Residential Counselor
San Diego Youth Services
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Residential Counselor
San Diego Youth Services seeks a Residential Counselor in the Stay Safe Wellness Center to be based in San Diego. This is a full-time & non-exempt position reporting to the Stay Safe Wellness Center Program Manager.
San Diego Youth Services: Who we are
San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 780,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.
We aim to:
- Meet the basic needs of youth. Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
- Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
- Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
- Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.
SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million.
You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION OR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION HIRING FOR
Safe STAY Wellness Center provides up to 43 beds and supportive services to all youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Safe Stay Program provides specialized wrap-around assistance to youth at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. The Residential Counselor is responsible for ensuring that the facility is safe and accessible and that the overall milieu is supportive, affirming and youth driven. Responsible for providing comprehensive trauma-informed peer support services to youth in the center and ensure that standards relating to inclusivity and safety are maintained. Staff also are responsible for the maintenance and supervision of Safe Stay Wellness Center Gender Affirming Housing Component with transitional age youth residents staying the program.
Essential functions include:
- Assist with implementing and evaluating an integrated approach for transition-aged youth, some with co-occurring disorders, in quality trauma informed youth programs, which adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
- Be able to work 5 days a week. Days and shifts can be discussed during the interview process. Weekend days may be required for shift.
- Establish rapport with transition-aged youth from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Link youth with resources that are appropriate to their individualized needs.
- Provide evening/overnight and weekend supervision of transitional aged youth, 18-24. Staff is expected to do hourly walks by units, to ensure program guidelines are being followed.
- Supervise youth meal preparation/distribution, house maintenance, and other in-house activities as scheduled or needed.
- Support advocacy efforts for youth serviced within and across the TAY system of care and assist youth in locating, coordinating and developing informal and formal resources and networks in the community.
- Provide telephone crisis intervention services during all working hours.
- Participate in all required training, meetings, and consultation/supervisions. And stay current on best practices for Support/Peer Partners.
- Participate in the maintenance of the day-to-day cleanliness and order of the physical facility and grounds.
- Ensure that the guidelines are being followed by residents and the program is a safe place for all.
- Work collaboratively and cooperatively with staff and volunteers within the program, the center, the agency, and the community.
- Participate in carrying out agency plans and vision and appropriate agency-wide committees as applicable.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation on all services provided to youth.
- Document all services provided and complete incident reports as needed prior to leaving shift.
- Promote greater youth participation in policy, program and service delivery at Safe Stay Shelter and within San Diego Youth Services.
- Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service-partners health protected information, as well as other application information and material in accordance with agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
- Participate in implementing the agency’s resource development plan as appropriate.
- Perform other duties as required.
REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- High School diploma minimum, with experience working with youth/adults in a residential or shelter service setting.
- Demonstrated ability to work with youth-in-crisis and transition and work as a Residential Team Member implementing programming.
- Experience working with LGBTQ+ youth and young adults preferred.
- Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma informed care and experience working in trauma informed programs preferred.
- Criminal history and DMV records must meet required standards and must be willing to use their own transportation for work purposes with a mileage reimbursement.
- Willing to go through clearance process which may include drug testing (Hire is pending the results of appropriate clearances).
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must have ability to bend at the waist, kneel or crouch to assist students.
- Must have the ability to hear and speak to exchange information and make presentations.
- Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds-lifting books, materials and equipment to execute lessons and presentations.
- Sitting or standing for extended periods of time.
- Walking extended lengths to move around campuses.
- Potential exposure to physical injury from aggressive behavior.
SDYS EXPECTATIONS
- Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
- Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
- Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
- Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
- Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
- Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
- Employment is subject to required clearances which include tuberculosis test, fingerprinting, background checks, and drug testing.
Salary Range: $19.00 – 21.00/hour
To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.
SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer. Read more about the PSLF program here.
All are welcome at San Diego Youth Services.
As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.
The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well. SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.
SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.
SDYS is proud to be a kindness certified company.