Case Manager/Vocational Specialist

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families.

Program Description: The Young Adult Assertive Community Treatment Team is a unique and nontraditional licensed outpatient psychiatric clinic for individuals, 18-25 years old with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who have demonstrated a high service need with multiple hospitalizations, emergency room visits and difficulty maintaining stability in the community. ACT is a nationally recognized model and an evidence-based practice. The ACT Team serves all of Manhattan and occasionally the outer boroughs.

Position Summary: The Case Manager/Vocational Specialist is responsible for providing counseling, case management services, vocational rehabilitation and daily support to the ACT clients. The case manager is part of a multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive psycho-social services designed to improve or maintain client’s ability to function in the community.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 35 hours per week

Salary Range: $45,000.00 - $55,000.00

Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account. 

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties

1. Provide case management services 

• Carry a caseload of ACT clients
• Perform client assessments and formulate treatment goals
• Facilitate client participation in entitlement programs, psychiatric services, medication management, rehabilitation and other activities
• Refer clients to community health services
• Accompany clients to appointments as needed
• Communicate regularly with clients’ families about their needs and progress
• Serve as liaison to other service providers
• Maintain up-to-date client case records according to program guidelines
• Visit clients in residential facilities, on the street and in other locations
• Rotate on-call service after outside work hours

2. Serve as Vocational Specialist 

• Counsel clients in developing vocational goals
• Develop vocational and employment resources for the purpose of vocational skills’ development and generating competitive employment opportunities
• Assist in preparing clients for the transition to vocational/employment opportunities
• Provide employment retention services for employed clients

3. Participate as an ACT team member 

• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, and training programs to upgrade skills and knowledge
• Attend supervision meetings to review client progress and case management strategies
• Work collaboratively with ACT team staff in a team case management model

4. Other duties as required 

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required

• Experience working with the seriously and persistently mentally ill population preferred
• One year of training and/or experience in vocational assessment, job exploration, and skills development in choosing, securing, and maintaining employment, employment counseling or vocational rehabilitation preferred
• Knowledge of models of supported employment/Individual Placement and Support (IPS) preferred
• Ability to speak Spanish, French, Creole, American Sign Language or other languages is a plus

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have/be:

• Able to work in the Microsoft Office Suite, should especially be proficient in Word and Outlook
• Able to use or learn to use AWARDS database
• Able to use or learn other electronic databases, programs, and funder-related software as needed
• Working knowledge of Google applications

Physical Requirements

• Walking; climbing stairs occasionally

Work Environment

• Field & office work

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace community grounded in respect for differences. We support hiring a broadly diverse team of qualified individuals who will contribute to our organizations.

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.