Program Director

About the role

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, Home and Community Based 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.

The Program Director is responsible for making sure all elements of social practice are available to the membership in the program area and that all social practitioners have adequate support, training and supervision to provide effective quality services to Fountain House members. Social Practice is a specialized form of therapy that uses the setting of an intentional community to assist people in their mental health recovery. It focuses on a community-based approach of helping individuals learn new skills, hone their talents, build dignity, develop a sense of belonging, and make progress towards their goals. The International Standards for Clubhouse Programs, consensually agreed upon by the worldwide Clubhouse community, define the Clubhouse Model of rehabilitation. The principles expressed in these Standards are at the heart of the Clubhouse community’s success in helping people with mental illness to stay out of hospitals while achieving social, financial, educational and vocational goals. The Standards also serve as a “bill of rights” for members and a code of ethics for staff, board and administrators. The Standards insist that a Clubhouse is a place that offers respect and opportunity to its members. The Program Director embodies the values of the clubhouse model, demonstrating what we call our HERO characteristics: fierce optimism, professional curiosity, and a deeply communitarian approach to partnerships and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Perform all elements of Social Practice (member engagement, social design, relationship development, continuous assessment & therapeutic intervention, and management of transitional environments) with the membership.
• Support and develop a therapeutic community based on Social Practice and the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs.
• Supervise the other social practitioners in your program. Mentor, develop and support the other social practitioners throughout the organization.
• Responsible for the program’s budget