Relief Residential Counselor - Young Adult Shelter

About Bill Wilson Center:

Bill Wilson Center provides services to children, youth, young adults, and families in Santa Clara County. Additionally, we reach clients through our street outreach and crisis line programs. Bill Wilson Center programs focus on housing, mental health care, supportive services, and advocacy. Bill Wilson Center is committed to working with the community to ensure that every youth has access to the range of services needed to grow to be healthy and self-sufficient adults. A key component of Bill Wilson Center's philosophy encompasses a strength-based approach to improving the lives of the youth and young families in our communities. Bill Wilson Center has been providing services to runaway and homeless youth since 1973. Join us and become a difference maker at Bill Wilson Center! 

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Director and the Program Manager of the Drop-In Center and YAS Respite young adult shelters, the Relief Residential Counselor provides direct care and support to young adults experiencing homelessness. This role is responsible for fostering a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment in the Drop-In Center’s respite overnight program. The Relief Residential Counselor ensures that all services are delivered in alignment with the Vision, Mission, and Core Values of BWC, supporting street-involved youth through trauma-informed, client-centered care.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Support residents with evening and nighttime routines, including personal hygiene tasks such as bathing or showering, light meal preparation, and facilitating a safe and comfortable transition to bed.
• Ensure services are trauma-informed, youth-centered, and aligned with best practices in homeless and at risk-youth care.
• Monitoring residents' well-being, safety, and behavior.
• Identify service gaps and adjust programming to meet evolving youth needs. 
• Support Staff on shift.
• Ensure staff maintain appropriate certifications and complete mandatory trainings (e.g crisis intervention, etc..
• Documentation, observation, and reporting to permanent staff or managers.
• Maintaining a safe and clean environment.
• Advocate for the needs and rights of homeless youth at local and state levels.
• Oversee emergency protocols, including crisis intervention, de-escalation, and incident reporting.
• Ensure staff and youth safety through appropriate policies and environmental safety checks.
• Respond to critical incidents, including after hours if needed, or assign appropriate on-call coverage.
• Additional duties as assign

Education and Experience:

• High School/Associates Degree or equivalent to 3 years’ experience.
• Experience working with homeless and culturally diverse youth required.
• Knowledge of needs of runaway, homeless, and street youth.
• Availability in the evenings and on weekends is a requirement for the position.
• Experience working with culturally diverse youth required.
• Personal or lived experience with housing instability, social services, systemic challenges, or the criminal/legal system is valued.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to solve Practical problems
• Documentation
• Basic Computer Skills (Word, Email. Microsoft)
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of clients or employees of organization
• Build rapport with youth
• Provide Structure (Nightly Structure)
• Compassion, patience, and good communication with team members and youth
• Training in CPR/First Aid, crisis intervention

Physical Demands:

• Walk for more than 10-15 minutes at a time
• Stock items
• Fold towels and linen (laundry)
• Walk up and down stairs
• Walk around the building every hour or as needed.

Work Environment:

• Loud noise from youth

Salary Range:

$27.00 per hour

Employee Benefits & Perks:

We offer a generous compensation package for full-time employees that includes the following:

• 4 Weeks Accrued PTO
• 14 Paid Holidays Per Year
• Paid Health, Dental, Vision & Voluntary Life Insurance Plans
• Flexible Spending Plans for Medical, Dependent Care, Parking and Transit
• 401 (K) Retirement Plan
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• Upward Career Mobility
• Discounts and Savings through Tickets At Work and LifeMart  

EEO:

Bill Wilson Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.