Crisis Intervention Specialist

Job Description

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.

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.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco’s, Multi-Service Center, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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

Job Type: Full-time