Engagement Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy-based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self-care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

For more information about us, visit

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.

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. Larkin Street Youth Service seeks qualified candidates with an interest in the non-profit sector. We are committed to embracing diversity and consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for any open position in which they feel qualified. 

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.