Engagement Specialist I

Overview

Catholic Housing Services believes everyone deserves the right to a safe, affordable place to call home.  Inspired by this vision, CHS develops, owns and manages affordable housing programs for low-income families and individuals; currently including 2,100 units of housing in 50 different buildings across Western Washington.   We provide supportive services for people who have experienced homelessness, low-income seniors, farm worker families, and those who have special physical and mental needs. Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services work together in partnership to provide permanent supportive housing to individuals and families who have experienced homelessness in King County.  We believe that everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home.  We understand that people experiencing homelessness come to us with complex histories, and that it takes a highly collaborative, creative team to help end the cycle of homelessness permanently.   

The Josephinum is a 221-unit historic building in the Belltown neighborhood of Downtown Seattle. Josephinum provides studio and 1 bedroom apartment homes and supportive services to formerly homeless persons. The street level of the building is shared with Christ our Hope Catholic Church. There are several other social service programs occupying space in the building as well.

This position offers a compensation of $23.87 per hour.

Full‑time, 40‑hour position include a competitive benefits package:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus life insurance and long‑term disability
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Generous paid time off, including paid sick leave, 15 vacation days, 12 paid holidays, and 1 personal holiday
• CCS/CHS 403(b) Employee Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Schedule: Wednesday to Sunday, 11:30 PM to 7:30 AM (overnight shift)

Responsibilities

Direct service to clients

• Provide crisis intervention and advocacy to participants.
• Coordinate with other social service agency workers (e.g. case managers, social workers, medical professionals, etc.) to provide for clients' immediate needs.
• Model interpersonal and living skills for clients.
• Carry out building and program rules.
• Maintain a safe and comfortable program environment.
• Assist janitorial and maintenance staff as needed, including removal of debris from client spaces, when necessary, routine debris removal from the common areas and other janitorial assistance.
• Work as a team with other colleagues on shift and be able to work independently without direct supervision. 
• Work in-person at a program and attend required in-person agency meetings.

Client intake, assessment, and advocacy  

• Register new clients including evaluation and assessment of client needs.
• Review and record notes and information into databases that are relevant to other staff members and/or help ensure program consistency.
• Maintain client records, updating information on an ongoing basis.
• Explain and implement policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate client count throughout shifts.
• Dispense personal belongings and supplies to clients.
• Complete frequent scheduled unit, building, and grounds checks throughout shifts.
• Engage outside professionals (e.g. Mental Health Professionals, Emergency First Responders, External Service Providers, etc.) when appropriate.

Client Services Duties

• Manage front desk and site security, including welcoming clients, visitors and donors, receive in-kind donations, sorting and distributing mail, monitoring security cameras and lobby, implementing building and program rules, and sanitizing client belongings.
• Perform routine walkthroughs of the entire facility to engage with clients and ensure safety.
• Process messages and maintain accurate client tracking records.
• Answer phones and provide information to callers about services offered at the program and other locations.
• Lead activities and/or groups.
• Assist with serving and preparing meals, snacks, and beverages.
• Assist in hosting events for the clients and public.
• Assist clients as they move into or out of the program as needed.

Supervision of Volunteers

• Supervise volunteers on shift
• Work with off-site volunteers providing advice and support as needed.

Administrative and General Responsibilities

• Attend staff meetings, workshops, retreats, and in-service classes as assigned.
• Maintain accurate record of hours worked, record hours worked daily, and approve timecards before deadline.
• Contribute to and support a positive, team-oriented work environment; participate with other staff members in group decision-making process. 
• Maintain cleanliness and organization in the program.
• Assist with client and program laundry as needed.
• Inform supervisors of facilities and client-related issues.  
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Job Conditions:

This position requires the employee to work in an environment where there may be exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious material.  Other exposures could include cleaning supplies, bedbugs, chemicals involved in pest control, paint and other materials used in building maintenance, building temperature fluctuations, dust, noise, and odors.  Working conditions include interruptions, crisis response, and regular interactions with individuals who are dealing with issues of chemical dependency and/or mental illness, or are experiencing anger or frustration. 

Physical Requirements:

The requirements 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.

• The employee is frequently required to talk, hear, stand, walk, use hands to finger/ handle/feel/type, operate office machinery and reach with hands and arms. Requires the ability to regularly push, pull, lift and/or carry supplies up to 20 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work takes place at the agency work location for the duration of the scheduled shift where long periods of sitting, working on a computer, walking to various work areas, going up and down stairs, and standing are required.

Mental Requirements:

The cognitive skills needed to complete tasks, including abilities such as learning, remembering, focusing, categorizing, and integrating information for decision making, problem-solving, and comprehending.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• One-year experience working in a social service and/or customer service role
• Experience or knowledge of mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or homeless services.
• Knowledge and experience with crisis intervention.
• Commitment to harm reduction and housing first program model.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to commit to developing and safekeeping a workplace that values and supports a culturally diverse work environment.
• Experience with Microsoft office suite of programs and related databases.
• Must have a reliable means of communication (e.g. phone, voicemail service, email, etc.) at all times in which to be reached.
• Ability to adapt and respond to different people and situations through a trauma informed lens
• Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of the Coordinated Care Agency and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority.
• Support and contribute to a creative, collaborative and respectful environment that promotes teamwork.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations.
• Criminal history background checks are required prior to employment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain food handler’s permit within 30 days of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working with people experiencing housing instability.
• Lived experience with poverty, housing instability, mental health, and/or substance use disorders.
• College level classes toward degree in Social Service or related field.
• Previous work experience in programs that work with clients with high support needs.
• CPR/First Aid training.
• Ability to speak secondary language that is commonly spoken by clients.

Note to Internal Candidates: HR reviews internal compensation and determines any increase based on their experience and also agency internal equity factors.

Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position.

EMPLOYEE/EMPLOYER PLEDGE: We will not tolerate attitudes, behaviors, or statements that alienate, offend, or injure any person associated with CCS because of their racial or ethnic origin.  We will enable and support all efforts to become aware of and eliminate racism and racist behaviors within CCS and the broader community.  We will take exceptional steps to identify and root out such biases, especially where there appear to be long standing, institutional patterns of unacceptable behavior or lack of performance.