Mental Health Social Practitioner

At Fountain House, we believe in the power of community to transform the lives of individuals with serious mental illness. Every day, thousands of members choose to come to Fountain House to contribute their talents, learn new skills, access opportunities, and form friendships. Members and staff operate successful employment, education, wellness programs and work as partners to perform all the functions that keep our community going. The Fountain House model has been replicated in more than 300 locations in 30 countries and 32 states and currently serves more than 100,000 people with mental illness worldwide. As originators of this approach, we provide leadership by constantly advancing the practice and by leading the conversation around mental health recovery. As a result, Fountain House has created a comprehensive Community System of Care. This includes Clubhouses in Manhattan, the Bronx, Hollywood, California and Care Management, Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment Services and a large housing program ranging from 24-hour supervised residences to scattered site supported apartments. We are committed to reducing social isolation, advocating for mental health policy change, and driving solutions that empower our members.

Virtual Access is a resource center and is responsible for maintaining the virtual activities at Fountain House. Fountain House recognizes that a hybrid model (the combination of in-person and virtual) offers greater flexibility in accessing clubhouse programming. Fountain House members are free to choose how to participate in our programming whether in person only, both virtually and in-person (hybrid), or virtually only. Virtual meetings are offered through Zoom.

Monday to Friday;9am to 5pm

$30.58 per hour

In the Virtual Access Resource Center, members and staff work together in:

• Providing virtual and in-person tutoring, known as Digital Literacy Support, to members for using cell phones, tablets, and computers
• Hosting daily Vpro virtual meetings (Virtual New Member Orientation, Virtual Lunch, Digital Literacy support)
• Maintaining accurate virtual attendance recording
• Welcoming new members virtually
• Helping members and staff use and manage Slack, Zoom, FH Daily calendar
• Ongoing identifying and developing best practices for virtual program and access needs

Member Support & Advocacy (55%)??

• Perform member engagement, social design, relationship development, continuous assessment and therapeutic intervention and management of transitional environments with the Fountain House membership.?
• Support and develop a therapeutic community based on Social Practice and the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs.?
• Utilize the community to design positive interventions to deal with common barriers such as social isolation, poor self-esteem, anxiety, symptom management, and poverty.??
• Create access to environments outside of Fountain House not traditionally therapeutically oriented, to build general skills, a sense of confidence, and to support members' self-efficacy. This includes the provision of on-site support in employment, education, and housing environments outside of Fountain House.
• Develop relationships with Fountain House members and the community as a whole that can be leveraged to provide support for positive change and risk-taking, combat social isolation and increase meaningful connections, and introduce members to new opportunities.??
• Engineer various environments and social interactions to create therapeutic results and develop an accessible positive community.??
• Observe and assess experiences with members in a variety of naturalistic environments in order to create specific interventions for individuals' rehabilitation.??
• Provide daily advocacy and engagement with Clubhouse members to help gain self-worth, purpose of confidence, while offering guidance for appropriate problem-solving techniques.??
• Provide counsel for members, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.??

Support Development of Training & Entitlements (45%)?

• Provide training support (vocational training) for transitional employment opportunities and maintain strong relationships with employers for job opportunity developments.??
• Support and fill-in for members in their Transitional Employment (TE) opportunities, if/when needed.?
• Assist members with entitlements and benefits; food stamps, SSI/SSDI, Medicaid/Medicare and ticket to Work/ACE/Access VR, Supplemental Need Trusts, & ADA accommodations.??
• Facilitates supported housing applications (2010E), Single Point of Access applications and work to find appropriate housing; assist members with physical moves into housing units.?
• Advocates for members well-being, safety, and livelihood with supports around clinical, legal, housing, appointments, medications, and independent living opportunities.?
• Acquire proficiency in skills and tasks of the (unit) you are assigned. This may include safety protocols, health guidelines, inventory lists, how to guides, etc.?
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to members' progress.?
• Complete all documentation including but not limited to progress notes and reach out documentation on time.
• Maintain compliance with all government agency requirements, company policies and procedures.?
• Periodic overnight travel to High Point Farm, work some holidays including Thanksgiving, some weekend and evening hours.?
• Flexibility with staying late or arriving early, if necessary, to fulfill unit or member needs, and interchangeability with other staff on the unit.?
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.?

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• 1-3+ years' experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and or/hands on experience working in a community setting preferred.
• 1-2 years coaching and counseling experience preferred.
• 1-2 years of vocational rehabilitation, training or employment specialist experience preferred.
• Ability to effectively manage and h member concerns and behaviors.
• Proven experience with mental health crisis management by supporting and counseling members under emotional distress.

REQUIRED AND PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND CREDENTIALS

• An Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience required.
• Graduate degree or equivalent preferred.
• 1-2 years' experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and or/hands on experience working in a community setting preferred.
• Driver's License and the ability to drive a van preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• To perform the essential job functions consistently safely and successfully with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards.