Hybrid IMT Intern at Community Access

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). 

Department Overview

Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) is an innovative, creative, trauma-informed mobile practice model designed to provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services to individuals whose needs have not been met by traditional services. IMT participants interact with homeless services, criminal justice, and behavioral health service systems.  IMT teams are hired, trained and funded to maximize flexibility and continuity of care for persons who historically have been poorly served.   

Community Access’ IMT Teams serve individuals who are street homeless or living between institutional settings and housing. Team members work collaboratively with settings in which the participant is living and use assertive engagement strategies to proactively engage individuals in services. IMT team members share responsibility for the people they serve, helping individuals attain housing and other personal and safety goals that may be of a health, social, work or education nature.   

IMT 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, criminal justice, peer support and behavioral health recovery. 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, including after hours and weekends crisis intervention as needed. 

Overview

The IMT Team MSW Intern is responsible for meeting participants in the community and providing recovery services tailored to the individual’s stated needs. The Intern will learn to write case management notes and to utilize the EHR (Electronic Healthcare Record) AWARDS in order to coordinate services with the other team members. The Intern will participate in team meetings and will be encouraged to participate in service planning and coordination. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: Accompanying participants to appointments, supporting participant’s healthy coping skills, educating participants about their rights within healthcare systems and other service settings, empowering participants to advocate for themselves and encouraging them to be the leader in the services they wish to receive. The Intern may lead groups depending on their interest and prior experience.  

Core Principles

The job responsibilities of all staff extend to understanding and incorporating certain principles into their work and into their relationships with program participants. These principles are:

• Program participants’ right to self-determination;
• Understanding the impact and manifestations of trauma
• Respectful communication;
• Services that support recovery and healing consistent with and nurturing each participant’s cultural background, experience, identity, and values.
• Clear professional boundaries to support the limits and possibilities of services.

Essential Job Functions

• Partner with participants to identify their goals and strategies to empower them to reach their goals
• Actively engage with staff members of the IMT Team to share insight and perspectives related to mental health services in order to advocate for person-centered services
• Assist participants with acquiring symptom management skills and coping strategies
• Assist in identifying and clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals.
• Assist in the development of community support systems and networks.
• Consistently practice according to the principles of recovery-oriented and trauma-informed service delivery

The internship may also include comprehensive IMT service activities:

• Assess and provide services to participants to address health and wellness, housing, income support, education, vocational training, employment and social supports.
• Complete initial comprehensive recovery-oriented service plan and plan reviews incorporating participant and relevant others’ feedback.
• Provide IMT treatment services including: service planning and coordination; problem solving; support with obtaining housing; developing social connections; strengthening family and other relationships; developing independent living skills and obtaining necessary resources; accessing and accessing education and training; employment supports (job search, placement and support); entitlement and financial management; empowerment and self-help; wellness self-management with a focus on the development of coping skills; support with medications; and weekly groups.
• Use motivational interviewing, recovery and trauma-informed approaches when delivering services.
• Complete crisis intervention and relapse prevention plans.
• Collaborative with participants, families and natural supports, shelter and community partners to promote attainment of treatment and recovery goals.
• Coordinate discharge in collaboration with inpatient and ER staff when participants have involvement.
• Complete thorough, timely and accurate documentation consistent with regulatory, policy and contractual requirements.
• Complete regular contact with participants, which may occur in the community.
• Travel throughout the boroughs utilizing public transportation in order to meet participant needs.
• All other duties as assigned

Intern 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.
• Current enrollment in an educational program through which internship hours are required for graduation
• Knowledge of New York City and/or New York State mental health programs and services
• Excellent oral, writing, and listening skills.
• Computer proficiency, Microsoft Word, Excel. Comfort with learning new systems and paperless record keeping.
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center