Behavioral Health Resident Assistant

Henry-Street-Settlement; New York (NY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry Street Settlement's Third Street Women’s Residence seeks a Behavioral Health Resident Assistant for regular, full-time onsite work in the Lower East Side. The role covers evenings and nights, supports residents with mental health needs, and collaborates with social services staff to ensure safety and continuity of care.

Responsibilities include observation, documentation, crisis response, medication monitoring, and program support, with flexibility for additional shifts and strong emphasis

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a social service agency or with vulnerable populations.
• Flexibility to cover shifts.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in stressful situations.
• Experience with psychiatric/medical disabilities, substance use or developmental disabilities preferred.
• Certifications (First Aid, CPR, Food Handler, F-80) within 3 months of employment.
• PPD clearance within 3 months of employment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer literacy; DHS data system experience preferred.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• English/Spanish proficiency preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist residents in developing life management skills and managing mental health conditions.
• Support the implementation of therapeutic recreation and socialization opportunities for residents.
• Create and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for residents.
• Observe and document changes in residents' conditions and report to the team.
• Maintain accurate daily logs of incidents, meals, and operations.
• Respond to crises, de-escalate conflicts, and ensure safety of residents and staff.
• Complete incident reports promptly after any incident or accident.
• Conduct facility walkthroughs to monitor security and safety.
• Assist with building security and sign-in sheets.
• Monitor medication processes to ensure proper tracking and compliance.
• Support meal service and record meals provided.
• Assist staff with conflict resolution and resident behavior management.
• Provide clerical support to operations and office teams.
• Ensure continuity of care across shifts and coverage of extra shifts.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Computer literacy

English/Spanish language

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

First Aid Certification

CPR Certification

Food Handler License

F-80 Certificate of Fitness

PPD clearance

Tools

DHS data system

Job description

• Location 3rd Street,New York, NY, 10002,United States
• Base Pay $22.00 / Hour
• Employee Type Full Time

Description

Job Overview:

• Department/Divisor: Transitional & Supportive Housing/ Third Street Women’s Residence
• Location: Fully Onsite - Lower East Side, NYC
• Pay: $22 Hourly + full benefits package, non–exempt
• Position Type: Regular, Full-Time
• 5:30 PM – 1:30 AM
• 1:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Relief Coverage Requirement:

This position requires flexibility to cover additional shifts as needed in the event of staff callouts or no-shows (face-to-face relief coverage).

Organizational Overview

Henry Street Settlement opens doors of opportunity to enrich lives and expand human progress for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, arts, and health care programs.

Building on its 130+ year legacy of innovation and effective programming, Henry Street offers more than 50 programs and is one of New York City’s largest social service organizations.

Program Overview

The Third Street Women’s Residence is a transitional shelter program serving 79 Unhoused women who are living with Behavioral health conditions and are seeking permanent housing. The program provides transitional housing and comprehensive supportive services designed to help residents stabilize, develop life management skills, and successfully transition to permanent housing. Staff provide social services and housing placement assistance while supporting residents in managing their mental health and achieving greater independence. When appropriate, residents are referred to community-based resources and partner organizations.

Job Summary:

The Behavioral Health Resident Assistant (RA) will provide direct, hands-on care to individuals with varying degrees of mental illness, substance use, and/or developmental disabilities. The RA will support the social services team in fulfilling the program's core mission, values, and vision. This position reports directly to the Shift Supervisor and performs vital, front-line functions, including client observation, assistance, and interaction. The RA serves as the "eyes, ears, and hands" of the diagnosing professional, providing critical support for both residents and staff.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a social service agency or working with vulnerable populations.
• Flexibility to cover shifts in case of callouts or no-shows
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in stressful and challenging situations.
• Experience providing services to individuals with psychiatric/medical disabilities, substance abuse issues, and developmental disabilities is preferred.
• Must obtain First Aid, CPR, Food Handlers License, and F-80 (Certificate of Fitness for Coordinator of Fire Safety and Alarm System) certifications within 3 months of employment.
• PPD clearance required within 3 months of employment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Computer literacy required, with experience using Department of Homeless Services (DHS) data system preferred.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• English/Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist residents in developing life management skills and managing mental health conditions.
• Support the implementation of therapeutic recreation and socialization opportunities for residents.
• Proactively work to create and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for residents.
• Observe and document changes in residents' physical, mental, and behavioral conditions, reporting this information to the social services team.
• Maintain accurate daily logs, documenting all relevant incidents, meals served, and other operational details.
• Respond to crises, de-escalate conflicts, and ensure the safety of residents and staff.
• Complete incident reports immediately after any incident or accidents.
• Conduct regular walkthroughs of the facility to monitor security and ensure the safety of both internal and external areas.
• Assist with building security, including monitoring entrances and reviewing daily sign-in sheets.
• Medication Monitoring:
• Assist with medication monitoring processes to ensure proper tracking and compliance.
• Support meal service, maintain accurate records of meals provided, and communicate any challenges related to meal service.
• Assist program staff with conflict resolution and management of resident behavior.
• Provide clerical support to the operational and office team as needed.
• Foster smooth service provision across shifts, ensuring continuity of care.
• Provide flexibility to cover additional shifts in the event of staff callouts or no-shows.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Shift Supervisor or program leadership.

Essential Physical Job Functions:

• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods as required.
• Ability to climb multiple flights of stairs throughout the day.
• Must be able to work onsite in the Lower East Side.