About the Role
We are seeking compassionate, dependable, and safety-focused Residential Support Specialists to support residents and help maintain a safe, welcoming, and trauma-informed residential environment. This role combines front desk responsibilities, resident support, safety monitoring, and crisis de-escalation, fostering a trauma-informed, safe, and supportive environment for all residents and visitors.
Responsibilities
- Greet and assist residents and visitors at the front desk to ensure a welcoming and supportive environment.
- Maintain front desk logs (e.g. visitor logs, Awakenings sign-in log).
- Document and route all resident grievances to the supervisor within 24 hours of receipt.
- Sort, distribute and log all incoming mail and packages accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring residents receive their deliveries safely and confidentially.
- Provide oversight of food donation deliveries and distribution to residents.
- Conduct wellness checks for residents as needed.
- Ensure the front desk and lobby remain secure and that building entry protocols are followed.
- Investigate source of alarms.
- Complete incident reports for all notable safety concerns, disturbances, or medical/psychiatric issues.
- Conduct 3 safety walkthroughs per shift of all residence floors and shared spaces to monitor for safety, cleanliness, and policy compliance.
- Maintain daily walk-through checklist.
- Promptly flag and report emerging risks (e.g., facility issues, safety concerns, or resident needs) to operations within 24 hours of observation.
- Complete crisis de-escalation and trauma-informed care training within 60 days of hire.
- Respond calmly and supportively to resident concerns and mental health episodes, alerting appropriate personnel as needed.
- Independently de-escalate 90% of minor resident conflicts and crises, utilizing trauma-informed care and de-escalation techniques, without needing case management or operations intervention.
- Attend bi-weekly team meetings to provide updates and raise any resident or operational concerns.
- Participate in shift handovers to ensure continuity of care and support.
- Maintain open and professional communication with property management, case managers, and clinical staff.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or equivalent required.
- Previous experience in residential, recovery, mental health, or justice-involved populations strongly preferred.
- Ability to remain calm in high-stress situations and de-escalate conflicts effectively.
- Excellent interpersonal and cultural competency skills.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
- Strong crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and communication skills.
- Bilingual preferred (but not required).
- Valid Security Officer License (NYS) required.
- CPR/First Aid certification required.
Skills
- Strong documentation and electronic health record skills.
- Good organizational, time management, and communication skills, verbal and written.
- Good at assessment, SMART goal development, advocacy, and solution focused problem solving.
- Knowledge of counseling and social service resources in Westchester County.
- Knowledge of strengths-based approaches, trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and housing-first models.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team.
- Culturally responsive communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to adjust to changing circumstances, whether related to the needs of the residents or program.
- Use strength to lift items needed to perform the functions of the job.
- Sit and stand for required periods of time.
- Speak and hear.
- Use close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception along with the ability to focus vision.
- Communicate effectively in English, using proper grammar and vocabulary.
- Reach with hands and arms and use hands and fingers to manage objects and operate tools, computers, and/or controls.
Location
- Dual-site residential facility
Work Type
- Full-time
- Part-time
Experience Level
- Commensurate with experience and qualifications
Education Level
- High School Diploma or equivalent
Salary/Compensations
- $22.00-$24.00 hourly
Benefits
- Overnight shift differential
About the Company
- Serves a transitional program for justice-involved women in recovery and women in permanent supportive housing.
