Position Description

The Intake Coordinator is responsible for welcoming people to the space, providing initial engagement, assessment, intake, and internal navigation and referral services to clients who come on site at the Integrated Harm Reduction department to access the following services:

• Behavioral health, including counseling and groups
• Medical services (substance use treatment, wound care, STI treatment)
• Syringe access services and safer use supplies
• Drop-in services
• In-house HIV/HCV/STI testing services
• Patient navigation services
• Peer training services
• Business development services (health insurance, linkages to Health Services, Health Home intakes, etc).

The Intake Coordinator will conduct initial needs assessments, provide information on available services, and will conduct initial intakes for services offered in IHR. The Intake Coordinator will be the initial point of contact on site for all existing and new clients of the department who are interested in services. Clients with completed assessments/intakes will be referred internally to the appropriate team for navigation and ongoing services.

The Intake Coordinator will supervise a team of peers to assist in conducting screenings and intakes and navigating individuals internally on site. They need to be a self-starter and work efficiently, both in a team environment and independently.

This position requires the person to be an LGBTQ advocate, be comfortable in engaging persons of all gender identities/presentation and expression, and to work well with people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, sex workers, and the diverse population of NYC.

Essential Job Functions

Navigation Services

• Welcome new and existing clients into the department with customer services skills informed by a trauma-informed care perspective, ensuring that individuals are provided a safe space to express service needs. 
• For new clients, conduct preliminary screening and needs assessment to assess client’s immediate needs. Work with client to identify most immediate service needs for the initial visit.
• Complete intake paperwork for clients who are interested in confidential services; make referrals to anonymous service intakes as indicated.
• Notify program staff of clients who are on site for a scheduled appointment.
• Ensure coordination with managers and staff of various service teams within IHR; assist in implementation of effective service referrals and client flow.
• Work with Senior Clinical Director to ensure that assessment, care, and intervention protocols are followed for individuals who may come on site in crisis. Assist with incident reporting process as needed for follow-up.
• With the support of the Leadership Team, identify resources and promote program; serve as liaison to internal and external service providers and assist the department with the coordination of external referrals.
• Ensure the maintenance of appropriate, accurate, and clear documentation of all intakes, referrals, and other client activities in client charts.
• Input data entry for all required documentation into required data entry system upon service completion.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Peer Supervision

Supervision of Peer Educators who volunteer with mobile health team by conducting outreach at our mobile sites and assisting with administrative needs of the program. Peer supervision includes:

• Work with Peer Coordinator and Senior Clinical Director to ensure agency-wide peer policies are being communicated and followed by the team’s peers. 
• Conduct individual monthly supervision meetings with each peer in which assignments are reviewed, successes are celebrated, and areas for improvements are identified. 
• Ensure peers are attending monthly department-wide peer meetings/trainings. 
• Model professional behavior and demeanor for peers and other staff; provide feedback to peer educators about developing and maintaining professional boundaries and communication in their work with clients.
• Identify training needs for the peer educators in order to assist with their professional development.

• Participate in monthly clinical supervision for peer supervisors.

Education and Certification

• Required: Undergraduate degree (Psychology, Mental Health, Social Work, or related field). CASAC certification and 2-3 years of relevant work experience may substitute for Bachelor’s degree.

Special Skills and Knowledge

In addition to the above-listed job responsibilities and educational requirements, the ideal candidate for this position possesses most or all of the following:

• Proven experience in working with people from a trauma-informed care lens, as well as proven experience in verbal de-escalation.
• Able to provide culturally competent services and demonstrate respect for the community to be served by our program.
• Demonstrated application of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and stages of change.
• Knowledgeable about HIV infection, transmission, treatment, risk reduction, and sexuality issues; knowledgeable in local, state, and federal laws regarding HIV and other relevant issues of providing health care, especially the right to privacy and confidentiality.
• Knowledgeable about substance use issues, including but not limited to opioid epidemic, overdose prevention, safer injection practices, substance use treatment; knowledgeable in local, state, and federal laws regarding Buprenorphine and other relevant issues of providing health care.
• Strong knowledge and access to New York City social services system, especially in upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential; candidate must have strong organizational and time management skills, and ability to pay attention to details and follow through on complex projects.
• Familiarity with online data entry systems such as eIcare, ECW, AIRS, eSHARE, preferred.
• Candidate must have a strong sense of commitment to Harlem United’s mission.