Good Shepherd Services

About Us

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success. At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! 

Benefits

For Full Time Employees Benefits/Perks:

• Tuition Assistance Program
• Generous paid time off (Including 5 Self-Care Days/Floating Holidays, 12 Sick Days, 15 Vacation Days, and 11 Holidays)
• Healthcare Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pet Care)
• 403(b) Plan (GSS contributes 3% of your salary to your 403(b) plan after 3 years of service, with contributions increasing over time) 
• Candidates hired in this position will work in person but will have the flexibility to work a hybrid schedule when program need allows.

Overview

Mental Health/Trauma Informed Practice (MHTIP) Specialist for Residential Programs 

Good Shepherd Services is seeking a dynamic, compassionate, results driven, team player for the role of Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Practice (MHTIP) Specialist for two of our girls’ residential programs – one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. The MHTIP Specialist leads the implementation of trauma-informed and strength-based practices with lots of energy and optimism. The MHTIP Specialist works with other team members, utilizing best practices in traumatic stress studies to deepen and expand trauma-responsive service delivery. The MHTIP Specialist will be experienced in working with youth and young adult populations, knowledgeable about trauma-informed practice (TIP), and have experience training and/or working with groups, including the ability to translate trauma-informed knowledge to be accessible to diverse staff populations. The ideal candidate will work passionately to advance GSS’ mission, values, and anti-racism and equity framework. 

Locations: Manhattan and Brooklyn 

Schedule/Hours: Full-time / 35 Hours/Week; Exempt 

Salary: $62,000-$69,000/year 

Responsibilities:

• Assess program needs through a trauma-informed lens.
• Create implementation plans for how trauma-informed practices will be implemented throughout the program.
• Collaborate with the teams across disciplines, e.g., attending interdisciplinary, staff, and other required meetings.
• Coach and guide the teams around trauma-informed practices.
• Teach trauma-informed skills to program participants, e.g., SELF psycho-educational groups, safety plans, community meetings, etc.
• Facilitate and host groups for staff and participants in response to crises and significant events.
• Provide support and guidance to staff around critical incidents and crises using a trauma-informed and restorative approach.
• Represent the agency at internal and external meetings and conferences.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies: 

Critical core competencies for successful performance in this role are: 

• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and ability to translate theory into practice for various program settings and audiences.
• Facilitation and group work skills; ability to teach, influence and coach others.
• Strong collaboration skills with high emotional intelligence, cultural humility, flexibility, and self-management skills.
• Sensitivity, experience and/or knowledge of trauma-informed practices serving populations impacted by marginalization and/or identity-based trauma and inequities.
• Highly developed communications and presentation skills, including written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• Thriving in an atmosphere of group decision-making and shared governance, while being able to execute reliably and independently.
• Ability to value and synthesize diverse perspectives, including integrating trauma-informed practice.
• Creative, resourceful, and enthusiastic problem solver. 
• Ability to be flexible and pivot when needed to meet the program's needs.

Qualifications: 

• BA/BS degree required, Master’s degree in social work or related field preferred (BA/BS degree with additional years of experience may substitute for advanced degree.) 
• Strong and proficient computer literacy required. 
• Experience working with the adolescent/young adult population with an understanding of social-service programming required. Experience within child welfare, residential, or similar programs strongly
• Experience developing training materials including handouts, power point slides, guides, and resource materials and manuals strongly
• Group facilitation and training experience preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in training, coaching, and/or implementation of trauma-informed approaches and practices preferred.
• Flexibility to work some evening hours required and ability to deliver support in-person and remotely (via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
• All staff are expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of Good Shepherd Services, which includes involvement in quality improvement activities and a willingness and ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.

Additional Information

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.