Crisis Advocate chez YWCA Seattle King Snohomish

Expectations of your role:

• Provides a welcoming, safe environment by building trust and professional rapport with clients
• Staffs the front desk to welcome women into the space, monitor cameras and respond to callers and visitors
• Offers support and encouragement to clients transitioning out of homelessness
• Assists in navigating the social service system, obtaining personal identification, apply for public assistance benefits, enrolling in Medicaid Benefits, and connecting clients to Employment Specialists at WorkSource
• Assists with housing applications, advocates by connecting with landlords, and assists in housing search
• Provides crisis intervention and de-escalation as needed as well as models positive behavior
• Coordinates group activities and community meetings with the clients
• Reads relevant documents to keep current with internal events, policies, and procedures (logs, newsflashes, and previous night’s records)
• Monitors outside activity, ensures sidewalks are safe and clear.
• Participates in staff meetings and trainings as directed and collaborate with Housing Support Specialist and Rapid Rehousing Case Manager
• Encourages a supportive community environment by coordinating activities and workshops to meet the needs of clients
• Actively engages in agency-wide Race & Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) and strives for racially equitable outcomes; takes responsibility for creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming community by making room for people of color, trans and gender-non-conforming folks and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppressions
• Incorporates the YWCA’s Social Justice Initiative by understanding how racism, sexism, classism and other oppressions intersect and are embedded in institutions.

Must have's to be successful:

• At least two years of direct social service and experience working in a shelter setting or with homeless population strongly desired
• Ability to work effectively and empathically with clients who have mental health and chemical related issues
• Must be able to respond in an emergency situation, ensuring correct emergency and safety procedures are followed
• Ability to engage with, possess a positive attitude around, provide an empathy client-centered approach, build professional rapport with, and helping relationships with our client group
• Commitment to diversity including sensitivity to the needs of clients, staff and volunteers from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds
• Strong organizational and record keeping skills, maintain accurate and complete records
• Obtain CPR/First Aid certification 30 days after hire
• Ability and willingness to work independently, be proactive, solve problems and take initiative as well as work in and add value to a team environment, pitching in as needed to "get the job done” and to make sound judgments without on-site supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Basic level of computer skills critical including use of database, word processing, spreadsheet software (Microsoft Office Suite including, Word, Outlook and Excel)
• Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures than your own.

Physical Demands

• All positions at YWCA of Seattle King Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms including but not limited to: domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, etc.  As a result, staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care when working indirectly or directly with clients
• Continuously uses speech and hearing abilities in exchanging information with clients, agency staff, employers, representatives of community organizations and other individuals in the community
• Frequently sits for extended periods while performing desktop activities
• Continuously stands and walks in performing duties in Center
• Frequently uses hands and wrists, fingering, handling, grasping, and reaching in using telephones, computers, kitchen equipment, donations and supplies
• Occasionally pushes and pulls up to ten pounds
• Frequently lifts and carries supplies weighing up to 50 pounds
• *Continuously = Over 80% of the time * Frequently = 20-80% * Occasionally = Under 20%

Hours, Rates, & Benefits

• Hourly Range: $27.00
• Hours: 36 hours per week
• Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans. For more information about our benefits, please visit: YWCA Careers & Benefits Information
• At the time of hire, employees may enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan
• After two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund