Respite Worker - PD

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).

Department Overview

The Residential Crisis Support Program Respite Center (CRC) is a Community Access Health Division program. The CRC is an alternative to hospitalization program offering short-term

respite care in a friendly and supportive home-like environment. Guests are provided with the opportunity to learn and use recovery and relapse prevention skills to ameliorate their current

psychiatric crisis and to provide more effective tools to cope with future crises and avoid hospital-based care. Recovery-oriented services are provided 24-hour and day and include peer support,

self-advocacy education and self-help training. The Residential Crisis Support Program offers people experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis an up to 28 days residential alternative

while supporting individuals in continuing their established daily activities such as visiting with friends, attending a doctor's appointment or going to work.

Position Overview

The Per Diem Respite Worker is responsible for all tasks related to the Respite daily operation during shift hours including providing services and support to CRC guests. Some

responsibilities of the Respite Worker are to develop partnerships with guests experiencing crisis utilizing trauma-informed, recovery-oriented intentional peer support and promotes the

provision of a comfortable, secure, and trusting environment where guests are listened to and respected by staff. Respite Workers are skilled with the mental health system with a focus on

guest's personal recovery process. This helps to create a sense of community through the mutual sharing of lived experiences and offering encouragement and support to participate in daily

activities within the RCS community.

Qualifications

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent (GED), Bachelors degree preferred.
• Graduate of core peer specialist training program
• And / or willingness to participate in / successful completion of all required training, with ability to integrate skills, knowledge and approach into work with guests
• Acquisition of NYS Peer Certification, at least at Provisional level within 90days of hire (preferably attained) with a commitment to achieve permanent certification within one year of hire.
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the Office of Mental Health (OMH).

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should apply on www.communityaccess.org / jobs.

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. www.communityaccess.org