Freelance Emotional Support Listener Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Emotional Support/Transport
About us: Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness (WVCW) is an innovative nonprofit providing comprehensive services to individuals impacted by mental health, addictions and developmental disabilities. We hire individuals that are skilled and motivated to meet our mission through outcome-based strategies that foster personal and community transformation.
What You Will Do
In this role, you will provide short-term supportive presence and practical assistance to individuals who have already been assessed by WVCW crisis or clinical staff and are no longer in active crisis, but who would benefit from not being left alone while next steps are arranged. The purpose of this position is to help the person feel calm, cared for, and connected until natural supports, transportation, appointments, or other follow-up plans are in place. This is an intentionally non-clinical support position. You do not provide counseling, clinical assessment, crisis intervention, diagnosis, treatment planning, peer-delivered services, medication advice, or independent safety/risk determinations.
Responsibilities:
- Provide a calm, steady, respectful presence for individuals after active crisis response has ended and WVCW staff have determined that temporary support is appropriate.
- Remain with the individual as assigned, including sitting with the person, listening, offering simple reassurance, helping the person stay oriented to the next step, and reducing feelings of isolation while waiting for follow-up support.
- Follow clear instructions from the assigned clinician, crisis team member, supervisor, or designee. Ask for direction when expectations are unclear and do not make independent clinical decisions.
- Immediately contact the assigned clinician, supervisor, crisis team, emergency services, or other designated responder if the individual appears to re-escalate, expresses thoughts of suicide or harm to others, appears medically unsafe, becomes unable to follow basic safety expectations, or if the situation no longer feels safe.
- Assist with temporary, practical support when assigned, which may include helping with basic needs, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, accompanying the person to an appointment, helping arrange a ride, or supporting connection to family, friends, community supports, or other resources.
- Provide transportation only when authorized, safe, and consistent with WVCW policy. Transportation is temporary and should not be used as a substitute for emergency response, medical transport, or ongoing case management.
- Maintain professional boundaries. Do not act as a clinician, peer support specialist, case manager, skills trainer, therapist, medical provider, legal advocate, or caregiver beyond the specific support task assigned.
- Use objective, observable language when communicating with staff or documenting support. Report what was seen, heard, or done rather than interpreting symptoms, motivation, diagnosis, or risk level.
- Maintain confidentiality and follow all state and federal privacy and security regulations applicable to the program, including WVCW policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security.
- Complete brief, accurate documentation in a timely and consistent manner according to agency policy and supervisor direction.
- Perform other related duties as assigned that are consistent with the non-clinical nature of this position.
Skills/Abilities:
- Ability to remain calm, patient, and respectful during emotionally intense situations, including periods of quiet observation or waiting.
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions, stay within the assigned role, and ask for help before acting outside of the assigned task.
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with individuals, family members, WVCW staff, community partners, and emergency responders as directed.
- Ability to notice and report objective changes in behavior, safety, medical status, or environment without attempting to diagnose or interpret the situation clinically.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, understand basic privacy expectations, and report concerns when confidentiality, safety, or professional boundaries may be at risk.
- Ability to interact effectively, tactfully, and empathetically with individuals of various backgrounds, cultures, identities, education levels, and socio-economic statuses.
- Ability to maintain appropriate personal boundaries and avoid providing counseling, advice, promises, personal opinions, or services outside of the assigned support task.
- Ability to work independently for short periods while remaining connected to clinical/supervisory direction and escalation procedures.
- Basic computer, phone, email, and documentation skills, or willingness to learn the required systems used by WVCW.
Knowledge and Qualifications:
- No formal behavioral health credential, clinical license, peer certification, or prior mental health training is required for this position.
- Must complete required WVCW new-hire onboarding and any required task-specific orientation, including confidentiality/HIPAA expectations, basic safety procedures, documentation expectations, and emergency escalation procedures.
- Experience helping people in stressful or vulnerable situations is preferred but not required.
- Must demonstrate reliability, sound judgment, emotional maturity, tolerance, tact, and the ability to control emotions in stressful situations.
- Must be willing to accept as-needed/on-call assignments, which may include evenings, nights, weekends, or short-notice requests depending on program need.
- Must understand that this position is temporary supportive presence only and does not replace clinical care, crisis response, peer services, case management, caregiving, natural supports, or emergency services.
- Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and criminal background check.
- Must adhere to WVCW's drug-free workplace, which encourages a safe, healthy, and productive work environment. WVCW adheres to federal guidelines for drug testing, this includes testing for marijuana.
- Must possess a current driver's license, pass a DMV background check, and be designated an acceptable driver under WVCW's Fleet Safety Policy if transportation is part of the assignment.
- Must have the physical ability to perform assigned support tasks, which may include sitting for extended periods, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting, reaching, pulling, lifting objects within safe limits, and climbing stairs as needed.
- Must adhere to WVCW's non-discrimination policies and treat each individual with respect and dignity.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential function.
Wallowa County Center for Wellness is an equal opportunity employer.