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:                Barbara Kleiman Men’s Shelter

Salary Range:        $75,000- $80,000 annually

Program Overview:

The Barbara Kleiman Men’s Shelter is a 200-bed, 24/7 emergency shelter for homeless men.  The program will serve both individuals diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance use disorders (130) and individuals who are employed/seeking employment (70). Our comprehensive services include case management, individual and group counseling, mental health care and primary medical care, recreational activities, occupational therapy, employment services and job readiness services, and housing placement assistance.

Position Overview: 

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. The Director of Social Services oversees a team comprised of a Clinical Coordinator, Team Leaders, Housing Coordinators, Case Managers, and Recreation Specialists. The Director of Social Services serves as a liaison between the shelter and hospitals/SPOA-related services etc.... The Director of Social Services coordinates service delivery with on-site medical, psychiatric, and 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 & 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 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
• 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 HRA2010e and other housing packages 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

Physical Activities

While performing the duties of this position, the Director of Social Services must be able to navigate the facility by foot, climbing up and down the stairwells, in order to observe staff and see clients. Furthermore, the Director of Social Services must stand to talk to clients and staff, sit for extended periods of time at the computer, reach or squat to get records from files. The Director of Social Services must be able to lift or move material and equipment weighing up to 15 pounds.

Education and Experience Requirements

• 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 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; preferred. One (1) year of the required experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity; preferred.
• Bilingual or multilingual a plus

Preferred 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

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.