Director, Social Services

Project Renewal is a leading non-profit organization with the mission of building supportive communities where people achieve dignity and independence, renewing their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Our comprehensive and integrated 24/7 programs are designed to offer the holistic care our clients need. With a staff of 950+ and an annual budget of $140 million, Project Renewal is one of the larger social service nonprofits in New York City.

Title: Director Social Services

Program: Empire Men’s Shelter

Salary Range: $72,000 - $78,000 per year       

Program Description:

The Shelter is a 110 bed, 24/7 emergency shelter for general population homeless men that are employable or are already employed. Our comprehensive services include case management, occupational therapy, workforce development services, and housing placement assistance.

Overall Responsibilities:

Under the general direction of the Program Director, with some latitude for independent action and decision making, the Director of Social Services will be responsible for the overall coordination and delivery of services to clients of the New Creation Men’s Shelter. The Director of Social Services oversees a team comprised of Case Managers, a Housing Coordinator, and Workforce Development staff. The Director of Social Services coordinates service delivery with Project Renewal primary care providers, and the Operations Department, ensuring staff adherence to funder and Project Renewal policies and procedures; conducts regular quality assurance reviews; is the primary liaison with DHS regarding client assignments, transfers, and exits; performs related work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties of the Director Social Services include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Supervises a multi-talented social services staff of a Case Managers, a Housing Coordinator, and Workforce Development staff 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 Healthcare Departments; Ensures that linkages and coordination of services are being done by staff and properly documented 

• Monitors 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 

• In collaboration with the Program Director, develops and implements 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 

• Prepares and submits the statistical and reporting requirements of DHS  

• Fosters staff development by conducting team and individual supervisory sessions; As needed, provides in-service education for all levels of shelter staff.  

• Provides guidance and direction to the Housing Coordinators ensuring that General Population Supportive Housing Applications, HRA2010e’s, City FHEPS, SOTA, and other housing packages avenues are being generated and given to DHS as well as other housing providers 

• 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 

Qualifications:

• A 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 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; preferred. 

• A Bachelor’s degree in the aforementioned fields with a minimum of three (3) years of experience and two (2) years of the required experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity. 

• An Associate’s degree in the aforementioned fields with four (4) years of experience and three (3) years having been in a managerial or supervisory capacity. 

• A High School Diploma or GED equivalent with five (5) years of experience and four (4) years having been in a managerial or supervisory capacity 
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate staff to accomplish stated program goals and objectives while developing their individual and group skills. 
• Ability to develop and foster, through demonstration, team spirit, enabling staff to overcome the challenges of providing needed services to the client population. 
• Excellent oral, writing, and listening skills are a must.
• Bilingual or multilingual a plus 

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.