Recreation Specialist - Manhattan - Lantern Community Services Inc

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Supportive Housing Program Director

Location: Huntersmoon, Rustin, and Stardom Hall

Hourly Range: $24.72 - $27.47

Position Type: This is a full-time position and may include some evening and weekend hours, on occasion. Lantern staff may be asked to adjust their work schedule depending on the operational needs of the site.

Objective:

Lantern Community Services is seeking a responsible and self-motivated Recreation Specialist for three (3) supportive housing sites in Manhattan. The Recreation Specialist is responsible for developing, organizing and implementing activities and programs based on the specific needs of the clients/tenants of each building, and that involve tenants in safe and positive leisure time activities. Designed to engage the maximum number of tenants, group activities will utilize creative arts, games, trips, and exercise to promote self-confidence and relieve stress. Successful candidates will have prior experience providing compassionate care to vulnerable populations.

Essential Functions:

• Foster a fun, nurturing, and welcoming environment for tenants.
• Organize and facilitate social and/or peer support events for tenants.
• Works with an interdisciplinary team of site-based and cross-building staffs to design and implement a variety of recreational, community-building and life skills groups including ADL’s, shopping, exercise, games, arts and crafts, and other activities.
• Encourage full participation of all residents to enhance socialization in the supportive housing environment and to ensure maximum utilization of recreational services.
• Develop linkages and act as liaison to external recreational programs and facilities.
• Escorts tenants on group outings.
• Develops a resource guide of free and inexpensive recreational resources in the area.
• Maintain inventory of recreation equipment and items.
• Plan and organize facility special events.
• Complete and maintain documentation of all group activities.
• Reports concerns about tenants to appropriate Social Service staff and consults with staff on effective interventions.
• Attends staff meetings, case conferences, supervisory and in-service training sessions.
• Assist with the design and production of bulletin boards and visuals for public spaces of the supportive housing reflecting cultural, seasonal and programmatic themes.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisory staff.

Education and Experience:

• A High school diploma, HSE or GED is required.
• At least 2- 3 years’ experience in providing recreational services in a human services setting required.
• Experience developing program curricula, facilitating groups, and/or events that can engage vulnerable populations in meaningful use of leisure time including – arts, exercise, trips in the community, personal growth and stress management activities, etc.
• Good interpersonal skills; high level of maturity and reliability.
• Must be comfortable with crisis intervention.
• Familiar with harm reduction principles
• Experience working in a residential setting and/or with mentally ill population

Preferred Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Narcan trained

Work Environment: This job operates in permanent supportive housing programs and works with a population who may experience mental illness, substance use, disability, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illnesses.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs, and kneel. They must also use their hands to type, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear and occasionally lift and move up to 5 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.