Residential Counselor - Swing Shift

Downtown Emergency Service Center•Seattle, WA

About The Position

DESC is seeking energized and passionate Residential Counselors to manage basic day-to-day operations at its Permanent Supportive Housing Projects. Residential Counselors assist residents with daily needs, with particular emphasis on challenges related to severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. The role works alongside clinical and maintenance staff and visiting providers to support residents and maintain safe, well-operated buildings. The position is full-time and works a swing shift from 3:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., with Saturdays and Sundays off. It is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW. The hourly salary range is $32.72–$36.12, with a $0.50-per-hour shift differential. DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Its services include shelters and emergency housing, permanent supportive housing, scattered-site apartments, behavioral health treatment, crisis services, street outreach, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

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.
Commitment to cooperation and continuity across programs and to consideration and respect for clients.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in social or behavioral science.
Residential property management experience.
Experience with challenges related to 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 milieu and common areas.
Assist clinical staff in coordinating services for residents and contact residents’ outside service providers as necessary.
Help clinical staff engage residents through 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 initiate required actions, including contacting emergency response systems.
Record 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 project-based 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.