Job Description

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: Engagement Specialist

Program: New Providence Women’s Shelter

Salary Range: $44,000-$48,000

Program Description

The New Providence Women’s shelter is located within the Ramada Inn in West Midtown Manhattan and provides 100 emergency shelter beds for homeless women diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Our comprehensive services include case management, individual and group counseling, recreational activities, and housing placement assistance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties of the Engagement Specialist include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Act as a liaison between New Providence Women’s shelter, NYPD, DHSPD, DHS, some aspects of Community Government, and other local Agencies to reduce loitering on the neighborhood streets.
• Conduct community walk-throughs and engage current New Providence clients about loitering on the neighboring streets and parks.
• Alert DHS Outreach team of known street homeless individuals.
• Enforce adherence with the Good Neighbor Policy by issuing verbal and written warnings reminding clients of their compliance responsibilities regarding the facility policies.
• Engage loitering clients about the services provided at New Providence and encourage participation in the offered on-site recreational and Occupational Therapy activities.
• Engage challenging clients to participate in service planning and housing search processes.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date written client documentation as required by and following city and state oversight agency guidelines.
• Act as a “Champion” for the overdose prevention program, which includes providing ongoing overdose prevention training to clients and staff and engaging clients after overdose.
• Complete monthly Overdose prevention reporting for DOH, DHMH and DHS.
• Participate in training and monthly staff meetings.
• Communicate with the Social Services team to discuss client concerns.
• Participates in case conferences in response to client complaints, using conflict resolution techniques to amicably resolve issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Social Services, Assistant Director and/or Program Director.

Physical Activities

While performing the duties of this position, the Engagement Specialist (ES) must walk between all floors of the facility, climbing up and down staircases to meet with clients in the event the elevator is out of order. The ES must stand talking to clients and staff, sit for extended periods of time at the computer, and reach or squat to retrieve file records.

Education and Experience Requirements

• A minimum Associate’s degree is preferred.
• Experience working with adults with mental health and/or substance use issues, preferably in homeless shelters or supportive housing.
• Knowledge in Harm Reduction

Preferred Certificates and Credentials

• Fire Guard certification F-02 or Fire Safety Coordinator F-80; Narcan trained
• Ability to become a Certified Trainer in Opioid Overdose Prevention

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 needed services to a special client population.
• Communication: Excellent oral, writing, and listening skills are a must.
• Organizational: The ability to work well within a highly pressurized, deadline environment, while meeting the short- and long-term mandates of the program.
• Interpersonal: An ability to interface with clients as well as all levels of staff.
• Computer: Knowledge of case management software as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Language: 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.