RHY Case Manager

As a member of a multidisciplinary team, the Runaway Homeless Youth (RHY) Case Manager is responsible for providing a full array of counseling, case management, advocacy, and group work services to residents of the Foyer, an innovative 40-bed residential and vocational program for young adults who are preparing to transition to living on their own once gaining job training, employment, and educational and life-skills competencies.

Reports to: Social Work Supervisor, The Chelsea Foyer

Location: 202 West 24^th Street, New York, NY 10011

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Non- Exempt

Major Duties:

• Oversee the diverse case management needs of approximately 12 young people experiencing homelessness funded through DYCD/RHY.
• Provide direct service, including individual counseling to residents a minimum of twice a month on site.
• Work with residents to develop and implement individualized action plans and goals based upon the specific service needs of the resident.
• Identify appropriate resources to assist young people on their journey to living independently.
• Ensure that residents are meeting the expectations of their contract and support them as they develop life and work skills.
• Responsible for assisting residents develop healthy and appropriate recreational and social skills, budget management, etc.
• Be available to escort residents to appointments pertaining to the action plan, i.e. housing, employment, education, health.
• Ensure residents compliance with all program policies and procedures.
• Diffuse potential crisis situations and take appropriate action in resolving crises.
• Assist young people with developing family or any other permanent connection with caring adults.
• Provide advocacy and assistance in making referrals to entitlements, legal assistance, providers for educational, vocational, medical, and mental health services as needed.
• Participate in regularly scheduled program fire drills. This requires having to climb five flights of stairs to ensure the evacuation of all 40 units and shared spaces.
• While on shift alone, or with other staff, be able to work through emergencies, which place the participants and other staff members at risk. Such emergencies include but are not limited to fires, gas leaks, earthquakes, power loss, city wide emergencies, etc. This work includes communicating with security, staff and residents what the emergency is and what actions need to be taken. Evacuating all 5 residential floors (40 units total) including the shared spaces on the main floor and the cellar. Assisting security with identifying that all participants and staff have been evacuated to the proper emergency meeting points.
• Be able to work shifts by oneself as scheduled on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Work with security staff to ensure that only appropriate visitors remain in the residence during designated visiting hours assuring the safety of residents.
• Responsible for keeping progress notes as well as keeping appropriate case records and maintaining accountability to RHY and other government funding sources. This involves completing progress notes on the program database ETO (Efforts to Outcomes) as well as any RHY specific documentation in a timely manner on the Capricorn database, or other such city databases, as well as additional specific documentation in a timely manner.
• Responsible for collaborating with program staff and staff from the various programs in which the residents participate in or are referred to.
• Participate in casework, supervisory, staff meetings, and suggested trainings.
• Represent the program and organization in external meetings that would provide resources, opportunities to network with other providers, etc.
• Responsible for the intake process for future RHY residents, which would include interviewing and providing orientation to RHY youth applying to the Foyer on a regular basis.
• Responsible for providing aftercare services for three months to all RHY residents moving on from the Foyer, including monthly contact by phone and/or in person.
• Participates in meeting with DYCD contract manager when site visits are conducted and provides information, and/or feedback for follow up if a corrective action plan is necessary.
• Encourage and advance the use of the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment.
• Other duties as specified.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree Required. Two years of successful experience providing residential services to at-risk youth (including LGBTQ) in areas of assessments, individual and group counseling and development and implementation of ISPs.
• History of successful collaboration with other community-based agencies and organizations to enhance services for vulnerable youth, as well as experience working with City systems.
• Flexible hours to insure access and availability. Some weekends and evenings.
• Must have a clear understanding of the needs of young adults experiencing homelessness and a sensitivity to ethnic and cultural differences, and an understanding of the needs of the LGBTQ community.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength based, youth and family development and trauma informed perspective.
• Excellent crisis intervention, advocacy and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and advocate on behalf of residents.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills to maintain required documentation.
• Must be able to provide first aid.

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success. At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference!

General Requirements: All staff are expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of Good Shepherd Services, which includes involvement in quality improvement activities and a willingness and ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.