Family Counselor - Full-time; 4413-606-N

For over 125 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been providing quality social services to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens and currently offers 160-plus programs and services for children, youth, adults, seniors, and those struggling with mental illness.

The CCNS Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team is a multi-disciplinary team that delivers comprehensive and effective services to individuals who are diagnosed with severe mental illness and whose needs have not been well met by more traditional service delivery approaches.

Treatment and services are delivered to individuals in their home and community. ACT is an evidence-based practice and provides an integrated set of other evidence-based treatment, rehabilitation, case management, and support services delivered by this mobile, multi-disciplinary mental health treatment team.

Statement of the Job

As a member of the CCNS ACT Team, the Family Counselor will provide intensive in-home and community-based services to individuals living with severe mental illness, who have a treatment history characterized by frequent use of psychiatric hospitalization and emergency rooms, involvement with the criminal justice system, alcohol/substance abuse, and lack of engagement in traditional outpatient services.

Under the supervision of the Clinical Director, the Family Counselor will utilize a person-centered planning process to provide rehabilitation, case management and support services to individuals served by the ACT Team.

The Family Counselor will lead the team in integrating family goals and services with the tasks of all team members. This person will provide family psycho-education individually and in groups.

The Family Counselor will conduct assertive outreach and engagement, use motivational interviewing and recovery and trauma-informed approaches when working with individuals served by the ACT team.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work collaboratively with ACT team members and function as a vital part of an interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary community-based treatment team.

Responsible for providing services to clients in their home environment, community settings, provider offices and additional locations as needed.

Responsible for providing direct support services to clients with psychiatric diagnoses, co-occurring substance use, chronic physical health problems and complex social needs.

Assess and provide direct services to participants in the following areas: health and wellness, housing, income support, education, vocational training, employment and social supports, medication support.

• Provide services in developing social connections and strengthening family and other relationships.
• Provide psychoeducational services such as information/education on mental illness diagnoses and treatment to families while facilitating communication skills and problem solving.
• Teach coping skills to families and enlist family support in a client’s recovery.
• Coordinate with child welfare and family agencies.
• Conduct wellness self-management with a focus on the development of coping skills.
• Complete the ACT Comprehensive Assessment, leading the family and trauma components of the assessment.

Utilize involvement of family and/or other supports in treatment. Act as an advocate and liaison on behalf of individual receiving services.

Responsible for integrating family goals with the tasks of all team members.

Develops wellness interventions, trauma-focused care, family involvement, collateral contact, support with children and families.

Identify services individuals should receive based on assessment of history, current relationships and supports, and immediate needs; recommend treatment objectives for the individual’s service plan.

Participates in daily treatment review meetings, leading the discussions around family issues and incorporating findings into service plans.

Coordinates care and develops comprehensive service plans and 6-month service plan reviews in collaboration with individuals, families and natural supports, housing, providers, hospitals, shelter staff, criminal justice personnel, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), and any additional community partners to promote attainment of treatment and recovery goals.

• Use motivational interviewing, recovery and trauma-informed approaches when delivering services.
• Meet monthly required levels of treatment contacts with at least 80% of contacts occurring in the community.

Complete and signs progress notes, assessments, care plans, incident reports, and other required documentation in accordance to the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) regulations, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) guidelines, and Medicaid billing standards and regulations.

Provide on-site crisis assessment and management of clients during regular work hours, both on-site and over the phone.

Provide 24/7 on-call crisis intervention on-call services on rotating basis.

Specifications for Education/Certifications/Licenses

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field.
• Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with current NYS License.

Specifications for Experience and Training

At least one year of experience and/or training in family assessment and intervention, psycho-education and/or other family support services, including cognitive-behavioral strategies.

Experience working in human services with individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.

Knowledge of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), community integrated treatment, support services, and resources.

• Time management, organizational, and computer skills.
• Eligible for full and unconditional participation in the Medicaid and Medicare programs.
• Knowledgeable in understanding various evidence-based models and theories pertaining to psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and recovery-oriented practices.
• Understanding of family systems based on diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Bilingual Spanish/English speaking preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft office applications, including Excel.

Specifications for Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to talk, hear, walk, stand, & sit.
• Able to lift up to 10 pounds.
• Able to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, & office equipment.
• Frequent sitting to write reports.
• Able to read printed materials and computer screens.
• Able to travel to multiple locations as needed.
• Able to work flexible hours and days – including weekends/evenings/holidays according to needs of program.

Benefits

• We offer competitive salary and excellent benefits including:
• Generous time off (Vacation/ Personal Days/ Sick Days/ Paid Holidays annually)
• Medical,
• Dental
• Vision
• Retirement Savings with Agency Match
• Transit
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life insurance

Public Loan Forgiveness Qualified Employer

• Training Series and other additional voluntary benefits.
• For more information on our organization, please visit our website at:

ccbq.org EOE/AA.