Restorative Housing Mental Health Residential Specialist

Restorative Housing Mental Health Residential Specialist Job Description:

Established in 1948, the Mission of ASCEND Mental Wellness is to encourage and assist individuals in discovering pathways to their optimal mental health and wellness, while supporting hope and awareness of well-being in our community.

ASCEND is seeking Restorative Housing Mental Health Residential Specialists to provide support using a psychiatric rehabilitation approach to adults in a residential treatment program.

Genesis & Pearl Street

Genesis and Pearl Street residences offer a group home environment which provides a high level of support for people in the earliest stages of recovery. The overall goal is to provide short-term, focused skill development in a home-like setting.

The first step in treatment is defining and developing a rehabilitation plan which aids a person's movement to the next stage in their recovery. This individualized, highly detailed plan clarifies needs, charts a course of action and provides the framework to evaluate progress. Services available to residents include crisis intervention, rehabilitation counseling, social and living skills development (money management, personal hygiene, food preparation, meal planning, recreation activities, etc.), symptom and medication management, community integration and resource development. On duty around the clock staff work closely with each resident to maximize stability and help in the transition to a less restrictive environment. Longer term assistance is available for people with problems preventing them from living outside a group setting.

Community Living Apartments

The Community Living Apartments Program offers two types of living arrangements: Maple Street and Satellite apartments. Both include support and guidance through individualized service plans created in partnership with the service recipient.

Services are a continuation and expansion of those services provided in the Community Residences and carry the ultimate goal of achieving an independent, successful life for each resident. Residents learn more about managing symptoms through medication and therapy, improving daily living skills, pursuing educations, vocational and employment goals, solving transportation needs, and increasing their comfort with broader social interaction. Staff meet with recipients from one to seven days each week to provide direct services and supportive counseling.

Maple Street is a single-site apartment building with nine units and 24 hour staffing. Residents maintain separate addresses and telephone numbers, and take responsibility for the upkeep of their living space.

Full-time positions offer a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, and vision insurance, 11 paid
holidays, 2 floating holidays, vacation, sick/personal time, and 401(k).

Restorative Housing Mental Health Residential Specialist Qualifications:

• One year of human services experience (mental health or social services setting).
• High School Diploma or GED required. Associate's Degree preferred.
• Valid NYS Driver's License required.

Restorative Housing Mental Health Residential Specialist Responsibilities include, but not limited to, the following:

• Develop individual service plans with assigned residents, coordinate with other care providers (i.e. - day program, medical and mental health providers).
• Work with the resident's families as appropriate.
• Help establish a pleasant, functional atmosphere within the residence, provide unobtrusive leadership as needed for house meetings, support, advice, and supervise resident's daily living activities (housework, menus, shopping, hygiene, medication, budgeting, etc.),develop and implement specific programs in living skills for residents as indicated.
• Encourage effective communication, personal and interpersonal awareness and independence among staff and residents.
• Instruct residents in the use of house equipment, safety procedures and routines.
• Assist residents with community integration (i.e.- programs, services, entertainment, socialization, etc.).
• Provide informal case management services and counseling to residents as needed.
• Be attentive to the residence and its functioning, make small repairs as needed and inform supervisor of larger maintenance issues.
• Implement fire drills and report safety concerns to supervisor immediately.
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings and required in-service trainings.
• Assist supervisor with statistical reporting, collection of fees. Provide documentation for all financial transactions as required by supervisor.
• Act as On Call as scheduled.
• Facilitate discharge/transition of residents and provide follow up services to them.
• Provide behavioral intervention when necessary and work with residents to utilize self-control/improved coping skills in de-escalation.

ASCEND Mental Wellness provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.