What are the responsibilities and job description for the Seattle Conservation Corps Counselor position at Seattle Parks and Recreation?
Position Description
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate, and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.
Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs, and facilities. #OneSeattle
SPR offers an amazing array of career opportunities. Regular employees enjoy competitive pay and benefits packages, generous leave programs, and the satisfaction of doing work that helps make Seattle a great place to live, work, and play.
The Seattle Conservation Corps (SCC) is a one-year work-training program for homeless adults. Participants engage in work-training 40 hours a week by working in different areas of the city with supervisors and by receiving counseling regarding work-maturity skills from their counselor/case manager. Participants may be actively in the drug addiction/recovery process, formerly incarcerated, on probation, struggling with mental illness, in violent relationships or escaping domestic violence. Or our participants could be facing other barriers to stability. Case managers assist clients in addressing these barriers so that they can attain and maintain employment and housing once they exit the program. In this role it is highly likely that you may encounter participants that are avoidant, procrastinating, co-dependent, aggressive, or simply unsure of their ability to face their lives as sober, stable, accountable adults. In this role you will be required to help clients recognize their barriers, understand the benefit of surmounting those barriers, and then work to remove them via the treatment plans that you create. SCC is looking for a social service professional that is comfortable addressing the resistance that comes with suggesting personal change to people who do not always want to change. We are looking for a social service professional who can navigate the inherent tension of working with the revenue-seeking component of this program, Operations, and strike a balance between the monetary needs necessary to sustain this program with the needs of the human services component which is to improve the lives of our participants. This is a position that requires intensive case management on many levels.
This assignment is expected to last no longer than 11 months - will become benefitted after 1040 hours worked.
Job Responsibilities
Requires a minimum of three years social services experience involving interviewing, counseling, or crisis intervention, and a Bachelor's degree in Social Services, Psychology or a related field, OR a combination of education and/or training and/or work experience which provides the ability to perform the work of the class.
Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate
License, Certification And Other Requirements
Current State of Washington driver's license.
The full salary range for this position is $42.55 - $50.42 Hourly.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and covered family-members/most employees-plans
SPR's Core Competencies Are
Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making, and promoting high quality standards.
Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.
Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.
Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.
Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate, and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Delivering excellent customer service to all is a core value.
Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs, and facilities. #OneSeattle
SPR offers an amazing array of career opportunities. Regular employees enjoy competitive pay and benefits packages, generous leave programs, and the satisfaction of doing work that helps make Seattle a great place to live, work, and play.
The Seattle Conservation Corps (SCC) is a one-year work-training program for homeless adults. Participants engage in work-training 40 hours a week by working in different areas of the city with supervisors and by receiving counseling regarding work-maturity skills from their counselor/case manager. Participants may be actively in the drug addiction/recovery process, formerly incarcerated, on probation, struggling with mental illness, in violent relationships or escaping domestic violence. Or our participants could be facing other barriers to stability. Case managers assist clients in addressing these barriers so that they can attain and maintain employment and housing once they exit the program. In this role it is highly likely that you may encounter participants that are avoidant, procrastinating, co-dependent, aggressive, or simply unsure of their ability to face their lives as sober, stable, accountable adults. In this role you will be required to help clients recognize their barriers, understand the benefit of surmounting those barriers, and then work to remove them via the treatment plans that you create. SCC is looking for a social service professional that is comfortable addressing the resistance that comes with suggesting personal change to people who do not always want to change. We are looking for a social service professional who can navigate the inherent tension of working with the revenue-seeking component of this program, Operations, and strike a balance between the monetary needs necessary to sustain this program with the needs of the human services component which is to improve the lives of our participants. This is a position that requires intensive case management on many levels.
This assignment is expected to last no longer than 11 months - will become benefitted after 1040 hours worked.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide case management assistance to homeless adults in a one-year work-training program.
- Build and maintain a caseload of approximately 25 to 35 adults per year.
- Provide support through case management, advocacy internally as well as in the community, and face-to-face services to address barriers to housing
- Develop an individual strategy (treatment plan) for each participant that addresses barriers to housing, employment, and personal stability.
- Connect clients to community resources, including housing, health and mental health, chemical dependency, education, employment, legal support, life skills etc. One-on-One appointments can take hours and be a point of focus for days until the goal is achieved.
- Assist clients in developing problem-solving skills and positive communication techniques to promote success on the job. Case manager assist clients in developing these skills by working with their supervisors in the Operations component of this program.
- Complete and submit all documentation and grant reporting in a timely manner. Ensure all client-related data is both current and accurate in the City’s data management system
- Transport participants to appointments and use this time to counsel and case manage
- Occasionally provide de-escalation and crisis intervention
- Provide services to participants in an open-door office setting which functions with or without appointments
- Build trust and rapport with clients yet set boundaries that do not allow for personal fraternizing
- Participate in weekly or bi-weekly supervision team meetings which include meetings with the Human Services Team, the upper management of the program, and all staff meetings.
- Ensure that all client-related data is both current and accurate in SCC’s data tracking system and that data and files are secure
Requires a minimum of three years social services experience involving interviewing, counseling, or crisis intervention, and a Bachelor's degree in Social Services, Psychology or a related field, OR a combination of education and/or training and/or work experience which provides the ability to perform the work of the class.
Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate
- Broad knowledge of Seattle resources for homeless adults including housing, addiction, mental health treatment, and criminal justice system legal services.
- Experience in work training, human services or other anti-poverty work settings.
- Experience and understanding of the addiction and recovery process
- Strong clinical understanding of the impact of trauma.
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Experience using Microsoft Office Suite, data management systems or similar systems.
- Experience with de-escalation techniques and motivational interviewing
- Evaluate program participants to determine treatment needs
- Develop treatment plans and implement
- Document all interactions and involving or concerning the treatment
- Maintain a high level of competence in the understanding of substance use disorders, mental health issues and socio-economic and cultural factors and apply a professional and therapeutic approach to problem-solving participants needs
- In coordination with drug court housing providers and treatment case managers address recurrence of use (relapse), rule violations, problem behavior and emerging needs amongst participants who reside in drug court housing.
- Conduct comprehensive relevant assessments to determine level of programming assess criminal history internal and external information sources and motivation for change in determining eligibility.
- One year of full-time experience working with at-risk adults in correctional or security-oriented environments.
- Five years hands on of professional full time paid work experience identifying, interviewing, and assessing persons with behavior mental health drug and or alcohol related issues including experience working with potentially volatile clientele.
License, Certification And Other Requirements
Current State of Washington driver's license.
The full salary range for this position is $42.55 - $50.42 Hourly.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and covered family-members/most employees-plans
SPR's Core Competencies Are
Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making, and promoting high quality standards.
Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.
Communication: Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.
Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.
Teamwork: Participating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.
Salary : $43 - $50