Behavioral and Housing Crisis Specialist - Swing Shift in Seattle, Washington at Downtown Emergency Service Center

Days Off: Sunday, Monday

Shift: Swing (1:30pm - 10:00pm)

Shift Differential: $0.50 per hour

Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC:

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs,19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

To support the needs of DESC tenants, staff, and surrounding community, Behavioral and Housing Crisis Specialist will work to engage clients and people in the program to enhance safety in and around the building in an effort to intervene before crisis arises. If a behavioral crisis does unfold, this role will take lead in crisis response as appropriate.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for coordinating real-time intervention to deescalate crisis in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
• Lead for implementation of crisis drills and other behavioral health interventions to support staff and clients to avoid crisis and remain housed.
• Checking in with the After-Hours Supervisors when on shift.
• Proactively outreach and engage with tenants in the building and nonclients that may be on the property.
• Enforce the DESC Good Neighbor policy and Project/Program rules with DESC Clients.
• Provide assistance to clients and others who are experiencing crises caused by mental illness and/or excessive drug/alcohol consumption.
• Intervene in client crises (medical, mental health, interpersonal)
• Participate in regular walk throughs of the building, engaging with tenant to build rapport
• De-escalate arguments and altercations happening immediately inside/outside of the Project/Program
• Proactively outreach all staff throughout your shift in order to assess ongoing needs and/or opportunities to engage with tenants.
• Provide support to Program staff to include, participating in home visits to apartments, provide additional support as necessary.
• Actively participate in care conferences if applicable.
• Initiate and maintain appropriate social interactions with clients.
• Think and act collaboratively with staff and clients to improve safety and cleanliness.
• Calling or coordinate the calling of 9-1-1 to address emergency situations.
• Coordinate with and direct emergency first responders to developments that require immediate attention.
• Discourage and report predatory and/or illicit behavior.
• Actively participate in staff meetings and in-service trainings with clinical and housing staff.
• Commitment to the Harm Reduction model and incorporating it into all aspects of the position.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least one-year experience in human services (paid or volunteer), preferably working with adults challenged by homelessness, mental illness and/or chemical dependency.
• Basic understanding of homelessness and various characteristics of homeless adult populations; experience with mental illness and/or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) preferred.
• At least one year of relevant experience in deescalating clients, crisis planning, effectively managing volatile situations. History of CPI training preferred.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds and disciplines.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Subscribe to philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs, and of consideration and respect for clients.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, communicate with other employees, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.