Clinical Counseling Manager - LCSW

From its activist beginnings as an underground needle exchange, New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE) is now New York’s largest syringe exchange program, serving over 5,000 low-income drug users and street-based sex workers each year in the Bronx and East Harlem using a unique street-side, low-threshold model. Rooted in social and economic justice, NYHRE provides integrated educational, supportive and substance use services in a non-coercive, grass roots manner that help participants empower themselves, improve the quality of their lives and have a positive impact on our communities.

NYHRE encourages a collaborative environment where staff are expected to be proactive in their work and encouraged to actively participate in the improvement of service delivery and the development of programs. All activities are designed to advance NYHRE’s service model, which is based on educating and empowering individuals to advocate for themselves and make self-identified changes in their lives.

Position Summary:

The Manager of Clinical Counseling is responsible for the agency’s street and office-based Mental Health program, which includes low-threshold risk reduction education, general social work services, drug treatment placement, HIV and HCV counseling and testing, the provision of educational and support groups, low-threshold mental health services. NYHRE’s service model is based on educating participants and facilitating empowerment so that individuals advocate for themselves and make self-identified changes in their lives. Consistent with this philosophy, NYHRE’s social work programs help participants identify their strengths, needs, and barriers to accessing services, while promoting concepts of wellness, developing their support networks, and connecting them to opportunities to identify, influence, and change the policies that affect their lives. As the Clinical Counseling Manager, the person in this position is a member of the Management team and the position is key to ensuring that NYHRE operates in a manner consistent with the principles of Harm Reduction and is responsible for modeling behavior consistent with an agency culture that values education, growth and collaborative team-based management. 

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage the agency’s Mental Health and Social Work services across multiple street and office-based sites.
• Develop, implement, and maintain program policies and procedures in collaboration with the Director of Holistic and Clinical Care. Ensure that services are effective and satisfying for program participants, consistent with the agency’s harm reduction philosophy, and are delivered as outlined in contractual agreements with funders.
• Recruit, train, and supervise Master’s level students (e.g., MSW, MSEd-MHC, etc.) for their intern/externships.
• Provide direct counseling, crisis intervention, case management, and related services to participants in our grant funded programs.
• Work with the Management Team and the Senior Leadership Team to plan for and implement programs for billable services.
• Utilize data to coordinate optimal program workflow, assess service goals, improve methods of reaching and providing services to participants, and develop and implement new and innovative services to meet emerging needs.
• Ensure maintenance of proper documentation and conduct regular chart audits.
• Continuously monitor and report on outcomes, service deliverables, and participant satisfaction, and work with the Director of Holistic and Clinical Care and the Data and Evaluation department to implement a comprehensive quality management plan that includes the development of appropriate performance measures.
• Reinforce and develop a collaborative and proactive agency culture through supportive and motivating interactions with staff and the implementation of fair and effective policies.
• Produce written reports, publications, presentations, and/or relevant portions of funding proposals as needed. Represent NYHRE in the community, at conferences, and with other service providers.
• Oversee the maintenance of an updated resource directory for referrals to service providers, and work with program staff to establish and maintain active and positive collaborations with other community agencies. Monitor feedback from staff and participants to ensure that the agencies to which we refer are effective and treat participants with respect and dignity.
• Leverage external resources and cultivate the engagement and commitment of potential allies and volunteers to address program and service gaps. Work with the Management team and external providers to coordinate the delivery of these services (including medical and dental care, and food and clothing distribution) to NYHRE participants.
• Continually and proactively educate yourself about new developments in the field and work with colleagues to share information and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements and Experience:

• LCSW required. Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) certification or willingness to obtain within 6 months preferred.
• Should have 5-7 years direct service experience with marginalized populations including active drug users, sex workers, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Experience with the delivery of street-based services and outreach strongly preferred.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience with program management, contract management and clinical supervision. Must have experience managing multiple contracts with overlapping service categories.
• Significant work and/ or life experience in the areas of substance use, sex work, HIV and HCV required. Knowledge of the Bronx, East Harlem, and/or Washington Heights IDU/ substance use communities preferred. 
• Must have strong interpersonal and team building skills, excellent communication and presentation skills, and the ability and willingness to be hands-on and creatively solve problems as they arise. Strong clinical and managerial /administrative skills are required.
• Must be committed to the Harm Reduction philosophy and to working with marginalized people (mainly people who use drugs and sex workers) in a multi-cultural, multi-racial environment in a non-judgmental manner.
• Must be dedicated to advancing an agenda of equal rights and social justice for marginalized individuals, especially through participation in advocacy and community activism.
• Experience developing and implementing comprehensive quality management programs is desired.
• Proficiency with MS Office (including Word, Excel and Outlook) and use of the Internet for research required
• Experience documenting services in an electronic Health Record (eHR) strongly preferred.
• Must be willing and able to work outdoors and on Mobile Units at our street sites up to 20% of the time, hours may vary and working one (1) Saturday per month might be required. 
• Bilingual (Spanish) strongly preferred.

Reports to: Director of Holistic and Clinical Care

Supervises: Counseling Interns

Status:  Full-time, Exempt