Shelter Coordinator / Residential Counselor - Swing

DESC • Seattle, WA

114d

About The Position

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness. As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness. The Shelter Coordinator/Residential Counselor is responsible for crisis management, milieu therapy, and effective and safe daily building operation. In addition to the regular Residential Counselor (RC) duties, the Swing Shift Shelter Coordinator has coordination responsibilities for ensuring the safe and orderly operations of the Kerner-Scott House Women’s Shelter providing services to homeless women.

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.
• Current Washington State Driver’s License and insurable driving record; ability to drive agency van to transport women who use shelter to and from downtown referral center.

Nice To Haves

• BA degree in social or behavioral science.
• Residential property management experience.
• Experience with the challenges of mental illness and substance use.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that newly hired RCs understand the mission of the shelter and its unique role in the process of engagement, stabilization and achieving housing.
• Assure that new RCs meet with the outreach worker to get a clear understanding of the HOST outreach function and the history of the shelter.
• Assure that staff understand the difference between Priority and Non-Priority clients.
• Train and orient new staff to Policies and Procedures.
• Ensure that registration of clients and documentation of services provided during shift are carried out in accordance with established procedures.
• Coordinate referral of clients from shift staff to outreach worker for assessment, or for referral to outside service providers.
• Organize Information and Referral paperwork, keep updated and available to hand out to clients.
• In conjunction with the agency Donations Coordinator, coordinate donations given to the shelter, request new donations, coordinate specialty donations such as holiday items.
• Assure currency of Bar List and Priority List, review with outreach worker as needed.
• Assure that registrations are completed and entered into Chasers.
• Assure that Safe Harbors data are collected and entered into Chasers in timely manner.
• Work with assigned clinical staff to promote effective swing shift function, particularly positive cooperation and clinical unity of purpose with night shift.
• Assure that swing shift staff fulfill assigned tasks in a reliable, flexible, collaborative way.
• Gather, label and date left-over belongings.
• Assure timely disposal of left-over belongings.
• Assure walk-throughs at beginning of swing shift.
• Interact with residents and shelter guests in the general milieu of Kerner-Scott House common areas.
• Assist clinical staff in the coordination of services to residents and shelter guests.
• Assist clinical staff in outreach and engagement of service-resistant clients 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 Project Manager and clinical staff.
• Operate entry control and security functions, including checking visitors in and out, answering telephones and monitoring security systems.
• Maintain safety and security by monitoring all resident/guest access areas and enforcing building rules.
• Respond to emergencies and initiate action as required.
• Enter significant events involving residents and building operations activities in a computer-based daily log.
• Assist with room turnovers, new resident leasing and orientation, rent collection, and facilities inspections.
• Assist with coordination of catered meal program. Prepare meals as needed.
• Respond to resident complaints and requests.
• Initiate appropriate response to maintenance requests.
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings.
• Assist with other property management functions as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)
• Dental
• Life
• Long-term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• ORCA card subsidy
• Paid Time Off (34 days per year)
• Retirement Plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees