Community Access, Inc. (CA), founded in 1974, is a progressive not-for-profit organization that expands opportunities for people living with mental health concerns to recover from trauma and discrimination through affordable housing, training, advocacy and healing-focused services. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives. Our programs are spread across 20 locations and include over 1200 units of supportive housing in three boroughs, the Howie The Harp Advocacy Center, the Art Collective, ThriveAtWork, Blueprint Supported Education, East Village Access—a PROS program, and a peer-driven Crisis Respite Center.
We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of
RESPITE WORKER
to work in our Crisis Respite Center, located in New York, NY.
There are multiple per-diem (scheduled as needed) openings.
Shifts are 12 hours and include evenings, overnights and weekends.
Pay rate is $16.34 per hour.
Program Overview:
The Crisis Respite Center (CRC), part of Parachute NYC, provides an innovative and unique “hospital diversion” model whereby persons seeking temporary residential respite care can stay in a warm, friendly, safe, and supportive home-like environment where they are taught to use new recovery and relapse prevention skills. This is achieved through 24-hour peer support, self-advocacy education, self-help training, and mutual understanding. The CRC offers people experiencing a psychosis-related crisis with a short-term (one day to two weeks) residential alternative that will allow individuals to maintain daily activities and connect with community-based services and supports, including primary care. The program will provide recovery oriented services incorporating Need Adapted Treatment and Intentional Peer Support. The CRC also operates a warm line providing peer counseling and referral services to individuals in emotional distress. Parachute NYC is an innovative CMS funded pilot project designed to support a continuum of community based services to individuals experiencing a psychosis related crisis, including specially trained mobile crisis teams and Crisis Respite Centers.
Position Overview:
The Crisis Respite Center is designed to promote self-determination and hope through peer delivered services and supports including: peer support, wellness education and skill building opportunities, identification and engagement in community-based resources including health care services. Respite Workers are responsible for assisting in the delivery of services and supports to Parachute NYC service recipients, primarily those residing in CA’s CRC. Respite Workers also serve as warm line operators. Peers are integral in supporting people during personal crisis, helping individuals learn how to view crises differently and how to use wellness tools to help decrease the intensity of or prevent future crises. A primary role of Respite Workers is to create a respite from extreme emotional distress through the promotion of a non-judgmental, supportive, friendly and engaging environment.
Qualifications:
Qualified candidates must have a minimum of high school diploma or equivalent (GED); experience as a service recipient in the mental health system and willingness to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully; graduate of core peer specialist training program, preferred; previous work experience in a behavioral health or related setting, preferably using the recovery model; resourceful and knowledgeable of community resource and services; must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center; a respect for, and high level of comfort around people experiencing psychiatric crisis; exceptional oral communication skills including empathic listening, and responding; ability to utilize critical thinking, problem-solving and de-escalation skills to assist with creating and maintaining an environment that promotes recovery; ability to set priorities and manage multiple and competing tasks; willingness and ability to participate in Parachute NYC Training including Need Adapted Treatment Model, Intentional Peer Support, Health Navigator and other required training; bilingual preferred.
Interested applicants should apply on http://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.
CA is committed to the hiring of at least 51% consumer staff, in all of its departments and programs, and at all levels of management.
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
None specified
MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED
High School
