ONLY PERMANENT EMPLOYEES IN THE TITLE AND THOSE THAT ARE REACHABLE ON THE SPECIAL CONSULTANT (MHSS) CIVIL SERVICE LIST ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

Division/Program Summary:
The Bureau of Mental Health’s mission is to improve mental health and wellness for people in New York City, and to eliminate racial and other long-standing societal disparities by providing services, resources, and opportunities to providers that are grounded in accurate, data driven information that fosters community participation, thus reducing the stigma around mental health. This includes procuring and monitoring more than 500 contracted programs that provide mental health treatment, psychiatric rehabilitation, supportive housing, care coordination and advocacy services and operating court-mandated Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), Single Point of Access (SPOA) for mobile treatment and care coordination and NYC Supportive Treatment and Recovery Team (NYC START) for people with first episode psychosis.

The NYC Supported Transition and Recovery Team (NYC START) is a specialized program providing services to shorten the duration of untreated psychosis and improve linkage to care and community supports for New Yorkers experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The program collaborates with hospital treatment teams and discharge planners for optimal after care plans, assist with linkage to out-patient services and community supports, provides care coordination services in the community for three months following a hospital discharge, and works with community treatment providers, families, and other supports to promote successful community engagement.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Respond to hospital reports and review clinical material to determine if individuals referred to NYC START meet program criteria.
- Conduct intake / enrollment appointments with individuals hospitalized for a first episode of psychosis and the involved hospital treatment team to offer services.
- Work with consumers, their families, and hospital discharge planning staff to provide information, offer support, identify appropriate referral options, and assist in linkage to care and other resources in the community.
- Travel daily within the 5 boroughs to perform field visits and provide care coordination services in the community.
- Collaborate and interface with consumers, their families, and mental health providers to support engagement in services.
- Assess the quality and appropriateness of care planned and provided.
- Work collaboratively with other NYC START team members and perform other duties as assigned.


Why you should work for us:

- Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
- Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
- Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Commitment to Equity:

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

SPECIAL CONSULTANT (MENTAL HEA - 51001

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and either:
1. A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university in the school of social work, or 60 graduate semester credits from an accredited university in social work, psychology, health, rehabilitation, public health, psychiatric nursing or special education; plus one year of full-time, satisfactory experience providing direct care in a social, psychiatric, health, mental retardation/developmental disabilities or substance abuse/chemical dependency/alcoholism agency or in the administration of a
program providing direct care as described above, or as a consultant on program planning or evaluation for such services; or

2. A Master's degree of at least 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited university in psychology, sociology, anthropology, public health, special education,
psychiatric nursing, counseling, human services, health, rehabilitation, public administration, or business administration; plus two years of experience as described in "1" above; or

3. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience. Candidates without either a Master's degree as described in "1" or "2" above or at least 60 graduate semester credits in the areas listed in "1" above, must have at least:
a) a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and one year of actual experience as described in "1" above; plus
b) a satisfactory combination of: (i) graduate semester credits in the areas listed in "1" and "2" above; and/or (ii) additional experience as described in "1" above, to equal 60 graduate semester credits or 2 years of experience. Graduate semester credits from an accredited university may be substituted for the experience in qualification "3 b)" only, on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits for each year of experience. Experience may be substituted for graduate semester credits in qualification "3 b)" only, on the basis of one year of experience for each 30 graduate semester credits.

NOTE: For assignment to Assignment Level II, in addition to meeting the above qualification requirements, all candidates must have one additional year of experience as described in "1" above.

- Extensive knowledge of community mental health resources excellent interpersonal and communication skills ability to interface with service providers from all sectors of the services system strong organizational skills proficiency with basic Microsoft Office applications (Work, Excel) prior experience with first episode psychosis population a plus.

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.