Morning Counselor, Shattuck Shelter

Pine Street Inn•Jamaica Plain, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Guest Service Specialist is an essential position and will work 100% site based to maintain guest to staff ratio. The Guest Service Specialist will assist the guests, callers and visitors of the shelter in learning about and accessing the services we provide, particularly those relating to emergency shelter, food, clothing, medical care, housing services and other referral needs. The Guest Service Specialist will ensure there is a safe and secure environment for guests and staff at Pine Street Inn Shattuck Shelter, intervene with assistance in the development and implementation of a housing pathway by motivating guests to rapidly work on housing and connecting guests to appropriate resources. The Guest Service Specialist will also assist guests in connecting with substance abuse, mental health and medical resources when the shelter cannot safely accommodate a guests needs. The Guest Service Specialist is required to provide optimal customer service; stay energized and focused even when demands are ambiguous and strenuous. The Guest Service Specialist is required to enter data into the Homeless Management Information (HMIS) system and to document reports in keeping with agency policy. The Guest Service Specialist is required to make sound decisions and appropriately seeks guidance from a supervisor when needed. The Guest Service Specialist. will operate, organize and maintain the shelter front desk and related equipment, including a multi-line phone system, security cameras, security screening, and front door entry requests and will be responsive to guest needs as well as requests from other Pine Street Inn staff, vendors, visitors, volunteers as well as the greater Lemuel Shattuck Hospital community. The GSS will adopt and enliven the following principles: Shelter is a temporary safety net, not a home. All people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their housing history and duration of homelessness, can achieve housing stability in permanent housing. Never warehouse or institutionalize our guests in our shelters Everyone is “housing ready.” Sobriety, compliance in treatment, or even a clean criminal history is not necessary to succeed in housing. Rather, homelessness programs and housing providers must be “consumer ready.” Leverage guests’ their strengths, assets, and connections to move quickly out of shelters and to any other housing Recognize the impact of violence and victimization on development and coping strategies Employ an empowerment model Maximize guest choices and control over her/his recovery based in a relational collaboration Create an atmosphere that is respectful of the guests’ need for safety, respect, and acceptance Emphasize the guests’ strengths, highlighting adaptations over symptoms and resilience over pathology Minimize the possibilities of re-traumatization Strive to be culturally competent and to understand each person in the context of his or her life experiences and cultural background Solicit guest input and involve guests in designing and evaluating services

Requirements

High School diploma or GED
Minimum of one (1) year of experience in the Human Services field
Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
Ability to communicate/speak (as well as to listen) in a non-judgmental manner

Nice To Haves

Valid MA driver’s license in good standing
Bilingual English/Spanish
Knowledge in the areas of addiction, recovery, and mental illness
Knowledge of issues pertaining to the homeless
Experience with front line customer service and/or a similar front desk/customer service desk setting

Responsibilities

Assist guests, callers, and visitors in learning about and accessing shelter services, including emergency shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and housing services.
Ensure a safe and secure environment for guests and staff.
Intervene with assistance in the development and implementation of a housing pathway by motivating guests to work on housing and connecting them to appropriate resources.
Assist guests in connecting with substance abuse, mental health, and medical resources.
Provide optimal customer service, staying energized and focused even when demands are ambiguous and strenuous.
Enter data into the Homeless Management Information (HMIS) system and document reports in keeping with agency policy.
Make sound decisions and appropriately seek guidance from a supervisor when needed.
Operate, organize, and maintain the shelter front desk and related equipment, including a multi-line phone system, security cameras, security screening, and front door entry.
Be responsive to guest needs and requests from other staff, vendors, visitors, volunteers, and the greater Lemuel Shattuck Hospital community.
Adopt and enliven principles of shelter as a temporary safety net, the possibility of housing stability for all, and consumer-ready services.
Leverage guests' strengths, assets, and connections to move quickly out of shelters.
Recognize the impact of violence and victimization.
Employ an empowerment model and maximize guest choices and control.
Create an atmosphere of safety, respect, and acceptance.
Emphasize guests' strengths and resilience.
Minimize the possibilities of re-traumatization.
Strive to be culturally competent and understand each person in context.
Solicit guest input and involve guests in designing and evaluating services.