Life Coach / Case Worker

The Home for Little Wanderers • Lowell, MA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The O’Connell House is seeking an enthusiastic, compassionate, and dependable Life Coach to provide direct support, life-skills coaching, and case-management assistance to residents. The Life Coach will help create a safe, structured, trauma-informed, and relationship-centered environment where residents can build stability, confidence, healthy routines, and the practical skills needed to move toward independence and long-term wellness. The Life Coach provides client-centered support to individuals living at The O’Connell House, with a focus on safety, stability, healing, and skill development. In collaboration with the Program Director, Clinical Director, OH Clinician/Case Manager, residential staff, religious sisters, volunteers, and community partners, the Life Coach supports residents with daily living skills, healthy decision-making, goal setting, appointments, employment and education readiness, community resources, and transition planning. This position requires initiative, follow through, strong boundaries, sound judgment, cultural humility, and a commitment to trauma-informed care for survivors of sex trafficking and other residents who may have experienced homelessness, domestic violence, exploitation, or complex trauma. The Life Coach will build consistent, trusting, and professional relationships with residents while reinforcing the program’s expectations, daily structure, and individualized goals. The role is primarily direct-service oriented and includes coaching, advocacy, crisis support, documentation, coordination with providers, and participation in team meetings and supervision.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; high school diploma or GED with relevant lived, volunteer, or professional experience may be considered.
• Experience working with trafficking victims, people with lived experience, or experience working with adolescents, young adults, survivors of trauma, individuals experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, exploitation, behavioral health needs, or related challenges preferred.
• Must be able to work respectfully with people of different backgrounds, cultures, identities, languages, and life experiences.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, crisis de-escalation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to support residents with life skills, appointments, employment, education, benefits, transportation planning, housing readiness, and community resources.
• Comfort working in a structured residential setting and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Office, email, electronic documentation systems, and the ability to learn new software applications.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification, or willingness to obtain as required.

Responsibilities

• Uphold and support The O’Connell House’s standards, policies, procedures, client rights, professional code of ethics, and trauma-informed approach.
• Build consistent, professional, and supportive relationships with residents based on their individualized goals, strengths, and needs.
• Provide direct life-skills coaching related to daily routines, healthy relationships, budgeting, employment readiness, education, transportation, appointments, self-care, and community engagement.
• Support residents in identifying and accessing benefits, identification documents, health care, behavioral health supports, legal resources, housing resources, and other community services.
• Coordinate and communicate with the Program Director, Clinical Director, TOH Clinician/Case Manager, residential staff, referring agencies, family members when appropriate, community partners, and other providers involved in the resident’s care and transition planning.
• Assist with intake, orientation, goal planning, safety planning, and ongoing progress updates as directed by the Program Director and TOH Clinician.
• Provide calm, supportive crisis intervention and de-escalation as needed, and seek clinical or supervisory guidance when concerns arise.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and professional documentation, including progress notes, contact notes, referrals, and other required program records.
• Participate in staff meetings, case consultation, supervision, trainings, and other meetings relevant to resident support and program operations.
• Complete other responsibilities or duties assigned by the Program Director or TOH Clinician to support resident safety, healing, permanency, and transition planning.

Benefits

• Generous time off including up to 15 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, and 5 sick days
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance available
• Extensive training to new staff
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $3,000 per fiscal year
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree