Crisis Intervention Specialist

St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco operates the Multi-Service Center - Northern California’s largest homeless shelter, Navigation Centers for chronically homeless individuals and couples and the Riley Center - Domestic Violence shelter and services for survivors. We have over 125 employees working in 4 locations. We are proud of our diversity and of our more than 150 year history of helping others in San Francisco. St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco’s mission is to offer hope and service, on a direct person to person basis, working to break the cycles of homelessness and domestic violence.

SUMMARY:

St. Vincent de Paul Society seeks a full time Crisis Intervention Specialist to serve homeless men and women at Multi-Service Center South who might present with or develop serious levels of mental health, substance use, and/or physical conditions that might compromise the self-care of guests. Candidates for the position must demonstrate cultural competency in working with a diverse population and must have experience and knowledge about crisis intervention techniques to address acute mental health, substance use, and/or self-care related conditions. The position will require support for the Supportive Services Team and Program team in assessing, planning, and linking these specific clients with higher level of care. This is a Full-time, Exempt position. Full medical benefits plus voluntary dental/vision/life insurance. Salary DOE.

BENEFIT OVERVIEW

Kaiser HMO paid in full for employee. Voluntary dental, life, and vision insurance. 403b retirement plan with employer paid match after 1 year of employment. Ten vacation and ten sick days accrued per year. Two personal floating holidays and twelve and a half holidays offered per year.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with Supportive Services staff and program staff to identify, assess, and link guests considered in crisis to higher level of care within and outside of the shelter system.
• Collaborate with the Tom Waddell staff to establish clear and detailed plans of action for guests that might return to the shelter after a crisis.
• Comply with all Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing contractual requirements for supportive services.
• Write and maintain clear, detailed, and organized reports and logs of clients who meet criteria for shelter placement concerns.
• Maintain accurate client records using ETO database. Collect and report data as required.
• Identify, assess, and follow up regularly with guests who might be considered at-risk of having a crisis episode.
• Seek, establish and maintain close relationships with social services, mental health, and medical community clinics and hospitals to better support our guests in need of higher level of care
• Provide crisis counseling as needed.
• Create, organize, and conduct psycho-educational groups related to stress management, self-care, mental health, and/or substance to minimize and prevent crisis related incidents.
• Provide written and verbal translation as needed.
• Collaborate with Intake Specialist and Resource Specialist in the creation of treatment plans and goals to address and minimize crisis related incidents.
• Attend weekly meetings with supervisor and all meetings and trainings as required.
• Link our at-risk guests to appropriate level of mental health care, medical care, and IHSS workers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BA/BS in health care, nursing, health science or related field required (MA/MS preferred) with extensive experience with crisis intervention.
• Strong verbal, reading and written English communication skills.
• Comfort working around a diverse community including LGBTQQ, mental illness and varying ethnicities.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with intense, high risk, and sometimes volatile homeless clients.
• Strong reporting skills including data entry, Excel and Word Processing.
• Oral fluency in English and Spanish preferred.
• .Sensitivity to the needs of diverse ethnic, cultural, religious and gender/transgender populations.
• Ability to be compassionate and respectful while treating clients with dignity.
• Ability to advocate for clients and be resourceful in helping them with services.
• Ability to de-escalate crisis situations and make decisions under pressure.
• Strong initiative and ability to work both independently and cooperatively.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with guests, volunteers and staff.
• Commitment to the mission of St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco.

Covid-19 vaccination and booster required

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records.