Text Messaging Service (TMS) Executive

The Text Messaging Service Executive in the Crisis Support Team handles incoming texts from our clients in our round-the-clock Care Text service, a text-based service that provides emotional support for those in distress.

He/she decides the required follow up actions, which typically include referring of cases to the Clinical Team for crisis support or counselling. He or she provides frontline support to volunteers who are manning the organization’s Care Text service.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct initial assessment and classify text messages according to the risk levels. Scope of work includes:

1. Classify text messages on the system
2. Make outgoing text messages where necessary to facilitate assessment
3. Provide first level response to low-risk clients where necessary
4. Provide information on SOS services or on community resources to third party callers
5. Support in the administration and documentation of the processes
6. Refer cases to the Clinical team for follow up actions/ crisis support interventions
7. Coordinate on the activation of emergency support where applicable

• Frontline support to volunteers (SAMs) who are manning the organization’s Care Text Service. Scope of work includes:

1. Assist with care text duties in the event of shortage of volunteers
2. Being activated onsite to support persons in crisis or next-of-kins
3. Support in training and supervision of trainee volunteers
4. Orientate and guide new volunteers who have just started performing messaging duties on their own
5. Support and guide volunteers in the Phoneroom or over online platforms by monitor chats and provide consultation where appropriate
6. Conduct debrief sessions with volunteers where necessary, especially for those who handled text with imminent risks and experienced distress as a result
7. Update volunteers on clients’ development
8. Provide off-site support for volunteers outside of office hours where necessary

Educational Qualification:

• Diploma or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology or in Counselling (preferred)

Relevant Experience:

• On-the-job training available
• At least 1-2 years of experience in the Social Service Sector (preferred)
• Understands the Social Service landscape (preferred)
• Experience in volunteer management or volunteered with other SSAs or hotline operation (preferred)

Behaviour Traits & Attitude:

• Self-motivated
• Good team player
• Possess good interpersonal communication skills
• Willing to perform shift work which includes evenings, overnights, weekends and on public holidays (mandatory)
• Strong analytic and problem solving skills (preferred)

Shift Schedules:

Full Time TMS Executive (40 hours):

Staff will be rostered to work on the following shifts:

Morning 7:30am - 4:30pm, Afternoon 1:30pm - 10:30pm, or Night 6pm - 3am.

Shifts will follow a hybrid arrangement: morning and afternoon shifts are to be done from office, while night is done remotely. Staff can expect to do more night shifts, with a cap of 10 night shifts per month.

Part-Time TMS Executive (20 hours):

Work schedule consists of 20 hours per week, inclusive of weekends and public holidays. Staff will be rostered to work on the following shifts:

(A) 10am - 2pm, (B) 5pm - 9pm, or (C) 9pm - 1am. Shifts will be done remotely.