Engagement Counselor

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Under the guidance of the Program Manager, the Engagement Counselor welcomes clients to our main drop in center. Engagement Counselors greet youth visitors and help them access food, laundry, shower and case management services. It’s the responsibility of Engagement Counselors to monitor the well-being of drop-in clients, offer resources, and organize events and activities to learn life skills, build community, and spark excitement about education, employment and creative development.

This is a full-time position, eligible for full benefits.

Your responsibilities:

• Responsible for contributing towards the care and welfare of clients we serve. This includes crisis intervention and helping to maintain the safety of the program.

• Provide support to the Engagement & Community Center, including the front desk team and food services.

• Engage successfully with a diverse client population who may be struggling with substance use dependency, untreated mental health symptoms, and survival-based trauma.

• Handle crisis situations through de-escalation techniques and assist clients as they process social and emotional problems.

• Facilitate and engage youth in groups and workshops

• Practice life skills in training for youth through modeling, active counseling and motivational interviewing and facilitation of groups

• Promote wellness of the community through a harm reduction approach

• Ensure the safety and security of all clients, staff, volunteers and the facility

• Collect client information through intake, assessment and survey distribution, organize that information by entering data into paper-based and electronic-based data systems and obtain additional information by coordinating with other professional sources.

• Assists individuals by working with other programs to ensure youth are moving through continuum of Larkin Street services and/or city services while helping individuals understand and overcome social and emotional problems.

• In conjunction with internal resources, the counselor may teach or hold group meetings relating to Larkin Street Core Curriculum and approved educational material.

• Maintaining the cleanliness and operations of the facility including general upkeep of space, helping to prepare and serve meals, maintaining storage areas, correct activity schedules and signage displayed, and other tasks assigned by program management

• Responsible for supporting program services within the milieu. For example, crisis intervention or helping to maintain the safety of the program.

• Responsible for contributing towards the care and welfare of staff and to the clients we serve.

• Participate in professional development activities to enhance skill levels for clients

• Oversee shower, laundry, and clothing closet services

• Other duties as assigned

WHO YOU ARE:

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• You embody our values and core strategies: "This Is How We Roll":
  • Client-Centered
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Restorative Practices
  • Harm Reduction
  • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
  • Motivational Interviewing
• You have some social services and/or direct-service experience.
  • *BONUS* You have experience working in drop-in services, shelter, transitional, and/or permanent supportive housing programs.
• You are most excited to serve Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 25 of diverse backgrounds.
• You are a self-starter and team player. Your colleagues describe you as compassionate, dependable, and patient.
• You work best in an on site, in person working environment. This role is 100% onsite/in person.
• You are willing to work holidays occasionally.

THE PERKS:

• Hourly Rate of $23.00-$24.54
  • +$1.50 for bilingual incentive pay. Must be fluent in Spanish and English.
• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 Paid Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses.
• Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services.
• Health Advocate Service.
• Commuter Benefits Programs.
• Paid Sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment.