Vocational Specialist-ACT Team

Founded in 1974, Community Access continues to uphold and operate as a pioneer of supportive housing and social services in NYC for people with mental health concerns. We proudly lead advocacy efforts that rally our community to promote human rights, social justice, and economic opportunities for all. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives. Our programs are spread across 25 locations and include over 1200 units of supportive housing in three boroughs, the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, Peer-driven Crisis Respite Center, Adult Home Initiative, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and the Intensive Mobile Team (IMT).

Program/Department Description: 

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based, mobile practice model designed to provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services to individuals living with a serious mental health condition and whose needs have not been effectively met by traditional mental health services.  

Community Access’ Bronx Shelter ACT Team serves individuals with mental health conditions who are homeless and temporarily housed within a mental health shelter. Team members will work collaboratively with shelter staff throughout the boroughs and use assertive engagement strategies to proactively engage individuals in services. ACT team members share responsibility for the people they serve, helping individuals attain housing and other personal goals that may be of a health, social, work or education nature.   

ACT teams are multi-disciplinary and include psychiatry, nursing, social work, peer specialists and other staff members offering rehabilitation, treatment, and recovery support services. The team provides expertise in the areas of housing, substance use and harm reduction, family support, employment, and wellness self-management. Based on their area of expertise, team members collaborate to deliver comprehensive, integrated, and flexible services that are responsive to a participant’s choices, needs and goals. With a small staff to participant ratio, services are brought to the participant and offered in natural settings, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Overview

The Vocational Specialist has lead responsibility for integrating vocational goals and services within the tasks of all team members. The specialist works as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing the range of ACT services to assist participants in achieving their treatment, rehabilitation and recovery goals. 

Job Qualifications

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
• Commitment to person-centered treatment strategies, upholding participants’ rights, and self-determination in service provision.
• Educational Requirements: Master’s Degree in a qualifying “Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts” program, i.e. social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, etc. 
• At least 1 year of training and/or experience in vocational assessment, job exploration, and skills development in choosing, getting, and maintaining employment, employment counseling or vocational rehabilitation
• Knowledge of principles and models of supported employment, ADA and other civil rights statues regarding employment practices, programs, funders and initiatives supporting employment for persons with mental health concerns, e.g. ACCES-VR, TTW, Workforce 1 Centers.
• Comfort using a variety of computer programs – Community Access ACT is a paperless program and relies heavily on digital tools for documentation and case management.
• Available to work a flexible schedule, mornings, evenings and weekends in response to participant needs.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred.
• Comfort using public transportation and traveling throughout the boroughs. 
• Ability to lift/carry 25 pounds. 
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center.
   

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should apply on www.communityaccess.org/jobs.

Community Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V.

Women, People of Color and Members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are dedicated to a workforce where at least 51% of our employees identify as having a personal experience using mental health services. 

www.communityaccess.org