Shelter Advocate
Reports to: Shelter Manager
Position Summary: Position performs a variety of duties including, advocacy, household maintenance and security.
Education Experience Required: High school diploma and one year of experience in crisis/social service agency preferred. Some knowledge about domestic and sexual abuse.
Personal and Professional Qualifications: Excellent verbal and written communication and organizational skills; cultural competence and the ability to interact with various publics; excellent interpersonal skills; must demonstrate sound judgement and a high degree of responsibility, particularly as it relates to confidentiality.
Advocate Responsibilities:
Understand and support the mission and purpose of Emergency Shelter Services, Inc.
Provide support to program participants through:
- empathetic listening,
- assistance and guidance in crisis intervention and problem solving,
- knowledge about and referrals to available community resources,
- assistance in developing support systems
Maintain proper records with regard, in part, to:
- crisis telephone advocacy,
- record keeping of contacts with program participants, and
- intake and discharge procedures.
Page advocates on duty and provide proper referral information to ensure client is assisted in the most efficient manner
Seek information and guidance for clients through all available resources, including advocates on call, hospitals and other staff as needed
Maintain a safe and secure environment for program participants by:
- Monitoring the grounds, shelter entrances, and administrative building and reporting any suspicious activities to shelter manager
- Knowing the whereabouts of all program participants at all times
- Knowing emergency procedures for all shelter utilities and equipment
- Know fire prevention an evacuation procedures including being aware of where all emergency exits are in the building
- Ensuring that all communal living guidelines are met
- Resolving conflicts, as necessary
- Maintaining a clean and orderly house and grounds
Attending to the needs of reasonable requests of program participants
Participate in staff meetings, trainings and workshops as necessary, including the bimonthly mandatory staff meeting
Follow weekly shift chore sheets
Adhere to the organization's Code of Ethics. Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Confidentiality, and Agency- Wide employee standards
Perform other duties as assigned
Communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors by:
- Updating the front desk log with pertinent information that needs to be passed along
- In the case of dire emergency, contact the shelter manager by phone or text message
Job Type: Part-time
Schedule:
- 4 hour shift
- 8 hour shift
- Evening shift
- Holidays
- Night shift
- On call
- Rotating weekends
Experience:
- social services: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Preferred)
Work Location: In person