Since 1984, we have 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.
REQUISITION ID. -
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting to the Program Manager, the primary role of the Youth Force Counselor is to assist in creating a positive hands-on work environment for transitional-aged youth within the mission and goals of Larkin Street Youth Services, and to model ideals of professionalism while providing positive reinforcement as well as constructive criticism to the program trainees. The Counselor will work closely with the Program Manager in a collaborative effort to help young adults ages 18-24 prepare for the pursuit of employment. While this position works closely with all program participants, the primary emphasis is to support our higher needs youth as they enter into our employment services.
ESSENTIALJOB FUNCTIONS:
Oversee short and long-term manual labor projects, and provide appropriate feedback to youth trainees.
Co-facilitate professional and personal development workshops that are pertinent to success in the workplace.
Assist in generating and maintaining client records including, but not limited to: initial assessments, client progress notes, and program database.
Attend meetings at various LSYS program sites to facilitate coordinated care.
Conduct community outreach to maintain positive relationships with existing local partners as well as to solicit business from new contacts in the SF community.
Collaborate with community partners to organize appropriate work projects and coordinate cultural and educational excursions that will provide broad exposure for Larkin Street youth.
Transport multiple youths to work sites in the SF Bay Area using LSYS vehicles.
Assist Program Manager and supervisor in assessing youth for the ability to participate in employment and education programs.
Collaborate with the mental health team to coordinate care of higher needs youth.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Maintain professional standards of performance, demeanor, and appearance at all times.
Perform tasks and responsibilities in a complete and timely manner, complying with agency policies and standards and conforming to the requirements of this job description.
Maintain a creative, team-building, cooperative approach to job performance and seek to bring a constructive, problem-solving orientation to all tasks.
Maintain an awareness of the agencys mission and work to promote the positive individual and social change goals it embodies.
Exercise discretion and professional judgment at all times keeping with the responsibilities carried personally and by the agency for the care and welfare of staff and the youth in which we serve.
Actively strive to upgrade professional skills through engaging in appropriate professional training and experience.
Maintaining the strictest confidentiality.
Ability to work with a diverse staff and excel in a multi-cultural environment.
Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION:
EXPERIENCE:
Knowledge of and experience working with youth, especially at-risk, homeless, or runaway youth.
Ability to solely manage a group of up to 7 youth in the completion of various work projects.
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
Knowledge of the Harm Reduction model, including appropriate applications in an employment setting.
California Drivers license with a clean driving record (required)
PHYSICAL & LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Exceptional organizational skills with reliability and consistency in work performance
Flexibility with a team player mentality
Ability to work with minimal to moderate supervision
Good judgment with a proactive approach to problem-solving
Ability to maintain a professional demeanor with great interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to multi-task with the capability to learn quickly and integrate efficiently and manage priority action items
Requires ability to lift, transfer, push/pull, maneuver, and reposition 25 lbs.
Ability to reach, bend and walk.
Finger manipulation.
Ability to speak and write English clearly and accurately.