemental Needs Trusts, and ADA accommodations.
Facilitate supported housing and Single Point of Access applications, help locate appropriate housing, and assist members with physical moves.
Advocate for members’ well-being, safety, and livelihood regarding clinical, legal, housing, appointments, medications, and independent living opportunities.
Become proficient in the skills and tasks of the assigned unit, which may include safety protocols, health guidelines, inventory lists, and guides.
Complete documentation, including progress notes and outreach documentation, on time.
Maintain compliance with government agency requirements and company policies and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality of records relating to members’ progress.
Perform related duties assigned by the supervisor.
Travel periodically overnight to High Point Farm; work some holidays, including Thanksgiving, and some weekends and evenings.
Stay late or arrive early when necessary to meet unit or member needs and be interchangeable with other staff on the unit.