Position Title: Social and Human Service Assistant (Befriender Staff) Springfield AND Northampton Locations

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly

Work Schedule: 35 hours per week, TBD

Supervisor: Cancer Connection Center Director

Benefits:  Paid time off, holidays, health insurance, a caring community, and the opportunity to offer hope.

The primary role of Bilingual Befriender Staff at Cancer Connection is to offer empathic listening and peer support in Spanish and/or English to people with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones, as well as others who call or visit the Springfield and Northampton Cancer Connection centers. This position requires excellent communication and administrative skills for answering phones, making referrals to facilitators, relaying messages to staff, documenting participant services information, and working independently at the Springfield location.

Cancer Connection is an independent nonprofit organization that provides free support services to people with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones. The befriending program is comprised of paid and volunteer befrienders and is a core program of the organization.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Offer calm, empathic listening and peer support in English and/or Spanish to participants, following the Befriending Skills Guidelines.

2. Serve as the main point of contact for the Springfield Center, welcoming drop in and scheduled participant visits. Offer professional and appropriate communication with Springfield providers and therapists, and work as part of the Northampton team as well.

3. Describe in English and/or Spanish and offer support services such as: integrative therapies, programs, and support groups to people with cancer and their families/loved ones who drop in or call.

4. Answer phones and check messages throughout work shift and process messages, return calls or relay information to other staff.

5. Make follow-up calls and ongoing outreach calls to participants, in collaboration with Center Director and Befrienders

6. Communicate as needed with the facilitators of support groups, integrative therapies and programs for referrals and other information.

7. Update, maintain and be familiar with compiled collections of resource information.

8. Perform other participant services tasks, as requested by the Center Director/Executive Director.

• Commitment to the mission of Cancer Connection.
• Previous experience in a human services job that includes being in a listening and supportive role as well as required written documentation.
• Ability to provide deeply empathic listening and support to people affected by cancer, including those newly diagnosed or who may be in hospice.
• Excellent communication skills, to be able to actively listen and to give clear information to others.
• Willingness to participate in group supervision and to seek individual supervision when needed.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Attention to detail
• Ability to interact with co-workers, participants, facilitators, volunteers and the general public in a professional and kind manner.
• Ability to take direction and feedback and ask for assistance when needed.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to set goals/timelines, meet deadlines and remain flexible.
• Ability to identify all confidential information and maintain confidentiality.

At times a fast-paced environment, must be able to adjust to multiple tasks with frequent interruptions. Mostly seated, but some light lifting of books.

Cancer Connection's mission is to provide a haven where people with cancer and their loved ones can learn how to navigate the complicated cancer journey through one-to-one guidance, education, peer support, integrative therapies, and creative programs to strengthen body and spirit. We are able to offer our services free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the individuals, corporations, and foundations that support our work.

At Cancer Connection, we believe that when our staff feel respected and included they can be more supportive of the people we strive to serve and care for. While we have more work to do to advance diversity and inclusion, we're investing to move our organization forward to be more accessible, aware, and inclusive.

• Full-time

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

• No weekends

• Springfield, MA 01118 (Required)
• Northampton, MA 01060 (Required)

• In person