Residential Counselor - Swing Shift

DESC•Burien, WA

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About The Position

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, 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. We are looking for energized and passionate Residential Counselors to manage basic day-to-day operations at our Permanent Supportive Housing Projects. Residential Counselors assist the individuals living in our supportive housing with their daily needs, with special emphasis on challenges related to severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders.

Requirements

Basic understanding of homelessness and various characteristics of homeless adult population.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.
Subscription to philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

Nice To Haves

BA degree in social or behavioral science.
Residential property management experience.
Experience with the challenges of mental illness and substance use.
Current Washington State Driver’s License, insurable driving record, ability to drive agency van and transport tenants.

Responsibilities

Interact with residents in the general milieu and common areas.
Assist clinical staff in the coordination of services to residents; contact residents' outside service providers as necessary.
Assist clinical staff in engaging residents through creative, resourceful strategies that build trust and confidence.
Assist clinical staff in the initiation, facilitation and promotion of on-site activities, therapeutic support groups, outings and community meetings.
Manage all building operations in the absence of other project and clinical staff as assigned.
Operate all functions in lobby office, including checking visitors in and out, answering telephones and monitoring security systems.
Maintain safety and security by monitoring all general access areas and enforcing project rules.
Intervene in crises, respond to emergencies, and initiate action as required, including contact with emergency response systems.
Write significant events involving residents and building operations activities in a daily log; read log daily.
Assist with room turnovers, new resident leasing and orientation; rent collection and facilities inspections.
Respond to resident complaints.
Work cooperatively with clinical and maintenance staff sited at the project and with visiting providers; refer residents to clinical and other staff as necessary
Initiate appropriate response to maintenance requests.
Participate in staff meetings and trainings.
Assist with other property management functions as assigned.
Other duties as assigned.