Apartment Counselor-B4532801

Under the supervision of the Program Administrative Supervisors – The Apartment Counselor will perform a wide variety of tasks related to the care, nurturing, treatment, education, socialization, habilitation, recovery/healing, safety, security, and support of adults diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse disorder.

These tasks focus on supporting, instructing, and assisting residents to develop the skills needed to attain personal goals, live, be educated, work, and socialize successfully in the community environments of their choice and in maintaining a safe, clean environment.

In addition, workers also advocate for clients and support families or other caregivers in their efforts to assist these individuals.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide hands on support to residents in community around daily living skills, community integration and apartment maintenance.
• Immediately reports serious incidents, serious incident allegations, incidents, or sensitive situations to supervisors. Completes incident reports in accordance with Institute for Community Living policy.
• Assists and instructs individuals in attending to personal hygiene, grooming, nutrition and daily living; ensures that sufficient and appropriate attire is available.
• Throughout assigned shift performs regular inspections inside of the apartment to ensure the safety of the residents, accountability of property, cleanliness of consumer rooms and common areas, cleanliness and security of the area immediately outside of the facility, and the security of any assigned vehicles.
• Communicate with supervisor at the beginning of the work shift and makes entries in the staff communication log concerning security checks, crisis incidents, emergency situations, incident reports, or other essential elements of information designated by program management
• Observes the physical environment and performs housekeeping tasks as necessary to ensure the maintenance of a safe, clean, comfortable and healing environment for individuals.
• Executes emergency plans as outlined in the policy and procedure manual under the direction of the assigned supervisor and adheres to program policy on securing the safety and well-being of consumers/residents, staff and visitors requiring emergency medical care.
• Accompanies consumers or residents on regularly scheduled or emergency visits to medical treatment facilities, social agencies, social activities, government offices, or other locations associated with the treatment or assistance of the consumer or resident.
• Assists with ensuring consumers’ compliance with medication, program, and medical appointments, including morning or evening routines, to help consumers meet treatment goals and maintain appointments.
• Cleaning includes dust mopping, damp mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, picking up larger objects off the floor and cleaning windows, washers to clean and finish floors.
• Moves furniture and equipment in connection with cleaning and care functions.
• Performs additional duties as required, including attending to flooded areas, incidental spills, and related clean-up work for trash and restroom concerns, relocating and moving clients in emergency situations
• Expected to comply with attendance rules and to report to work as scheduled and/or required on a regular basis. Must have availability and ability to work beyond the normal schedule as needed.
• Expected to attend regular scheduled team, and staff meetings and supervision
• Complies with all required in-service training, and staff development activities.
• Other job related duties that may be assigned.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of mental illness and serious emotional disturbances and substance abuse disorders.
• Basic knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to consumers/residents, families, and staff.
• Basic knowledge of routine clinical procedures and medications.
• Basic knowledge of techniques for identifying and preventing potentially violent behavior, including crisis management techniques.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work with consumers/residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences.
• Serve as a role model to residents/consumers.
• Ability to read and write at least at the secondary school level and to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to complete written forms and reports in an accurate and timely manner, manually and by computer.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, consumers/residents, families, and the public.
• Ability to accompany or transport residents/consumers (Some assignments may require possession of a valid driver's license).
• Ability to secure and maintain certification for Standard First Aid and CPR.

Qualifications and Experience

High school graduate or GED plus one year of related human services experience. Specialized training or education in human services may be substituted for experience. NYS driver’s license may be required of some assignments.