Residence Counselor – 441 Residence
Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Fountain House’s housing program provides a sense of safety and stability, ensuring that (individuals living with mental illness(es) our “members” remain housed; establish a safe space for recovery; develop independent living skills; increase their self-sufficiency and build a strong foundation from which they can achieve their life goals. 

Our Residential Counselors (RC) will provide exemplary care and support to our member residents. We strive to create a safe, caring, and collaborative community where our members will thrive and achieve their goals by providing support to members’ daily lives. 


Shift:  Sunday to Thursday 8am - 4pm

Hourly Rate: $22.36

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Member Support

  • Engage and support members with apartment maintenance and cleanliness, training in necessary tasks for the upkeep of the residence environment and personal well-being of resident members
  • Participate in an integrated care team providing feedback, advocacy and support to FH clinical staff, case management support staff, vocational staff, and social practitioners 
  • Assist members with all aspects of community support services and case management work (including housing and entitlements, clinical linkage, and follow-up, etc.) 
  • Support a caseload between three- four members-member’s list assignment is up to four depending on census
  • Complete weekly progress notes for each assigned member in accordance with the guidelines of the Office of Mental Health (OMH)
  •  Develop Service Plans and complete Service Plan Reviews every 3-months for each assigned member in accordance with the guidelines Office of Mental Health (OMH)
  • Observe the self-administration of member’s medication and document on the medication monitoring sheets 
  • Accompany members with medical appointments, clubhouse visits, and community engagements
  • Oversee and assist members with activities of daily life skills (ADL) that includes cleaning, proper hygiene, medication management skills, money management, fire safety, cooking, etc.
  • Conduct rounds to ensure safeguards are in place throughout residential space, for member safety 
  • De-escalate potential member crises and alert supervisor of ongoing issues when necessary
  • Liaise with social practitioners to encourage consistent unit attendance for positive social wellbeing
  • Create problem-solving strategies to address member crises

Building Safety & Maintenance

  • Conduct rounds to ensure safeguards are in place throughout residential space, for member safety 
  • Request work orders for building maintenance that adhere to city and state guidelines, including fire safety drills, and keeping maintenance logs  

General Duties

  • Transport members to community activities or medical appointments per request
  • Responsible for reception duties of the residence including answering the phones, scheduling, and taking accurate messages 
  • Attend staff meetings and professional development training as required 
  • Other duties may be assigned as needed 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and keeping member confidentiality
  • Excellent communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with external providers such as physicians, social security, and Medicaid providers
  • Proven writing skills for accurate documentation and progress notes
  • Excellent computer and software proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel, and Outlook) required
  • Experience with AWARDS database (EHR) for progress notes and documentation preferred
  • Must be able to work under pressure during a crisis
  • Able to meet deadlines for documentation and any other necessary duties
  • Must be able to work independently, multitask and conduct assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices
  • Positive, energetic, dynamic, and engaging demeanor is essential
  • Experience and capacity to work with members experiencing mental health issues

REQUIRED EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND CREDENTIALS

  • Undergraduate degree required or an equivalent work experience and training in similar settings required 
  • 1-3+ years’ work experience in a residential, housing, or similar setting required 
  • Provide exceptional ongoing support and member confidentiality 
  • Flexible and able to work any residential shift, including evenings and weekends, as needed 
  • Valid Driver’s License highly preferred, not required 
  • Must obtain staff exclusion list (SEL), statewide central registry (SCR) and criminal background check (CBC) clearance