On-Call Residential Counselor

DESC•Seattle, WA

9h•Onsite

About The Position

DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder. On-call support staff work variable shifts, according to their schedule preferences and program need, to facilitate operations and provide essential client services. In the changing and uncertain job market, this position allows compassionate and dedicated people a chance to earn an income on a short-term basis, with opportunity for ongoing employment. Who knows, maybe you’ll even end up finding a new career! There is no social service experience needed to qualify for these positions. On-Call Residential Counselors are required to work a minimum of four shifts per month. Shifts can become available with less than 24 hours’ notice on nights and/or weekends (including holidays). As such, this position requires a high level of flexibility which means being ready to redeploy if needed to maintain adequate staffing levels. Maintaining current contact information with the On-Call Supervisor is an essential requirement for this position.

Requirements

Be accessible by phone for texts, calls, or emails. Responses in a timely manner are required.
Working in Entry Services and Supportive Housing Projects, as well as moving between the two as needed during a single shift; transportation will be provided for moves.
Be reasonably available to accept on-call shifts often with less than 24 hours’ notice.
Once a shift is accepted, work that shift from start to finish, except in extraordinary circumstances that make this impossible and with management directive.
Notify the appropriate supervisor promptly if unable to work a scheduled shift, or of any change to your schedule that may arise.
Attend to work responsibilities while on duty and keep personal phone calls and other interruptions to a minimum.
Maintain appropriate boundaries in interactions with shelter clients and housing residents.
Be timely and reliable in attendance.
Work and problem-solve independently as needed.
Work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
Basic understanding of homelessness and general characteristics of the homeless adult population; some college and/or experience in social service is desirable.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from various backgrounds and disciplines including supervisors, managers, coworkers, clients, interns, volunteers, etc.
Commitment to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs, and of consideration and respect for others.
Basic use of computers and other office equipment, and software application.

Nice To Haves

some college and/or experience in social service is desirable.

Responsibilities

Initiate and maintain appropriate interactions with clients.
Operate all functions of lobby offices, including, but not limited to, answering telephones and checking guests in and out according to visitation policies.
Maintain safety and security of housing projects and entry services facilities by monitoring security cameras and participating in facility walk-throughs.
Respond to emergencies and initiate the appropriate response including contacting emergency-response systems as needed.
Maintain order and cleanliness of project by communicating & enforcing building rules and policies.
Work scheduled hours, effectively and efficiently, at stations and/or milieu coverage.
Engage clients and document services provided, as well as documenting any incidents which occur, during shift hours, in accordance with established policies & procedures.
Respond to client complaints.
Work cooperatively and being responsive to co-workers, clients, as well as community members, organizations and partners.
Perform routine cleaning functions while on shift.
Other duties as assigned.