Larkin Street provides youth between the ages of 12 and 24 with the help they need to rebuild their lives. Each year, more than 3,000 youth walk through our doors seeking help. We give them a place where they can feel safe; rebuild their sense of self-respect, trust, and hope; learn school, life and job skills; and find the confidence to build a future.

Larkin Street was founded in 1984 by a group of local business owners, church members, and neighbors who were concerned by the rising number of young people engaging in risky behaviors on the streets of San Francisco. With comprehensive youth service programs located throughout San Francisco, Larkin Street Youth Services is now an internationally recognized model successfully integrating housing, education, employment and health services to get homeless and at-risk youth off the streets.

We raise the bar by redefining success from securing independent housing to achieving a permanent pathway out of poverty. We have established bold goals for the youth in our services:

Living-wage employment

Two years of post-secondary education

Safe and stable housing

Physical and emotional wellbeing

We have Full Time and Part Time positions available

REPORTS TO: Program Manager

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: The primary role of the Residential Counselor is to maintain a safe, healthy, and appropriate environment for service delivery to homeless and/or marginally housed transitional aged youth. The Residential Counselor performs this role by maintaining facility control through shift coverage, providing information about availability and types of services to clients, providing certain services to clients, and documenting efforts.

SUPERVISES: None

EXEMPT STATUS: Non Exempt

UNION STATUS: Union

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Maintain facility control:
Maintain shift coverage and primary supervision and support of clients. Answer phone and direct callers appropriately.
Set and contribute to a safe, dignified, orderly atmosphere by enforcing program rules, policies, and procedures.
Conduct regular rounds of facility (including bed checks and locker checks,) and interact with clients to share information, provide supplies, and facilitate interventions.
Ensure safety of clients by controlling access to facilities and helping to ensure adequate health and safety standards are maintained throughout the facility.
Perform minor janitorial and maintenance duties (including, but not limited to mopping, taking trash out, cleaning dishes and kitchen, changing lightbulbs) while reporting major facility issues through trouble ticket system.
Respond to emergencies appropriately, including contacting appropriate staff, and interacting and cooperating with police, fire, and medical personnel as needed.
Participate in emergency preparation activities, such as fire drills.
Assess incoming clients for dangerous situations (intoxication, bag checks)

Provide information about availability and types of services:

Provide linkage and referral to other Larkin Street services like case management and education and employment services
Provide linkage and referral to appropriate external services
Provide clear information about services available immediately.

Provide services to clients:

Teach basic life skills including but not limited to personal interaction, meal preparation, cleaning, grocery shopping, and household maintenance
Model appropriate personal interaction and life skills at all times
Lead groups on skills building as needed.
Ensure that client chores are done
Provide transportation and accompaniment to client appointments in the community.
Document efforts:
Maintain thorough and accurate records of client interaction within CMIS system, including progress notes, intakes, and some assessments.
Prepare shift notes and log notes
Create incident reports
Participate on client review teams and CQI teams on an as-needed basis
Maintain program specific client records such as work/school schedules, curfews

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Participate in agency wide activities included but not limited to new hire orientation and other training and all-staff meetings.

Oversight and maintenance of community spaces.
Safety awareness of situations and spaces
Effective management of resources including foodstuffs (communal dinners), laundry and perimeter of facility.
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.
Other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL & LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
Ability to multi-task and efficiently manage priority action items
Requires ability to lift, transfer, push/pull, maneuver, and reposition 25 lbs.
Ability to reach, bend and walk.
Finger manipulation.
Ability to comprehend complex materials.
Ability to speak and write English clearly and accurately.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Psychology or Social Work preferred or equivalent experience in a residential program.

BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE:

2-3 years of experience working with high-risk youth in a shelter and/or transitional or supportive housing program(s) preferred.
Ability to notice symptoms of use and abuse, recovery and treatment philosophies.
Working knowledge of issues facing homeless youth who are actively using substances.
Must be a self-starter with excellent follow-through skills.
Must also have ability to work with high-risk youth and with diverse staff, clients, and volunteers.
Must have a clean driving record
Opportunities for Bi-Lingual in Spanish are available.

COMPENSATION:

Competitive Salary & Excellent Benefits
Choice of Kaiser medical plans, plus dental and vision- (with coverage at no cost for one of the Kaiser and Dental plans as well as Vision for Employees only)
Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible spending accounts
Life Insurance
Vacation- (starting at 3 weeks, increasing to 5 weeks by year five)
Sick time
11 Paid Holidays + Floating Holidays
Employee Assistance Program
Health Advocate Service
Commuter Benefits Program
Paid Sabbatical following 5 years of employment
403(b) retirement plan

This position is represented by SEIU 1021 under a collective bargaining agreement.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit a cover letter and resume to employment@larkinstreetyouth.org then in the Subject Box please indicate the position that you are applying for.

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. Larkin Street Youth Service seeks qualified candidates with 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.