Position: Crisis Intervention Specialist

Location: Cortelyou Rd Supportive Housing Program/Health Housing & Homelessness Solutions

Hours: Full Time - 35 hours per week - Ability to work until 8 pm, twice a week and rotating weekends

Salary range: $55,000-60,000

Reports to: Assistant Program Director

Position Summary: Founded in 1866, Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) empowers children and families to reach their full potential, strengthen families, and foster self-sufficiency in adults. With programs in 40 locations, BCS serves more than 20,000 individuals a year.

1921 Cortelyou is a 46 unit supportive housing program located in Flatbush Brooklyn. The Program specifically services young adults 18-25 years old with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness and have a chronic history of being unhoused. Most of the young adults living at 1921 Cortelyou are members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Program offers a safe and affirming living environment and supportive services to help our young adults to move towards long term stability. This Program is under the NY/NY 15 population C agreement and funding is being provided through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Position Summary:

The crisis intervention specialist will respond to situations where stress, depression, or any other mental health issue may create a personal crisis including but not limited to the following: suicidal thoughts, emotional trauma, serious mental illness, anxiety, housing crisis .models the best practices of hospitality and positive culture and work enthusiastically as part of a team.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct routine behavioral risk assessments and safety plans

• De-escalate high risk behaviors that may be creating an unsafe environment for a client or others around them.

• Provide guidance to clients in dealing with housing-related issues

• Recommend appropriate Person-Centered interventions strategies.

• Provide routine follow-up.

• Provide supportive counseling and motivational interviewing on a short term basis

• Provide crisis management support as necessary.

• Facilitate one-on-one sessions and groups.

• Participate in clinical team meetings

• Make referrals for clients and linkages

• Complete psychosocial assessments for 2010e applications.

• Create Wellness Self-Management Services Plans

• Serve as an advocate and liaison for person in crisis

• Complete documentation in a timely manner in Apricot database

• Emergency On-call rotation with Program Director and Assistant Program

• Follow-up on hospital admissions and discharges

• Attend staff meetings and trainings as required by Assistant Program Director

• Other tasks, as may be required

Qualifications Required:

• Master's in counseling, psychology, public administration or mental health required, MSW/LMSW preferred

• Experience working with individuals with mental illness and substance abuse, preferably with homeless adults and at-risk populations. Experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community strongly preferred

• Strong communication and organizational skills; great attention to detail

• Proven ability to work with a range of people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances

• Maintain client and staff confidentiality

• Comfortable providing services in BCS office and tenant’s apartments

• Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, Gmail, etc.)

• Ability to work until 8 pm, twice a week and rotating weekends

• Previous work experience in a social service agency or non-profit organization

• Interest in working with underserved populations.

• Familiarity with electronic data records systems

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred

• BCS and Turning Point require that all employees entering the workplace be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless an exemption is granted as a medical or religious accommodation

BCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.