Position: Life Skills Counselor
Department: Housing

Primary Work Function:
Work with families to insure that they learn and practice adequate daily living skills. Assure that the facility is safe and conducive to healthy living. Must be able to demonstrate sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Meet with family members twice a month to assure their safety and well being.
2. Oversee the daily independent living routines of each family and provide training as needed, to include: cooking, housekeeping, parenting and communication skills.
3. Teach life skills classes, to include: budgeting (money management), housekeeping, communication, conflict resolution, good health, legal issues, transportation, community resources, pregnancy, aids prevention, housing options and employment and vocational services.
4. Ensure that the facility is safe and sanitized. Oversee the participation of residents in performing chores in common areas.
5. Participate with other staff members in regular family staffings held to determine service needs, progress toward meeting goals and appropriate staff intervention.
6. Implement a range of activity groups for adults and children, to include: socialization, cultural, and recreational activity.
7. Complete all required documentation.
8. Provide crisis intervention and link family members to necessary internal or external resources.
9. Actively participate in the agency’s PQI Plan.
10. Assist case manager via telephone and/or in person, collect data from referral source and/or family regarding housing needs and history, current living arrangement, financial status/income information, employment history/status, educational history, substance abuse history/current status; treatment
11. Assist case manager in meeting with families and other designated staff members to complete screening and collect intake data to include: copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses, school records, medical records. Request other relevant records as indicated.
12. To intake and receive clients into the employment program.
13. Schedule and administer necessary evaluation tools to determine the eligibility for the program and to develop an employment service plan.
14. Responsible for the tracking and distribution of CTA bus passes to clients, provision of transportation when appropriate and necessary.
15. Provide weekly job club meeting. Develop and facilitate on site support groups.
16. Utilization of all community resources and advocate on behalf of clients served.
17. Development and implementation of soft skills training – group and individual.
18. Development and implementation of specific job skills training classes; i.e. computer skills, job skills training, retail skills, etc.
19. Job Development with community employers. Provide job coaching as appropriate.
20. Documentation of all activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education Experience:
High School Diploma, GED or Work Experience.

Training and Skills
At least One year working with Homeless Persons or similar population

Work Requirements:
Pass a CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) check.

Pass a Criminal Background check.

Possess and maintain a valid Drivers License and possess safe and reliable transportation.

Possess and maintain adequate Liability Insurance for the vehicle.

Life Skills Counselor will remain in place until relieved. If not relieved within 15 minutes of the end of their shift, they will call their Supervisor for further guidance.

Job Skills:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Excellent knowledge of homelessness and addiction.

Good group implementation skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The typical work environment is in an office setting, but may on occasion be outside in a sometimes threatening and hostile environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essentials of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 30 pounds.

The employee may be required to work in or visit offices or homes in the city of Chicago and must be able to transport himself/herself to various location.

Unity is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Please sign the General Sign off document Attached below

General Sign Off