Safety & Security Coordinator

Description

We are seeking a Library Safety & Security Coordinator to work with Library leadership and employees to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for patrons and staff. You will lead training and initiatives to support library staff and build capacity for staff to provide safe, trauma informed library service to patrons including effective techniques for working with patrons experiencing mental health, substance use, unstable housing or living unsheltered, or exclusion issues. You will build capacity for staff to proactively avoid, or effectively respond to conflicts, inappropriate library uses and emergencies. Work is performed across the library system.

The work schedule is Tuesday/Wednesday 11am - 8pm Thursday-Saturday 9 am - 6pm

Are you excited about the idea of working in a diverse urban library system? The ideal candidate is committed to racial equity and social justice and has a passion for radically welcoming customer service.  Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all Tacoma Public Library employees. All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices.

Responsibilities include: 

• Lead a safety and security community of practice for library staff
• Assist with education of library staff on a variety of topics related to serving patrons who may be unhoused or in crisis, including trauma informed care, best practices and providing social service information and referral
• Coordinate with Library Social Worker and Learning and Development Specialist and other key library staff to arrange formal trainings, and informal resource sharing
• Build Trust with Library staff. Assist as a resource for appropriate library use pursuant to policies and procedures including exclusion and incident reporting
• Provide current and relevant information, support, referrals, and assistance to patrons experiencing crisis such as mental health issues, substance abuse, unstable housing, living unsheltered, food insecurity, employment, or exclusion issues
• Connect, build, and maintain partnerships with community agencies, neighborhood groups, social services agencies, and volunteer organizations to address the needs of patrons and potential patrons
• Crisis assistance and intervention in the library as required
• Under the direction of the Human Resources Manager, assure safety compliance, investigate safety concerns, and assist with corrective actions and safety training
• Support strategy and planning for organizational safety programs, including emergency and disaster plans and annual safety drills 

Requirements

Equivalent combination to:

• Bachelor's degree in Mental Health, Social Work or related field OR
• Four years of experience providing direct service to at-risk, marginalized populations, people affected by housing insecurity, food insecurity, substance abuse, poverty and/or refugee and immigrant communities

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with de-escalation, trauma informed care, and/or restorative practices
• Lived experience of being unhoused
• Fluency in more than one language