Residence Counselor - Residential Services

The Bridge offers supportive housing and behavioral health services to vulnerable New Yorkers facing behavioral health and substance use challenges. We provide individuals with the tools they need to pursue their dreams and live meaningful lives. The Bridge envisions a world where adults experiencing serious mental illness can live and thrive within their communities. As a recognized leader in developing and operating supportive housing and community-based programs, The Bridge has 70 years of experience helping New Yorkers with mental illness, including those affected by homelessness, incarceration, and institutionalization.  

Scope of Position: The Residence Counselor plays a critical role in supporting individuals living in single-site supportive housing programs for adults diagnosed with serious mental illness. Under the guidance of the Residence Manager/Program Director, Residence Counselors assist clients in managing daily living activities, such as personal hygiene, medication adherence, and maintaining their living spaces. They work to empower clients to develop the skills necessary for independent living, including managing finances, cooking, and engaging with community resources. By providing individualized support, counseling, and crisis intervention as needed, Residence Counselors help create a safe and supportive environment where clients can work towards stability, recovery, and long-term housing retention.

Essential Position Functions:

• Provide restorative services and assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) to clients, including support with cooking, cleaning, apartment maintenance, shopping, traveling, medication management, symptom management, personal hygiene, money management, self-advocacy, and utilizing community resources.
• Escort clients to appointments and other essential outings within the community, using public transportation for medical appointments, benefits access, shopping, and other necessary activities.
• Motivate and support clients in developing skills to maintain housing, while encouraging the development of natural supports and including them in Support Plans and client meetings.
• Ensure timely completion of required documentation for each client interaction, following agency policy and regulatory guidelines for care level.
• Co-facilitate groups on topics such as wellness, leadership, housing stability, employment, education, relationships, and decision-making as needed.
• Assist in preparing for program audits.
• Provide crisis intervention when necessary.
• Ensure compliance with program requirements, including proper admissions and discharges, maintaining accurate census, documentation, and incident reporting.
• Work with consumers, families, and staff in a respectful, culturally sensitive manner.
• Conduct apartment inspections across multiple floors, utilizing stairs.
• Report serious incidents or concerns immediately to supervisors, completing required incident reports according to Bridge policy, and taking appropriate action if a client is unaccounted for.
• Provide a supportive environment where clients can access services at any time of day or night, ensuring staff are alert and available during all awake shifts.
• Attend staff meetings, supervision, and training sessions as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent with experience in a human services/direct care setting. A Bachelor’s Degree is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with individuals who have mental health diagnoses, including crisis intervention and managing trauma-triggered behaviors.
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to work under pressure and remain stress-resistant.
• Flexible, creative, and a team player, with the ability to accept and respond to feedback.
• Excellent organizational skills with a focus on efficiency and attention to detail.
• Willingness to perform CPR/First Aid/AED, CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention), and administer Naloxone.
• Preferred knowledge of AWARDS software.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

The Bridge Inc. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer

Salary : $31,500