Crisis Counselor l (69555)

Volunteers of America is a non-profit organization operating in Western Washington for over 125 years. Our Christian roots drive us to put our faith into action for the benefit of every member of the community. We celebrate our unique perspectives that allow us to better serve and uplift our community – and each other.

This full-time, hourly position provides crisis intervention, suicide prevention, information & referral, and brief supportive counseling to clients who are in emotional distress and/or seeking information about mental health services. The Crisis Counselor I interacts with clients via telephone. They also provide professional consultation to determine what less restrictive options are appropriate and triages requests for face-to-face mental health evaluations and dispatch the appropriate teams to conduct the evaluation.

Principal Activities

- Deliver crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and brief supportive counseling to individuals experiencing emotional distress

- Conduct client assessments in alignment with regional and program policies and procedures

- Manage client interactions to ensure appropriate, timely, and efficient support tailored to their needs

- Adhere to established policies and procedures while maintaining accurate, efficient documentation of client interactions

- Achieve or exceed key performance indicators as defined by program goals

- Utilize current technologies to engage effectively with clients and community members

- Provide professional assessments, consultations, and service coordination

- Participate in staff meetings and local and regional training sessions

- Mentor and coach new staff to ensure team competency and growth

- Offer back-up coverage for other Regional Crisis Line and 988 programs as needed

- Contribute to an environment that focuses on ensuring integrity, respect, and accountability

- Other duties as assigned

Benefits

We believe that taking care of our team is essential to fulfilling our mission. We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being as a full-time employee.

- Vacation and Sick Time : Vacation up to 200 hours, Sick time up to 108.64 hours

- Competitive compensation

- Holidays: 9 paid per year + 2 paid floating holidays

- Medical, Dental, and Vision

- Health Savings Account (HSA)

- Flexible Savings Account (FSA) medical & dependent care

- Free Employee Assistance program

- 403(b) Retirement Plan matching

- Professional Development opportunities

Qualifications

Were looking for candidates who bring the skills, experience, and qualifications needed to succeed in the role and contribute to our team.

- A bachelors degree in psychology, social work, or related field required. At least one (1) year of experience in a healthcare contact center and/or in mental health counseling

- Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration is required within 30 days of employment, or equivalent, and must remain in active status during employment

- Passing a typing test with a score of 35 WPM or higher

- Courteous and professional demeanor

- Proficiency in Motivational Interviewing and active listening

- Strong problem-solving and information-gathering skills

- Superior communication skills to convey information clearly and effectively

- Ability to multitask, including talking and typing simultaneously

- Efficiency in documenting notes in electronic medical records

Home Office Technology Requirements

- High-Speed Internet: Minimum download speed of 100Mbps and upload speed of 10Mbps. To ensure smooth workflow, you will be required to provide a recent internet speed test result as proof

- Secured Wired Connection: A direct wired connection to the internet using a secured ethernet cable is mandatory. Wireless connections (WiFi) are not allowed due to potential security risks and performance limitations

- No Satellite Internet: Satellite internet service providers such as HughesNet, Starlink, or Visat are not supported due to latency issues that can negatively impact service delivery

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all employment-related decisions are made without consideration of individuals race, sex, age, national origin, disability status or any other protected characteristic.

#voaww2