Residential Counselor- FT Weekend

Description

JOB TITLE: Residential Counselor – Full-Time Weekend

FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

PROGRAM: Crisis Services Program / Emergency Shelter

SCHEDULE: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues 9am-7pm

JOB OBJECTIVE: To provide consistent weekend residential coverage, crisis intervention, intake and referral services, and case management support to youth and families served through the Emergency Shelter. This position serves as a consistent full-time member of the weekend team and supports continuity between weekday and weekend operations through communication, follow-through, documentation, and coordination of identified youth and program needs.

Direct Service

Essential Functions:

• Provide awake supervision and support of shelter residents during assigned shifts.
• Continuously engage and support youth using Positive Youth Development and trauma-informed approaches.
• Facilitate problem-solving and conflict-resolution activities with residents as needed.
• Coordinate and supervise activities for residents when appropriate or assigned.
• Provide individual life-skills instruction and support as assigned.
• Provide case management support as assigned.
• Provide crisis intervention, referral, and intake services through the crisis phone line, crisis walk-in service, Safe Place, and other established crisis-response systems.
• Provide intake and assessment services to youth and families referred to the shelter program.
• Facilitate the referral process for potential clients to Oasis programs and/or appropriate external resources.
• Support timely response to weekend and after-hours referrals and walk-ins.
• Provide liaison, advocacy, and referral services with mental health centers, hospitals, courts, school systems, Department of Children’s Services, and other community partners as needed.
• Support youth with scheduled weekend appointments, family contacts, passes, transportation, community activities, and other identified service needs.
• Transport residents as needed.
• Participate with supervisors, therapists, and appropriate staff regarding specific case-related needs.
• Document client interactions in a consistent and ethical manner.
• Related tasks as assigned.

Administration

Essential Functions:

• Maintain consistent and timely records, including relevant reports to meet funding and licensing requirements.
• Assist in the preparation for monitoring visits by funding and licensing sources.

Non-Essential Functions: None

Weekend Continuity Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Review the weekday-to-weekend communication log, resident profiles, service needs, and other relevant documentation at the beginning of the weekend assignment.
• Maintain awareness of each resident’s planned weekend activities, appointments, transportation, family contacts, passes, safety considerations, and anticipated discharge or transition needs.
• Follow through on identified weekend tasks and case management needs assigned by the program team.
• Support completion of time-sensitive referrals, calls, appointments, and service coordination that occur during the weekend rather than unnecessarily deferring these responsibilities until the next business day.
• Ensure weekend crisis calls, walk-ins, referrals, and potential admissions receive timely attention and are appropriately documented.
• Communicate significant changes in a youth’s circumstances, safety, placement, or service needs to the appropriate supervisor, therapist, or on-call staff.
• Ensure information regarding weekend admissions, discharges, incidents, family contacts, transportation, appointments, and other significant events is documented for the returning weekday team.
• Identify unresolved needs requiring weekday follow-up and clearly document those needs and actions already taken.
• Support a consistent weekend-to-weekday handoff so that the weekday team can continue services without unnecessary duplication or reconstruction of weekend events.
• Maintain awareness of available shelter capacity and promptly communicate potential admissions, discharges, or barriers affecting bed utilization through established program procedures.
• Identify recurring weekend operational barriers and communicate those concerns to the Shelter Manager.
• Participate in designated weekday staff meetings, supervision, or training as scheduled to maintain connection with the full program team.

Crisis Line, Walk-In & Referral Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Answer and respond to assigned crisis-line calls in accordance with program procedures.
• Provide crisis intervention and resource information to youth, families, and community members.
• Respond to under-18 walk-ins and other eligible after-hours walk-in requests.
• Complete initial screening, referral, and intake responsibilities within the scope of the position.
• Contact the appropriate supervisor, therapist, or on-call staff when consultation or authorization is required.
• Facilitate referrals to other Oasis programs and external community resources when shelter admission is not appropriate.
• Complete required crisis-call, walk-in, referral, and intake documentation.
• Support timely communication with referral sources regarding next steps and outstanding information needed to complete a referral.

Administration

Essential Functions:

• Maintain consistent and timely records, including relevant reports required by agency, funding, and licensing sources.
• Maintain accurate documentation of crisis calls crisis walk-ins, program referrals, and shelter services.
• Read and utilize communication logs and resident information to remain informed regarding youth needs and program operations.
• Prepare or maintain resident files as assigned.
• Conduct follow-up contacts as needed.
• Participate in staff and program development.
• Attend regularly scheduled supervision, staff meetings, and required training.
• Participate in orientation of new staff, volunteers, and interns when assigned.
• Assist in preparation for monitoring visits by funding and licensing sources.
• Fulfill ongoing training requirements as outlined by the supervisor.

Benefits:? 

Medical Plan Options 

Employer Paid Vision, Dental, LTD 

Employer HSA contribution 

12 Paid Holidays 

PTO 

401K + up to 3% Match 

Paid parental Leave 

Requirements

Minimal Requirements / Performance Standards:

• Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written form.
• Ability to visually and audibly supervise clients.
• Knowledge of youth development and adolescent development.
• Knowledge and ability to apply Positive Youth Development principles.
• Knowledge and ability to apply trauma-informed care approaches.
• Knowledge and ability to apply crisis-intervention techniques.
• Knowledge and ability to access community resources.
• Knowledge and ability to form appropriate and ethical relationships with residents.
• Ability to provide intake, referral, and basic case management support.
• Ability to effectively communicate and coordinate information across shifts.
• Ability to work independently while appropriately utilizing on-call and supervisory support.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a 24-hour residential and crisis-response environment.
• Ability to utilize required office equipment, electronic records, and databases.
• Ability to form strong, caring and affirming relationships with all youth –including LGBTQ+ youth. 
• Clear understanding of racial inequities and other forms of discrimination and willingness to operate from an anti-oppression model. 
• Knowledge of an ability to apply Positive Youth Development, Trauma-Informed Care, and evidence-informed practices based in an understanding of adolescent development.
• Valid State of Tennessee Driver’s License and safe driving record.
• Relevant experience working with youth, families, residential programs, crisis services, or a related setting.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

  The physical demands 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 physical demands of this position may be reasonably accommodated for individuals with disabilities on a case-by-case basis.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Oasis Center is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is operated in accordance with a policy which does not permit discrimination because of race, color, sex, age, handicap, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  

Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree preferred; high school diploma or equivalent relevant experience with youth development, residential, crisis, or human services.