Residential Counselor - Swing Shift

Downtown Emergency Service Center•Seattle, WA

About The Position

DESC is seeking an energized and passionate Residential Counselor to manage basic day-to-day operations at its Permanent Supportive Housing projects. Residential Counselors assist residents with daily needs, with particular attention to challenges related to severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. The position works with clinical and maintenance staff, visiting providers, residents, and outside service providers to support residents and maintain safe, functional housing operations. This is a full-time, union-represented position with a swing shift schedule and Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. The shift differential is $0.50 per hour. Salary is $32.72–$36.12 per hour. DESC provides medical coverage with no premiums or payroll deductions for employee coverage, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, a Flexible Spending Account, an ORCA card subsidy, 34 days of paid time off per year, and a retirement plan.

Requirements

Basic understanding of homelessness and characteristics of the 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 a philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s 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, and ability to drive an agency van and transport tenants.

Responsibilities

Interact with residents in general milieus and common areas.
Assist clinical staff in coordinating resident services and contact residents’ outside service providers as necessary.
Help clinical staff engage residents using creative, resourceful strategies that build trust and confidence.
Assist clinical staff with initiating, facilitating, and promoting on-site activities, therapeutic support groups, outings, and community meetings.
Manage building operations in the absence of other project and clinical staff, as assigned.
Operate lobby office functions, including checking visitors in and out, answering telephones, and monitoring security systems.
Maintain safety and security by monitoring general access areas and enforcing project rules.
Intervene in crises, respond to emergencies, and take required action, including contacting emergency response systems.
Document significant resident events and building operations activities in a daily log and read the log daily.
Assist with room turnovers, new resident leasing and orientation, rent collection, and facilities inspections.
Respond to resident complaints.
Work cooperatively with on-site clinical and maintenance staff and visiting providers; refer residents to clinical and other staff as necessary.
Initiate appropriate responses to maintenance requests.
Participate in staff meetings and trainings.
Assist with other property management functions as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.