Residential Advocate

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Residential Advocate

Location: Laurelwood Shelter

Supervisor: Laurelwood Shelter Manager

Schedule: Friday-Sunday 4pm-12am

Wage: $20.66 hourly + $0.25 swing shift differential; Eligible for language differential

Classification: Non-Exempt, Represented, Benefit Eligible

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide advocacy, information, and referral services to participants staying in emergency shelters. Oversee shelter facility in a manner that is consistent with Transition Projects mission, values, policies, and procedures. Actively participate in shelter processes and work as part of a team to provide services to participants.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Supervise shelter activities to ensure the safety of participants.
2. Maintain working knowledge of agency programs, services, and community resources.
3. Provide advocacy, information, and referral services to participants.
4. Assure cleanliness, sanitation, and upkeep of facility, performing minor maintenance and cleanup duties as necessary or requested.
5. Facilitate problem solving and provide crisis intervention services.
6. Responsible for knowing and following policies and procedures, including program, agency and building specific policies.
7. Responsible for knowing and following procedures in emergencies and critical incidents.
8. Responsible for maintaining accurate logs, shift reports, and participant records, both manually and using web-based program.
9. Maintain confidentiality of participants, staff, and agency.
10. Coordinate with agency staff to ensure consistent delivery of services.
11. Attend agency and program staff meetings.
12. Supervise participant chore assignments.
13. Perform urinalysis and breathalyzer testing on participants when requested.
14. Rotate through assigned Post Positions if applicable.
15. Other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Each Transition Projects employee must:

1. Acquire First Aid/CPR/AED certification within 30 days of hire and be retested biannually thereafter throughout employment.
2. Complete Bloodborne Pathogens and Narcan Training within 30 days of hire and be retested annually thereafter throughout employment.
3. Demonstrate reliability by being present for work as scheduled, arriving and leaving on time and taking breaks in expected time frames.
4. Interact effectively with persons of diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.
5. Attend agency and program staff meetings.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

1. Hearing and vision adequate for interaction with participants, interaction with staff and interaction with the general public.
2. Hearing adequate for telephone work. Vision adequate for close work.
3. Hand and finger dexterity adequate to operate standard office equipment.
4. Ability to walk, bend, stand, sit, reach, stoop, pull, climb stairs, and squat.
5. Ability to perform CPR for fifteen minutes continuously.
6. Ability to lift 50 pounds.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The right individual for this position has a passion for helping others and a desire to work in an organization that serves people who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.

1. Associate degree or higher in a related field, OR 2 years of consistent work experience (in any field) AND demonstrated understanding of the issues surrounding homelessness, chemical dependency, domestic violence and sexual assault.
2. Demonstrated ability to work independently. Ability to appropriately assess a situation and take corrective action as necessary.
3. Knowledge of services available to low-income and homeless persons in Multnomah County through Transition Projects and other agencies or the demonstrated ability to obtain such knowledge.
4. Demonstrated ability to provide crisis intervention and to follow procedure in crisis situations.
5. Written and verbal communication skills. Good computer skills. Ability to use web-based data collection program.
6. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Transition Projects, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, source of income, union participation or activities, or any other status legally protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.