Assistant Program Director - Mental Health Crisis Respite

Job Description

Founded in 1974, Community Access continues to uphold and operate as a pioneer of supportive housing and social services in NYC for people with mental health concerns. We proudly lead advocacy efforts that rally our community to promote human rights, social justice, and economic opportunities for all. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives. Our programs are spread across 25 locations and include over 1200 units of supportive housing in three boroughs, the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, Peer-driven Crisis Respite Center, Adult Home Initiative, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and the Intensive Mobile Team (IMT).

Program Description:

The Residential Crisis Support program (RCS) is a Peer support focused alternative to psychiatric hospitalization offering short-term respite care in a home-like environment. Guests are provided with the opportunity to learn and use recovery skills to ameliorate their current psychiatric crisis and more effectively cope with future distress. Person-centered wellness services are provided 24-hours and include Peer support, self-advocacy education, and self-help training. The RCS offers people experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis a maximum of 28 days at the program, while supporting individuals to maintain their established daily activities such as visiting with friends, attending a doctor’s appointment, or going to work and school.

Overview

The Assistant Program Director (APD) is responsible for supporting the Program Director in the overall administration and the day-to-day operation of the RCS. This includes leadership and supervision, policy and procedure development, staff recruitment, training and evaluation, management of the physical site, quality assurance and quality improvement activities, internal and external reporting and billing, and on-call responsibilities.

Qualifications

Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.

Preferably three (3) years, minimum 1 year management experience working in a social service or related setting, with people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities and people struggling with substance use, preferred.

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field.

Strong administrative and organizational skills.

A respect for, and high level of comfort around people experiencing psychiatric crisis.

Knowledge of and commitment to Peer support, recovery-oriented practice, trauma-informed care, and related approaches to supporting individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the NYS Justice Center.

Ability to utilize critical thinking, problem-solving and de-escalation skills to assist with creating and maintaining an environment that promotes recovery.

Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to work as part of a team.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Ability to utilize various cloud-based data-management systems and MS Office programs.

Be creative and flexible.

Show initiative and be responsible for follow through.

Ability to maintain confidential information, as related to position.

Ability to walk up several flights of stairs.

Ability to work in the field (using public transportation).

Bilingual, preferred.

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should apply on

Community Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V.

Women, People of Color and Members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are dedicated to a workforce where at least 51% of our employees identify as having a personal experience using mental health services.

Full-time