RESIDENT COUNSELOR (Bronx)

Housing Options and Geriatric Association Resources Inc•New York, NY

3d•$0 - $48,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Residence Counselor provides direct rehabilitative, supportive, and residential services to adults residing in H.O.G.A.R., Inc.’s Ariel Congregate Treatment Community Residence. Ariel is a 24-hour residential program that provides housing, supervision, three meals per day, and rehabilitative services to individuals with mental health needs. The program is designed to assist residents in developing and strengthening the skills necessary to live as independently as possible within the community. Residence Counselors work directly with residents to identify their individual needs, strengths, preferences, and goals and assist them in developing the skills and community supports necessary to achieve greater independence. Services are recovery-oriented, person-centered, and focused on community integration, daily living skills, symptom management, socialization, self-advocacy, and preparation for transition to a more independent or supportive housing setting when appropriate. Residence Counselors maintain an assigned caseload and work as members of the interdisciplinary program team. Residence Counselors are expected to maintain working knowledge of mental health and co-occurring substance-use needs, person-centered and recovery-oriented practices, resident rights, OMH requirements, agency policies and procedures, emergency procedures, infection control, and other requirements applicable to the program.

Requirements

High School Diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma required.
Minimum of two years of relevant experience working in mental health, human services, residential services, social services, rehabilitation, or a related setting preferred/required in accordance with agency staffing requirements.
Experience working with adults with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance-use needs strongly preferred.
Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
Ability to complete required documentation accurately and within established timeframes.
Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary residential team.
Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to emergencies and crisis situations.
Ability to work a flexible schedule within a 24-hour residential program, including evenings, overnight shifts, weekends, and holidays as assigned.
CPR and First Aid
Mandated Reporter/Justice Center training
Incident reporting
Infection control
Fire safety and emergency preparedness
Medication-related training applicable to the employee's role
Resident rights
Mental health and recovery-oriented practices
Crisis prevention/intervention
Food safety and sanitation as applicable to assigned meal responsibilities
Other training required by H.O.G.A.R., OMH, or applicable regulatory authorities

Nice To Haves

Experience working with adults with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance-use needs strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain professional, respectful, and supportive relationships with residents and encourage their active participation in the residential program and their individual recovery goals.
Participate in the intake and admission process for new residents as assigned and within the scope of the Residence Counselor's training, qualifications, and responsibilities.
Participate in initial and ongoing assessment of residents' strengths, needs, abilities, preferences, functioning, and areas requiring support.
Participate with residents and other appropriate program staff in the development of individualized service plans that reflect each resident's identified strengths, needs, preferences, goals, and desired outcomes.
Participate in required service-plan reviews and assist in evaluating resident progress toward identified goals and objectives. Recommend revisions or additional interventions when necessary.
Ensure that services provided are consistent with the resident's individualized service plan and are delivered in a person-centered, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented manner.
Complete timely and accurate documentation of services provided, resident contacts, significant events, progress toward service-plan goals, and other required information in accordance with OMH, Medicaid, agency, and program requirements.
Ensure assigned resident records and documentation are current, complete, accurate, and maintained in accordance with agency policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
Provide and document rehabilitative and restorative services designed to assist residents in developing or maintaining skills necessary for successful community living.
Assist residents in developing and strengthening independent-living skills, including personal hygiene, housekeeping, laundry, organization, meal-related skills, budgeting, time management, and maintenance of their living environment.
Assist residents in identifying and utilizing community resources and opportunities that promote independence, inclusion, socialization, recreation, education, vocational development, and community participation.
Assist residents in learning to use public transportation and community resources independently. Accompany or escort residents to medical, psychiatric, benefits, housing, treatment, or other appointments when required.
Make appropriate referrals and assist residents in connecting with mental health, medical, substance-use, benefits, vocational, educational, social-service, and other community-based providers.
Maintain appropriate communication and coordination with treatment providers, case managers, hospitals, clinics, ACT teams, health-care providers, and other community supports to promote continuity of care.
Support residents in developing medication-management skills in accordance with the resident's service plan, program procedures, staff scope of responsibility, and applicable OMH requirements.
Assist residents in identifying and developing strategies to manage mental health symptoms, stressors, triggers, and other barriers that may interfere with successful community living.
Respond appropriately to resident crises, psychiatric emergencies, medical emergencies, behavioral concerns, and other situations requiring immediate staff intervention. Follow all emergency, supervisory, incident-reporting, and notification procedures.
Provide appropriate supervision and support to maintain a safe residential environment and immediately report safety concerns, unusual incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, missing residents, medical concerns, or other reportable events in accordance with agency and regulatory requirements.
Protect and promote resident rights, dignity, privacy, choice, and self-determination and act as an advocate for residents when appropriate.
Participate in ongoing transition and discharge planning beginning during the resident's stay in the program. Assist residents in developing the skills, resources, community supports, and documentation necessary to transition to a more independent or appropriate housing setting.
Assist residents in developing housing-readiness skills and participate in efforts to identify appropriate future housing options, which may include supportive housing, supported housing, independent apartments, family settings, or other community-based living arrangements based on individual needs and eligibility.
Assist residents in identifying and participating in social, recreational, educational, and culturally appropriate activities both within the residence and in the community.
Assist with the planning, preparation, heating, portioning, and serving of resident meals as assigned. Residence Counselors may be responsible for preparing and serving meals as necessary to ensure that residents receive scheduled meals and that continuity of meal service is maintained.
Assist with food shopping, grocery ordering, kitchen supplies, and food inventory as assigned to ensure that sufficient food and supplies are available for resident meals.
Follow all agency food-safety, sanitation, food-storage, temperature-control, and kitchen-cleanliness procedures when handling, preparing, storing, or serving food.
When consistent with a resident's individualized service plan, utilize appropriate meal planning, food shopping, budgeting, cooking, and kitchen activities as opportunities to teach and reinforce independent-living skills.
Follow documented dietary instructions, restrictions, allergies, or other meal-related requirements communicated by appropriate program or health-care personnel.
Assist in maintaining a clean, safe, organized, and home-like residential environment. Report maintenance, safety, sanitation, or environmental concerns promptly.
Complete all assigned shift duties, including required logs, resident checks, documentation, medication-related responsibilities within scope, meal-related duties, environmental checks, and communication with incoming and outgoing staff.
Participate in shift change and communicate relevant resident, program, safety, and operational information to other staff while maintaining resident confidentiality.
Attend and actively participate in case conferences, staff meetings, service-plan meetings, clinical discussions, incident reviews, and other program meetings as required.
Involve family members, significant others, and other collateral supports in service planning and resident support when appropriate, authorized by the resident, and consistent with program requirements.
Provide appropriate support, education, referrals, and linkage for residents with co-occurring substance-use needs consistent with the resident's service plan and the Residence Counselor's role.
Encourage residents to participate in preventive health care, medical and behavioral health treatment, wellness activities, healthy nutrition, physical activity, and other health-promoting activities.
Immediately report and properly document incidents, accidents, injuries, allegations, medication concerns, resident complaints, safety issues, and other reportable events according to H.O.G.A.R., OMH, Justice Center, and other applicable requirements.
Fulfill all mandated-reporting obligations and comply with agency policies regarding abuse, neglect, mistreatment, exploitation, and significant incidents.
Maintain the confidentiality and security of resident information and records in accordance with agency policy and applicable federal and state requirements.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and conduct at all times when interacting with residents, families, staff, providers, and community members.
Participate in the orientation and training of newly hired staff when assigned.
Attend required trainings, conferences, meetings, educational seminars, in-service trainings, and competency-based instruction as required by H.O.G.A.R., OMH, or program leadership.
Maintain required CPR, First Aid, emergency-response, fire-safety, infection-control, and other required certifications or training as applicable to the position.
Perform duties in accordance with H.O.G.A.R. policies and procedures and applicable OMH, Medicaid, Justice Center, health and safety, and other regulatory requirements.
Work an assigned schedule that meets the operational needs of a 24-hour, seven-day-per-week residential program. Employees may be required to work evenings, overnight shifts, weekends, holidays, or provide coverage as necessary.
Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor, Program Director, or other authorized agency leadership.