Crisis Intervention Specialist

Crisis Intervention Specialist

Location: Bay Shore and Brentwood, NY

Reports To: Campus Support Team Supervisor

Department: LI Residential CST

Schedule: Full-Time / Onsite

$1,000 Hiring Incentive

Agency Background: MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human and social service agency that has been serving children and families in need since it was founded by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de las Misericordia in 1894. Today our agency continues to address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions. We provide community-based prevention and family foster care services, group homes in the community for struggling children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and short-term residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Each year, MercyFirst helps more than 3,000 children, teenagers and families overcome enormous obstacles, re-imagine their futures, and develop their full potential.

Program Background: Enhanced Hard-to-Place (HTP) Group Home program, providing specialized residential services to adolescents, between the ages of 13 to 18, in 2 gender-specific homes, with a maximum capacity of 8 in each house. The group home offers community-based, home-like atmosphere while providing a structured and therapeutic environment to meet the residents' needs. The program is designed for individuals with a history of behavioral difficulties that cannot be successfully maintained in their family home setting, a history of multiple unsuccessful placements, as well as victims of abuse/maltreatment and trauma. The program provides individual, group, and family therapy with 24-hour supervision within a highly structured therapeutic milieu.

Position Summary: Under the supervision of the Enhanced Support Team Supervisor, the Crisis Intervention Specialist supervises clients, provides a safe and secure environment and applies agency-approved methods of behavior modification including the point system, verbal de-escalation techniques, and physical intervention if needed. Shifts assigned may vary and change according to Agency needs.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent or a Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• If no Bachelor's degree, 1+ years experience in residential care with children and / or adolescents.
• Must have and maintain a valid NYS Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain a safe and secure environment for clients on campus and in group settings.
• Respond to crises.
• Assess situation and make determinations of safest alternative according to TCI protocol.
• Use verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Use safe and approved physical interventions, when necessary.
• Communicate with AOD.
• Demonstrate knowledge of human development stages.
• Report behaviors believed to be symptomatic or emotional, physical, or psychological disturbances.
• Document clients' behaviors and activities in CST/group home log.
• Complete critical incident reports.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Complete CFTSS documentation for individual and group sessions.

Benefits/Perks:

• A comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family (fulltime required)
• 403B retirement benefits
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, personal, 12 paid holidays for fulltime employees, sick leave based on hours worked)
• Free employee assistance program through National EAP
• Insurance discounts for our staff and their families
• Trainings to support professional and personal development
• Employee wellness program
• Employee recognition activities

Hourly Rate: $24.00/Hour Hiring Incentive of $1,000 after 500 worked hours. MercyFirst is an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer who welcomes prospective employees from diverse backgrounds for all levels at the agency. We strive for a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve, and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age (18 and over), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, marital status, partnership status, care giver status, pregnancy, genetic information or predisposition or genetic characteristic, unemployment status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, consumer credit history, or any other status protected by federal, state, and/or city law. This includes, but is not limited to, employment actions against and treatment of employees and applicants for employment.