Shelter Support Worker

Bay Cove Human Services' mission is to partner with people to overcome challenges and realize personal potential. Bay Cove pursues this mission by providing individualized and compassionate services to people facing the challenges associated with developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, and homelessness at more than 175 program sites throughout Greater Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts.

This is a temporary, seasonal Position that will begin on December 1, 2025 and end on April 20, 2026. 

Sign-on bonus of $500 included

Multiple shifts available: 

12:00a-7:30a, Thursday-Monday

12:00a-7:30a, Saturday-Wednesday

12:00a-7:30a, Tuesday-Friday

6:00p-12:00a, Thursday-Sunday

6:00p-12:00a,  Monday-Friday

6:00p-12:00a, Saturday-Wednesday

Job Summary: The Shelter Support Worker is responsible for creating a welcoming and safe place for individuals who are unhoused.  The shelter is a low-threshold environment anchored in harm reduction and trauma informed care principles.  The goal is to support safety and engagement of people who are unhoused and experiencing behavioral health and/or substance use disorders. The Shelter Support Worker will promote safety by offering respectful support and consistent application of policies and procedures established for the safety of each person served and all stakeholders of the shelter community.  

This is a non-exempt position.

Essential Functions of Position:

• Provide care for guests and maintain safety by visual monitoring of all guests, actively and respectfully interacting with guests and the team to ensure routines and safety procedures are followed and recognize that the majority of guests have endured trauma and employ trauma-informed care in all interactions.
• Ensure safety of the guests and facility by conducting scheduled safety checks, monitoring common areas inside the facility (entrances, stairwells, bathrooms, and other accessible locations), outside the program (parking lot, front of building, and area that trash is maintained, etc), and provide supportive feedback and redirection to guests when needed.
• Facilitate a respectful and safe check-in process.   
• Complete required documentation at intake, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), incident reporting, etc. as required.
• Follow safety plans and restrictions established by shelter leadership.
• Immediately communicate any safety concerns to colleagues and work collaboratively to identify and carry out a response plan and report incidents verbally to the supervisor on duty or on-call as soon as it is safe to do so and follow up with a written incident report as soon as the situation has stabilized and duties allow, but before the end of the shift.
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation as needed. Contact 911 when issues arise that cannot be managed safely in the setting (medical emergencies, guests not responsive to de-escalation techniques, etc.) and provide emergency intervention to stabilize the situation until professional help arrives (naloxone administration, basic first aid, CPR, etc.)
• Maintain confidentiality of all guests and their circumstances except for those team members, collateral partners, and emergency first responders with a designated need to know.
• Participate in all required team meetings, individual supervision meetings, and required training.
• Other job related duties as assigned

Requirements for the position:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Six months experience in health or human service-related fields preferred, preferably working with those who are unhoused and those experiencing behavioral health and/or substance use disorders.
• Demonstrated verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Individuals with lived expertise are encouraged to apply.
• Basic proficiency in word processing and other computer functions using Windows, Word, and Google Email and Apps
  Personal Characteristics:
• Utilizes a flexible and responsible work style that meets evolving needs of the agency. 
• Works with integrity and respects the dignity and value of all individuals. 
• Exhibits mission through job knowledge, pride in work role, and advocacy. 
• Promotes diversity and inclusion of all individuals. 
• Works in a collaborative, compassionate manner with stakeholder/ partners