Residential Counselor - 2001539

Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York•New York, NY

25d•$23 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

The Residential Counselor implements a Community Residence or Permanent Housing Program by helping residents develop community-living skills suited to their needs and documented in their comprehensive service plans, supporting progress toward greater independence. The role includes providing customer service, delivering and documenting services, and exercising sound judgment when managing crises. The counselor provides case management, counseling, skills instruction, and support; helps residents set and evaluate goals; contributes to service plans; coordinates referrals and other services; and collaborates with agency staff and outside providers. The role also includes supporting residential operations, such as medication distribution when applicable, meal preparation when applicable, inspections, visitor procedures, fire drills, and recreational activities. The counselor follows program policies and applicable New York State Office of Mental Health regulations. This is a full-time, non-exempt position in Staten Island, New York. The schedule may involve flexible shifts, and the employee must be available for emergencies. Work includes assisting residents with daily living activities, local travel and escorts, and work under potentially stressful conditions. Physical demands include ambulating, standing or sitting for extended periods, occasionally carrying or moving 10 pounds, using stairs, repositioning, and performing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, packing, and laundry. The role involves exposure to routine cleaning products and household chemicals, and computer use approximately 20% of the time.

Requirements

High school diploma.
Experience relevant to helping individuals with serious mental illness or a similar population.
Good judgment and strong customer service skills.
Ability to manage time effectively and keep the program Manager well-informed.
Ability to learn CPR/First Aid and maintain certification.
Ability to work cooperatively and patiently with others, independently and as part of a team.
Willingness to work flexible hours and be available for emergencies.
Ability to remain calm and focused in emergencies; handle multiple tasks and shift between responsibilities.
Ability to use Foothold AWARDS and Microsoft Word effectively.
Ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely verbally and in writing.
Ability to work proactively, solve problems, and think critically and strategically.
Ability to respond effectively to crises and manage and minimize agency risk.
Ability to work effectively with others and demonstrate conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to assess and respond appropriately to situations, including de-escalating residents.
Ability to meet the physical and communication demands of the role, including assisting with daily living tasks and traveling locally with residents.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing security.

Responsibilities

Provide case management services to assigned residents.
Implement individual service plans to help residents achieve rehabilitation goals.
Provide instruction and support in service categories and daily living skills, including grooming, dressing, meal planning and preparation, medication, shopping, travel, budgeting, health care, and social and recreational skills.
Document services and interactions in residents’ case records and complete required documentation.
Discuss residents’ short- and long-term goals and evaluate the services they receive.
Provide counseling support as needed.
Draft comprehensive service plans, involve residents in plan discussions, and present information about residents’ functioning in meetings or conferences.
Coordinate services specified in residents’ plans, including scheduling, follow-up, collaboration, and referrals for medical, psychiatric, dental, benefits, day program, pharmaceutical, travel, emergency, financial, and legal needs.
Manage incidents, intervene to minimize risk of harm, notify the program Manager, and document events.
Coordinate residents’ care with agency staff and other service providers.
Attend required program, division, and agency meetings.
Help maintain the residential environment in line with program design and residents’ needs.
Where applicable, supervise medication distribution and track shift and weekly counts.
Where applicable, prepare meals, including setup, cooking, and cleanup.
Escort clients to medical, benefits, or other relevant appointments in the community.
Conduct bedroom or apartment inspections in accordance with program requirements.
Record significant building activities or information in the Communication Logbook.
Ensure visitors provide identification and sign in to the Visitor Log.
Assist with monthly fire drills.
Assist in planning and conducting recreational activities with residents.
Follow New York State Office of Mental Health regulations and program guidelines, as well as agency personnel and residential policies and procedures.
Perform other duties consistent with program goals and objectives as assigned by the Program Manager or Administration.