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Employment Opportunities
- Overnight Crisis Counselors
- 2-1-1 Community Resource Specialist
- College Undergraduate Internships
- Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
OVERNIGHT CRISIS COUNSELORS
What the Job Involves
Overnight Crisis Counselors provide emotional support by listening to callers' problems on the telephone. Overnight Crisis Counselors respond to telephone calls by greeting callers, establishing rapport with the caller, and exploring the caller's emotional and mental state using active, positive, comforting, and problem-solving language.
Overnight Crisis Counselors determine the readiness of callers to accept help and provide referrals to resources and other assistance.
Overnight Crisis Counselors are trained to identify warning signs and to assess the degree of callers' risk by following established protocols and assessment tools, and, if appropriate, to summon emergency medical treatment and/or police intervention.
Hours
This is an overnight, part-time position. Overnight Crisis Counselors work:
- A set shift day once a week
- An on-call day once a week
- And work 1-2 pre-scheduled weekend days a month.
All shifts are from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m.. Overnight Crisis Counselors also work 8 hour shifts all day on selected holidays and occasionally will work selected day or evening shifts, as needed.
The typical overnight Crisis Counselor works 8-16 hours per week.
Required Training
Overnight Crisis Counselors are hired for a temporary, 60 hour training position which spans over the course of one month. Based on performance during the training, workers are hired for the permanent, part-time overnight Crisis Counselor position. The 60 paid hours of intensive training includes teaching active listening and crisis intervention skills through classroom and on-the-job training. Missing a training session can result in immediate termination.
Because of the heavy investment in training, we’re primarily looking for people who can commit to working at CrisisLink for a minimum of one year from date of hire.
Job Location
Training and work locations are in Arlington, Virginia. Telework is not available.
What Skills Does an Applicant Need?
- Time management skills
- Attention to detail
- Listening and verbal communication skills, including telephone skills
- “People skills” and conflict resolution skills
- Integrity, trustworthiness, and discretion
- Emotional control and ability to handle pressure
- Ability to remake alert on overnight shifts
- Maturity and ability to make sound decisions under pressure
- Reliable means of transportation for reaching the training sites and the Hotline office
What Does the Job Pay?
To inquire about pay, please e-mail us.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this position, please take the following steps:
- Review the training schedule
- Submit an online application. (Faxed or e-mailed resumes will not be accepted.)
You may contact our Associate Director for Hotline and Volunteer Operations at (703) 527-6016 or by e-mail if you have additional questions.
2-1-1 Community Resource Specialist
(Full-Time or Part-Time)
Ongoing Recruitment – Open deadline
2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember and universally recognized telephone number that helps connect people to the community organizations, government agencies, and other resources that they need.
2-1-1 helps people navigate the complex and ever-growing human services arena by making services easier to find and access. By ensuring that people can locate needed services, 2-1-1 encourages prevention and fosters self-sufficiency.
Purpose: Community Resource Specialists are responsible for providing high-quality, comprehensive information and referral (I&R) services to callers who contact the Northern Virginia Regional 2-1-1 Center. Community Resource Specialists report directly to the 2-1-1 Call Center Director.
Responsibilities include:
- Successfully complete CrisisLink's 60-hour I&R Training and 50-hour Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Training.
- Answer incoming 2-1-1 VIRGINIA calls on shifts scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday (days and hours are flexible for part-time positions) and provide outstanding service that meets 2-1-1 statewide call center and phone service standards. Answer calls on shifts during emergencies and disasters as needed and assigned.
- Use active listening skills to develop rapport and, as needed, de-escalate callers.
- Assess callers' needs, facilitate problem-solving with callers, and make accurate referrals to appropriate community agencies, programs, and services.
- Provide callers with the information they need using 2-1-1 VIRGINIA database of programs and services as well as expertise developed on human services available in Northern Virginia. Research requests for information as needed.
- Provide crisis intervention over the phone and intervene to provide rescue to callers as necessary for those who threaten themselves or others according to CrisisLink protocols and procedures.
- Serve as advocate for callers when appropriate.
- Follow up with callers as required and as appropriate to determine if they received the services they needed and whether they were satisfied with those services.
- Acquire and maintain expertise regarding the 2-1-1 VIRGINIA and Metro DC 2-1-1 resource databases, Northern Virginia community resources, and Virginia statewide health and human services through training, self-study, site visits, liaison assignments, and outreach efforts.
- Assist CrisisLink’s 2-1-1 Database and Community Resource Specialist to maintain, improve and update the 2-1-1 VIRGINIA and Metro DC 2-1-1 databases by sending out information requests to agencies, entering data, proofreading data entries, and providing information to update database records, as well as other tasks as needed.
- Act as liaison with local jurisdictions and agencies, and become in-house resource for special populations, human services needs, etc as assigned. Research and collect information and data regarding community services. Provide outreach to local communities and service providers to increase awareness, calls, and listings for 2-1-1 VIRGINIA.
- Adhere to 2-1-1 Guidance Manual, 2-1-1 VIRIGNIA work plan, AIRS Standards, and CrisisLink’s policies, procedures and protocols to maintain compliance with organizational, state and national standards.
- Become AIRS CIRS-certified upon meeting eligibility requirements.
- Assist in successfully meeting 2-1-1 VIRGINIA contract and work plan performance standards, deliverables and deadlines, including but not limited to: AIRS accreditation, emergency planning, outreach, 2-1-1 database updates and enhancement, quality assurance standards.
- Assist with other duties and projects as assigned by the supervisor.
Knowledge Skills and Availability Required:
- Knowledge of human services programs and environment in Northern Virginia.
- Excellent communication and written skills, including ability to relate effectively with people from all economic, racial, age, ethnic, and social groups. Ability to speak clearly and be easily understood over the phone.
- Ability to communicate effectively with callers who are mentally ill, in crisis, and possibility suicidal or traumatized while following CrisisLink’s helping philosophy and AIRS Standards.
- Strong customer service orientation and desire to provide appropriate assistance to any person in need. Ability to adapt to a changing caller load while maintaining standards of high quality.
- Ability to work well in a team; good interpersonal skills and a positive attitude. Strong time management and stress management skills.
- Ability to follow protocols and procedures. Ability to completely and accurately document information on all calls, database updates and projects. Ability to use computer and database to complete job functions.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule. Must be able to work occasional weekends for training and meeting purposes. Must be able to be on-call and work during times of disaster.
- Must have own transportation (15% - Local Travel, minimal-distance travel in State)
Qualifications:
- Bilingual English/Spanish desired.
- Bachelor's degree in social work or related field plus one year experience working in a human services position OR Associates degree in related field plus three years experience in human services.
- Customer service and computer experience.
Application Procedures:
Send your resume and cover letter to 211applicant@crisislink.org
COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIPS
College Undergraduate Internships are available at CrisisLink to qualifying college students in the areas of Marketing, Fund Raising, Special Events, Public Relations, and general non-profit management.
Internship Criteria: College freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors seeking to fill a class credit or to gain experience in one or all of the above areas. We seek students who have an interest in human service work, or simply desire to learn more in this area or in the areas mentioned above.
For more information, email us.
CrisisLink is conveniently located in Arlington, Virginia and is Metro accessible. We offer a wonderful opportunity for students to learn and gain experience in their fields of study. For more information, or to apply, call our Administrative Office at (703) 527-6603.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
CrisisLink is proud to maintain a drug- and smoke-free workplace. CrisisLink is committed to a policy of equal opportunity employment and does not discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on account of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, Vietnam veteran and other protected veteran status, or on any other basis that is prohibited by applicable law.