Director Social Services

About the role

The Barbara Kleiman Men’s Shelter is a 200-bed, 24/7 emergency shelter for homeless men. It serves both individuals diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance use disorders (130) and individuals who are employed/seeking employment (70).

Responsibilities

• Supervises a multi-talented social services staff of a Clinical Coordinator, Team Leaders, Housing Coordinators, Case Managers, and Recreation Specialists in providing services to the clients, ensuring that all DHS/OTDA and Project Renewal protocols are being followed, and that the Statement of Rights/Responsibilities as well as any other required documents are being given to each client
• Coordinates all clinical aspects of the social services department through collaboration with staff in the Medical and Psychiatric Departments; Ensures that linkages and coordination of services are being done by staff and properly documented
• Makes sure the staffs’ timely completion of all client intake processes, assessments, psycho-socials, progress notes, referrals and independent living plans
• Acts as a primary Liaison to the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) regarding clinical issues
• Collaborates with the Program Director to develop and implement policies and procedures to comply with requirements from the Department of Homeless Services (DHS)
• Conducts chart reviews, physical charts as well as data in external database, DHS-CARES
• Facilitates the clients’ weekly case conferences, partners for permanency meetings, and community meetings
• Fosters staff development by conducting team and individual supervisory sessions; As needed, provides in-service education for all levels of shelter staff
• Develops and trains staff in protocols to be followed in clinical emergencies
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Program Director
• Available to respond to emergencies on a 24/7/365 basis, especially after normal work hours, weekends, and holidays

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work, public administration, psychology, education, sociology, occupational or physical therapy, or other related human services fields with a minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience working with mentally ill individuals and/or homeless individuals with either a diagnosis of mental illness and/or a substance use disorder or managing a residential building providing services to homeless individuals
• One (1) year of the required experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity

Qualifications

• Bilingual or multilingual a plus

Skills

• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate staff to accomplish stated program goals and objectives while developing their individual and group skills
• Team building: Ability to develop and foster, through demonstration, a team spirit, enabling staff to overcome the challenges of providing services needed to a special client population
• Communication: Excellent oral, writing, and listening skills are necessary
• Organizational: The ability to work well within a highly pressurized, deadline environment, while meeting the short- and long-term mandates of the program. Must collaborate with our Performance Evaluation and Quality Assurance Department (PEQA) and develop/ exhibit the ability to independently evaluate and manage program performance using data
• Interpersonal: An ability to interface with clients and all staff levels
• Computer: Knowledge of case management software as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Benefits

Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer. Its long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, gender (see separately issued Gender Discrimination policy for more detail), physical or mental disability, age (18 and over), military status, arrest record, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.