Residential Counselor - 2001518

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

25d•$23 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

The Residential Counselor implements the Community Residence or Permanent Housing Program by helping residents learn community living skills suited to their needs and documented in their comprehensive service plans, supporting their progress toward independent living. The role includes providing customer service, delivering and documenting services, and exercising sound judgment in crisis situations. The Residential Counselor provides case management, counseling, and skills instruction; helps residents set and evaluate goals; and develops and supports comprehensive service plans. The position coordinates and liaises with medical, psychiatric, dental, benefits, day-program, pharmaceutical, travel, emergency, financial, and legal services. It also supports the residential environment, resident activities, safety procedures, and applicable program and regulatory requirements. This is a full-time, non-exempt position in Staten Island, New York, reporting to the Program Director of Manager. The schedule may include flexible shifts, and the employee must be available for emergencies. The role involves working with residents who require consistent, comprehensive support, sometimes under stressful conditions, and includes local travel while escorting clients. Physical demands include ambulating, standing or sitting for extended periods, occasionally carrying or moving 10 pounds, using stairs, repositioning, assisting with daily living tasks, and using a computer.

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, both 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 communicate 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 residents with daily living tasks and local travel while escorting clients.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing security.

Responsibilities

Provide case management services to assigned residents and implement individual service plans to support rehabilitation goals.
Teach and support daily living and community skills through role modeling, guidance, training, assistance, and support, including grooming, dressing, meal preparation, medication routines, 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 services with them; provide ongoing counseling support as needed.
Draft comprehensive service plans, involve residents in plan discussions, and present information about residents’ recent functioning at meetings or conferences.
Coordinate and act as liaison for services identified in residents’ plans, including scheduling, follow-up, collaboration, and referrals.
Manage incidents, intervene to minimize risk, notify the program Manager, and document events using appropriate forms.
Coordinate resident care with agency staff and external service providers.
Attend meetings required by the Program or BOH Division, or as instructed by CCCS.
Help maintain the residential environment in keeping 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 into the community for medical, benefits, and other relevant appointments.
Conduct bedroom or apartment inspections according to program requirements.
Record significant building activities and information in the Communication Logbook.
Verify that building visitors provide identification and sign the Visitor Log.
Assist with monthly fire drills and plan and carry out recreational activities with residents.
Follow New York State Office of Mental Health regulations and program guidelines, as well as CCCS and BOH policies and procedures.
Perform other duties consistent with program goals and objectives as assigned by the Program Manager or Administration.