Relief Residential Counselor

TITLE:  Relief Residential Counselor

PROGRAM:   Huckleberry House

SALARY:       $15.00 – $16.50 per hour

STATUS:       Non-Exempt

SCHEDULE:  On-Call (both scheduled in advance and emergency coverage)

SUPERVISOR:        Program Director

AGENCY OVERVIEW:

Huckleberry Youth Programs (HYP) is a critical provider of essential safety net services for high-needs youth and their families in San Francisco and Marin County. For nearly 50 years, HYP has developed and maintained prevention programs that promote the health and leadership of youth, and, as a result, divert youth from violence, crime and gang involvement, as well as other harmful behaviors, including running away, drug/alcohol abuse, risky sexual activities, and involvement in the juvenile justice system.  The agency employs approximately 50 staff members, and operates on a $5 million annual budget.

DUTIES:

1. Provision of house coverage includes:
   1. Direct supervision of the youth in the shelter, on outings in community, and during meetings and/or appointments in the community
   2. When directed to by lead residential staff: Conducting  Intake assessments with youth, including interviewing parents, guardians, and/or other involved adults
   3. Crisis counseling for drop-in clients and families and housed clients
   4. Phone coverage, including answering and responding to incoming crisis, business informational and referral calls
2. Supervision of housed clients as follows:
   1. Facilitate in-house groups and recreational activities
   2. Supervise clients in the daily schedule: including chores, educational time, recreational time, and mealtimes
   3. Supervise evening activities: including group time, homework time, mealtime, phone time, free time, and bed time prep
   4. Supervise clients during morning activities: including wake up, school departure, and meal preparation
   5. Supervise clients on awake overnight shift: including regular bed checks and possible intakes
   6. Follow through with boundary setting and consequences
   7. Conduct “check-ins” with housed clients
   8. Assure that house rules and procedures are maintained at all times
   9. Follow all CCL regulations, including those pertaining to medication distribution, meal preparation, and chemical storage
3. Knowledge of safety and emergency procedures as outlined in agency emergency procedures manual and program manual
4. Responsible for household maintenance, including;
   1. Maintaining a clean and safe facility: including some light cleaning and organizing of workspaces
   2. During awake overnight shift, complete the overnight checklist to ensure facility is prepared for next day
   3. Coordinating the arrangements for repairs and maintenance as instructed by the Program Director
5. Participate in daily client reviews when on shift, occasional agency trainings, and other agency related meetings as directed by the Program Director
6. Perform other duties related to this position, as directed by the Program Director

SCHEDULING:

1. Relief Residential Counselors are scheduled to cover the shifts of full time residential staff when they are on vacation or need time off. Occasionally, Relief Residential Counselors can be called in for emergency coverage when full time staff calls in sick, or additional staffing is needed at the facility.
2. Relief Residential Counselors are scheduled for shifts monthly, usually 2-3 weeks before the month begins. Every attempt is made to distribute shifts evenly amongst Relief staff.  However, after the first round of scheduling by e-mail, scheduling becomes open to those who are most available and/or most responsive to e-mail and calls.

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE:

1. Maintain professional standards of performance, demeanor and appearance at all times
2. Perform tasks and responsibilities in a complete and timely manner, complying with agency policies and standards and conforming to scheduling requirements of this job description and program;
3. Maintain a creative, team-building, cooperative approach to job performance and seek to bring a constructive problem-solving orientation to all tasks;
4. Maintain an awareness of the agency’s mission and work to promote the positive individual and social change goals it embodies,
5. Exercise discretion and professional judgment at all times in keeping with the responsibility carried personally and by the agency for the care and welfare of youth and families;
6. Actively strive to upgrade personal skills through engaging in appropriate professional training experiences.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. BA degree in Human/Social Services or Related field preferred.
2. 2. Experience (minimum one year) in working with adolescents and providing crisis services to        youth and their families;
3. Criminal Justice clearance as required by the Agency and CCL; TB and health clearance; valid     first aid certificate; valid CA drivers license, clean DMV record, 2 years previous driving       experience and any additional requirements issued by Community Care Licensing.
4. Openness to working various types of shifts, including: day, evening, weekend, and awake overnights.
5. Relief staff must be available to work a minimum of 24 hours per month.
6. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and sit.     The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and use hands or fingers, handle or feel       objects, tools and controls.
7. 7. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities        required by his job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and       the ability to adjust focus.

Huckleberry Youth Programs is committed to workforce diversity.  Qualified applicants will receive full consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin.

If interested in the position, please send resume and cover letter to Patrick Buckalew, Residential Coordinator: pbuckalew@huckleberryyouth.org  OR 1292 Page Street, San Francisco, CA 94117.