Psychosocial Support Manager

Contact at organisation: Lea Clemence, Leader Dogs for the Blind

Phone: 248-218-6429

Email: lea.clemence@LEADERDOG.ORG

Leader Dogs for the Blind, based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, has been making people unstoppable for 80 years, empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel. To learn more about our mission and campus follow the link to our website here.

Why work at Leader Dogs for the Blind?

• Fully remote eligible position
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance after 30 days of employment
• Employer paid life insurance
• Employer paid disability insurance
• 401k with employer match
• Flexible spending account
• Paid time off front loaded on first day of employment
• Annual merit pay increases
• Workout room access
• Dog friendly office

SUMMARY
The Psychosocial Support Manager is responsible for providing direct emotional and social support to clients seeking or participating in Leader Dog services and programs. This position provides psychosocial education to team members and volunteers. This position ensures client readiness for training and focuses on future program development to ensure the organization meets client support needs. This individual promotes organizational awareness and understanding of the many factors impacting program participants, deepening team member education in this area and fostering a “person first” approach.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides in-person, telephonic, or virtual support for clients through a holistic approach as clients enter Leader Dog programs.
• Reviews applications for services to make recommendations on an applicant’s emotional fitness to participate in programs.
• Communicates with applicants and mental health professionals when necessary to obtain relevant information to be used in the admission review process.
• Provides support and resources for community services for clients. Provides grief support associated with vision loss or transition from a former guide to a successor guide dog. Assists colleagues in navigating quality of life discussions with clients as needed.
• Provides direct intervention and support during training when clients experience emotions or conflict due to stress, fatigue, learning, adjustment to blindness, etc.
• Provides debriefing opportunities following emotionally challenging client and/or dog care situations.
• Discusses methods to handle difficult, emotional conversations with instructors, client services, extended services and residence staff.
• Develops strategies and associated programs to ensure client psychosocial support throughout Leader Dog services.
• Provides ongoing support to Leader Dog alumni.
• Develops proactive resources to address compassion fatigue.
• Documents all conversations and support provided in CRM database in client files.
• Responsible for maintaining continuing education to support credentials.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Master’s degree in social work or mental health related field required. Fully licensed in professional field of practice or license eligible at time of hire. Previous experience working in the field of mental health required; 3-5 years’ experience preferred. Experience in the guide dog lifestyle and/or industry and working with blind or visually impaired preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with individuals from all backgrounds.
• Dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion across programs and services.
• Ability to use tact and discretion and maintain confidentiality where required.
• Initiate and execute difficult conversations with compassion and empathy.
• Ability to work in partnership with an interpreter (ASL, Spanish, et.)
• May be required to be on campus when deemed necessary at the direction of management.
• Confidence in ability to make sound judgments regarding complex life scenarios.
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills; must have the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with all other Team Members.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as strong organizational skills, and have acuity with detail.
• Ability to work well under pressure, handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines; must have the ability to work independently with little or no supervision.
• Possess sound business judgment, exercise professional conduct, understand and follow business ethics and standards, and maintain a high level of confidentiality in all duties.
• Proficient with current version of Microsoft Office programs.
• This position requires adherence to all applicable safety and health policies and procedures.
• Willing to perform general public relations duties on behalf of Leader Dog (perform tours, answer general questions, be a professional and courteous representative of Leader Dog, etc.).
• Comfortable with and willing to work around large dogs.
• ble to establish and maintain professional, productive and courteous interactions with employees that promote positive teamwork, as well as with volunteers, donors, clients and all constituents of Leader Dog. This encompasses going beyond giving and receiving instructions and includes but is not limited to (a) performing work activities requiring interacting or speaking with others; and (b) responding appropriately to constructive feedback or suggestions for improvement from a supervisor.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Upon receiving notice, reasonable accommodation may be made, if possible, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use the phone and talk and perform repetitive actions associated with computer work (typing). The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms.

Leader Dogs for the Blind reserves the right to change, amend, add, delete, and otherwise assign all duties, responsibilities and position title as it deems necessary to meet the needs of its business.

Leader Dogs for the Blind is an at-will employer. This means that the employment relationship may end at any time without notice by the employer or employee for any reason. Neither this document, nor any manual issued by Leader Dogs for the Blind, is a contract of employment.