Overnight Direct Support Specialist

LE_001 New Narrative; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 24,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

New Narrative is seeking a Direct Support Specialist for its Motel Support Team in Portland, OR. You will engage with participants in motel placements, provide milieu management, and support goal attainment including housing connections. The role emphasizes de-escalation, safety, and trauma-informed, person-centered care.

Working Tue–Sat nights, you will coordinate with clinical staff, document activities, and help participants access community resources while promoting stability and well-being.

Qualifications

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred and encouraged.
• Must maintain a valid Oregon driver’s license and auto insurance.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, inclusive, client-centered care.
• Understanding of community resources and housing links is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Milieu management: manage lobby, greet participants, and ensure safety.
• Crisis response and de-escalation, with connection to emergency services if needed.
• Collaborate with treatment teams; participate in interdisciplinary meetings.
• Complete documentation and data entry by end of each shift.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At New Narrative, we believe mental health care is community care. As a nonprofit organization, we partner with individuals to promote healing, housing stability, and long-term wellness through compassionate, equitable support. If you’re passionate about community impact, we invite you to join our team.

Shift: Tuesday-Saturday 11pm - 7am.

Pay rate: Starts at 21.50/hr and can go up DOE.

Purpose:

The Direct Support Specialist is a member of the Motel Support Team: Cultivating Community that provide outreach and support to serve participants who are housed in emergency motel placements with the goal of connecting motel participants to housing opportunities. The goal of the Motel Support Team is to provide supplemental support and connection to motel program participants and aid consumers in accessing community based resources. The Direct Support Specialist will provide environmental and milieu management support to ensure a safe, trauma informed, equitable and inclusive environment. This was be completed through management of the lobby, grounds of motel, maintaining census of individuals on site, maintaining cleanliness and OSHA compliant conditions, as well as through direct interactions with participants to support their safety and individual goals and participation in interdisciplinary meetings as indicated and staff meetings as scheduled. With additional peer and risk case management support the program aims to minimize participant hospitalizations (emergency department and psychiatric admissions), increase necessary contact between the participant and their respective mental health and substance use service providers, and aid linkage to transitional or permanent housing programs.

Accountabilities:

• Milieu Management Provide direct support in one-on-one setting. Manage lobby by answering phones and greeting participants upon entry. Redirect/remove individuals who are not program participants with support from clinical staff as needed. Provide crisis response and de-escalation. Ability to utilize emergency services (ie. Police, Project Respond, etc) as needed. Oversees motel safety (fire drills, environmental safety and maintenance requests, security of motel at night, resolving disputes among participants, etc.) Responsible for seeing that the facility is clean, orderly, and safe at all times. Maintains the cleanliness of food storage areas, common areas and employee office.
• Supportive Skills Training Willing to meet and engage with people “where they are,” including their environment and readiness for change. Use trauma-informed, person centered approach and language and participate in ongoing training and education. Assists participants with daily living skills such as maintaining appointments, completing household and hygiene tasks, as well as medication prompts, connection to treatment and support team for additional support. Assists participants with self-identified goals and in support of existing treatment plans from providers. Assists participants with completion of cleaning and laundry as necessary. Support participants in accessing healthy meals and kitchen clean up.
• Collaboration Work to increase level of cultural sensitivity, awareness and competency regarding Person-Centered Services. Communicate and collaborate with participant’s treatment teams as needed. Attend and positively participate in required team, agency, and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Crisis Prevention/De-escalation/Harm Reduction Provide crisis response and de-escalation in a community based setting. Use crisis prevention approach to decrease use of crisis services, Project Respond, EMS, police, hospitalization, etc. Ability to work in collaboration with emergency services (ie. police, Project Respond, Multnomah County Crisis, Behavioral Health Unit) Ability to work in collaboration with acute care settings if necessary Must be able to assist in de-escalation and crisis as needed Support harm reduction approach, linkage to resources such as, but not limited to: clean needle exchange, NARCAN, MAT, SUD services, education around harm reduction, etc.
• Documentation/Expectations Complete documentation and data entry as required by contract (ie. Electronic Health Record, daily logs, etc.) by the end of each shift. Ensure timely completion of all required paperwork. Maintain a regular work schedule, including some evenings and weekends. Complete all other assignments in a timely manner as requested by supervisor.

Description of other duties:

Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received:

Receive regular supervision from the Operations Manager once per month, Program Manager group supervision, seeking additional supervision whenever necessary. Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and group supervision as required.

Other General Expectations:

Uphold New Narrative Mission and Values in all interactions. Ability to work as a team member, remain flexible and establish priorities as a group. Ability to work independently when necessary. Demonstrate initiative and openness to learning/implementing new skills. Ability to display a non-judgmental attitude. Creative, innovative and progressive problem-solver. Ability to multi-task and remain calm in a busy and stressful environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) Pursue ongoing development of skills and competencies, including: A minimum of 12 hours per year continuing education in the area of mental health/dual recovery; 4 hours annual training in cultural competence; Follow all New Narrative policies, procedures, and protocols. Follow through on all directives and instructions. Maintain CPR and First Aid Certificate. Must be able to pass a criminal history check through the Department of Human Services. Optional: participation in at least one “on-call coordinator week” per quarter

Core Competencies:

Communication: Clear, direct and concise. Keeps people informed. Listens effectively to others. Teamwork: Effective at working in team situations. Utilizing available resources for personal wellness: Communicates with Supervisor or other designated New Narrative personnel to meet personal wellness and safety needs. Adaptability: Ability to modify or change service delivery as needed to best fit the needs of program participants and New Narrative values Analytical thinking: Attention to detail over sustained periods of time. Dependability: Counted on to follow through on commitments: at work each day and on time; work completed in a timely fashion. Aptitude: Ability to comprehend and apply new ideas, processes and procedures, or training. Demeanor: Remaining calm in crisis situation, empathetic, unbiased, non-judgmental and excellent peer model skills.

Qualifications:

Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred Persons of color and all genders encouraged to apply Incumbents with a substance use disorder must be sober and free of substance use for 2 full years preceding date of hire, and must maintain this sobriety. Must maintain current Oregon driver’s license and insurance. Must have own reliable vehicle to meet participants in the community, as the position requires a lot of driving. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent. All of our job openings are located in Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding metro areas. At New Narrative, we're dedicated to empowering people on their mental health journeys. We provide compassionate, person-centered services that foster stability, connection, and independence — helping individuals build meaningful lives in their communities. Through supportive housing, community-based programs, and collaborative care, we walk alongside the people we serve as they build resilience, strengthen relationships, and create new possibilities for their futures. Looking for work that has purpose? Join a compassionate team dedicated to empowering people in their mental health journeys while building a meaningful, rewarding career.