Residential Advisor Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Residential Advisor Counselor in the TAY Housing program to be based in San Diego. This is a part-time & non-exempt position reporting to the Program Manager and Program Coordinator.

San Diego Youth Services: Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 834,000 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 16,000 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION:

Supervision, monitoring residents being housed by SDYS; attend trainings, social/ emotional supports and works cooperatively with program staff and SDYS Housing & Facilities Department to provide consistent services to all residents focused on safety and thriving.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Contribute to the integrated trauma-informed approach for youth, adhering to and upholding the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
2. Sustain SDYS’s commitment to family and youth driven care.
3. Work collaboratively and cooperatively with staff and supportive service providers within the program, the agency, and the community.
4. Respond to emails and text messages in a timely manner.
5. Participate in all required trainings and consultation/supervisions.
6. Assist in developing a sense of community that focuses on safety, including familiarizing oneself with all residents and surrounding neighbors.
7. Provide immediate and/or timely prevention and intervention around situations involving residents.
8. Provide crisis intervention during the evenings and weekends that includes immediate notification of supervisory or on-call staff, document and complete incident reports as required.
9. Provide assistance in conflict resolution.
10. Be seen proactively as an engagement point for residents.
11. Monitor, supervise, and support residents’ application of independent living skills.
12. Monitor cleanliness & maintenance of residents’ apartments as well as the overall complex.
13. Conduct apartment inspections twice a month and community spot checks as advised by Program Manager.
14. Conduct nightly facility and parking lot checks to ensure safety and security of all residents and facility.
15. Review cameras for assigned site.
16. Maintain warm, welcoming grounds and facilities.
17. Attend staff meetings.
18. Coordinate monthly meetings/ groups for residents.
19. Maintain communication log (daily debriefs) and contract compliance of records as required.
20. Welcome and support volunteers in the organization and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
21. 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.
22. Maintain a working knowledge of the facility security system.
23. Submit facilities and maintenance requests in a timely manner and communicate it with TAY Housing team.
24. Remind service partners about upcoming rent. Collect and submit rent (money orders/ checks) BY the 4th of every month.
25. Other duties as assigned or required.

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.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• 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.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Able to reside on site and model safety and appropriate independent living skills for residents.
• Able to work 20 hours a week (Monday 9am-1pm, Tues-Fri 6pm to 10pm).
• Sensitivity to a variety of social/cultural backgrounds, including former foster youth.
• Must be flexible and willing to support youth by providing immediate or timely interventions during crisis situations. These can occur at random hours and over the weekends.
• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred.
• Must maintain CPR/First-Aid Certificate.
• Youth and Parent Support Partners Encouraged to Apply.
• Must have valid CA driver’s license, a good driving record, and be able to be insured.
• Must be willing and able to drive an agency van.
• Employment subject to clearances, which include background fingerprinting checks, driving record, Tuberculosis testing, and drug testing.
• Must be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government, and health authorities to maintain safety and health when the job requires physical presence and/or contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the submission of proof of vaccination as mandated by the California Public Health Order.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Hourly Range: $21 - $23

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.

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.