Harm Reduction Specialist (Baxter Safe Haven)

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: Goddard Riverside’s the Baxter provides transitional housing to 74 adults experiencing homelessness with the goal of permanent housing. On-site services include case management, entitlement assistance, medical and psychiatric care, substance use counseling, group activities, recreation, meals. and 24 hour/7 day per week front desk security.

Purpose of Position: Craft individualized services using a harm reduction model working with homeless adults experiencing mental health and alcohol/substance use issues. Develop and facilitate harm reduction groups for both staff and clients.

Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Salary Range: $52,024.22- $59,000

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.

• Provide counseling utilizing harm reduction, motivational interviewing, person centered, trauma informed care recovery models
• Develop individualized service plans for individuals motivated to change/reduce harmful behaviors
• Develop and facilitate harm reduction groups focusing on a variety of topics such as substance use and safe sex
• Engage hard to reach or resistant clients
• Responsible for assessments, psycho-socials, service plans and progress notes
• Provide case management to a group of assigned clients; identify short and long-term treatment goals and help clients achieve them, including linkages to community programs such as medical, psychiatric and drug treatment services
• Collaborate with on-site medical and psychiatric providers to ensure consistency, continuity and quality of services
• Networking with community health care providers to coordinate care and provide appropriate referrals
• Providing crisis intervention as needed.
• Work as part of an inter disciplinary team to promote wellness and help clients obtain stable permanent housing
• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, training programs and supervision meetings
• Complete all required paperwork, data collection and tracking as needed
• Maintain an active resource directory

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• Bachelors’ Degree Required
• Experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness, substance use and/or co-occurring disorders preferred
• Experience with providing services to the homeless preferred
• Experience with homeless outreach, transitional or supportive housing a plus
• Bi-lingual in Spanish and English preferred.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Organized and detailed oriented regarding case documentation
• Understanding of harm reduction model, motivational interviewing, trauma informed care, and other best practices

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

• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook and Excel
• Able to use or learn computer databases such as CARES

Physical Requirements

• Some walking and travel to escort clients to various appointments throughout the city
• Occasional visits to hospitals or treatment programs

Work Environment

• Mostly indoor office
• Occasional visits to hospitals or treatment programs
• Regular visits to client living spaces also required

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.