Engagement Specialist

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy-based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self-care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

For more information about us, visit www.larkinstreetyouth.org.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Under the guidance of the Program Manager, the Engagement Specialist engages unhoused drop-in clients in Larkin Street Youth Services programming to help advance their goals.  The Engagement Specialist works on a team of Counselors, Case Managers and Coordinators to lead activities, provide emotional support, assess for need and connect to appropriate resources.  The Specialist is the Engagement and Community Center lead on client de-escalation and supports security staff as needed.

This is a full-time position, eligible for full benefits.

Your responsibilities:

• Responsible for contributing towards the care and welfare of clients we serve. This includes crisis intervention and helping to maintain the safety of the program. 

• Build trusting relationships with youth while maintaining professional boundaries. 

• Monitor the center for safety hazards and take immediate action when necessary, supporting security staff with hands on de-escalation. 

• Conduct hands-on restraints when necessary, following safety protocols. 

• Handle crisis situations through de-escalation techniques and assist clients as they process social and emotional problems. 

• Ensure the safety and security of all clients, staff, volunteers and the facility  

• Write incident reports, community contracts, and coordinate modifications of service process for clients restricted from services 

• Coordinate restorative re-entry processes for incidents, including holding re-entry meetings between clients, restorative resolutions and anger management counseling sessions 

• Facilitate weekly group discussions, workshops or mentorship programs helping clients build life skills on topics like conflict resolution, anger management and healthy relationships 

• Promote wellness of the community through a harm reduction approach  

• Participate in collaborative case conference meetings with other Larkin Street care providers 

• Manages Engagement Center events calendar 

• Document client engagement and service provision in electronic databases (ETO, Sharepoint) 
• Assists individuals by working with other programs to ensure youth are moving through continuum of Larkin Street services and/or city services while helping individuals understand and overcome social and emotional problems.  

WHO YOU ARE:

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• You have some social services and/or direct-service experience.
  • *BONUS* You have experience working in drop-in services, shelter, transitional, and/or permanent supportive housing programs.
  • *BONUS* You have prior security/safety experience.
• You embody our values and core strategies: "This Is How We Roll":
  • Client-Centered
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Restorative Practices
  • Harm Reduction
  • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
  • Motivational Interviewing
• You are most excited to serve Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 25 of diverse backgrounds.
• You are a self-starter and team player. Your colleagues describe you as compassionate, dependable, and patient.
• You work best in an on site, in person working environment. This role is 100% onsite/in person.
• You are willing to work holidays occasionally.
• You are vaccinated against COVID 19.

THE PERKS:

• Hourly Rate of $25.00-$26.37
  • $1.50 for bilingual incentive pay. Must be fluent in Spanish and English.
• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Clipper Bay Pass - Commute for FREE!
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 Paid Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses.
• Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services.
• Health Advocate Service.
• Paid Sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment.

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. Larkin Street Youth Service seeks qualified candidates with an interest in the non-profit sector. We are committed to embracing diversity and consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for any open position in which they feel qualified. 

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

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.