Residential Support Staff I Position

Job Summary

This position provides general supervision of residents in a supportive housing setting. Oversight includes monitoring and maintaining safety of residents, facility and grounds; assessing crisis situations calling emergency services personnel and providing First Aid/CPR as necessary; building rapport and engaging with residents to promote positive interactions; and light office duties and general maintenance of office areas and storage spaces.

Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities

1. Maintains strict confidentiality and professional boundaries/ethics in all matters concerning residents, staff, and program matters.
2. Enforces rules and regulations to ensure safety of residents and staff, and smooth and orderly operation of the program.
3. Performs scheduled room checks to assure residences are clean and orderly and to assess the needs of residents; report back to Housing Support Specialist staff or the immediate supervisor for interventions, as needed.
4. Documents Recipient Support Service notes for Medicaid billing or other service documentation, the same day the service performed, with accuracy, clarity, and to a standard that meets medical necessity regarding observation of behaviors and appropriate interventions.
5. Makes regular rounds to ensure that residents, facility, and grounds are safe and secure, notes results in facilities log.
6. Keeps abreast of medications residents prescribed encouraging them to take them properly and on time. Reports concerns or problems to supervisory staff.
7. Utilizes de-escalation techniques in accordance with training to communicate effectively with residents who display challenging behaviors. Writes critical incident reports, as needed, for all emergency type situations.
8. Assesses emergency type situations while maintaining own personal safety at all times. Calls the appropriate authorities, and when safe to do so, provides necessary basic First Aid and/or CPR until emergency services personnel arrive.
9. Builds rapport and engages positively with residents on an on-going basis in order to promote a community environment and reinforce positive behavioral changes.
10. Performs light office duties such as answering phones, filing, making copies, preparing outgoing mail, and faxing.
11. Transports clients to and from appointments, classes and other outing in personal vehicle as needed.
12. Keeps all utility and supply closets clean and organized. Performs periodic inventory of supplies and alerts immediate supervisor when supplies are running low to assure timely replacement.
13. Maintains facility in accordance with all applicable Federal and State regulations and agency policies and procedures.
14. Attends shift briefings and weekly staff meetings to review resident status and overall program effectiveness. Meet with supervisor no less than once a month.

Other Responsibilities

1. Assists residents with special activities as assigned by immediate supervisor or the program management staff.
2. Packs up residents belongings, who have been discharged from the programs.
3. Performs other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

Work Activities

1. Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others; actively looks for ways to help people.
2. Uses relevant information and individual judgement to determine whether events or processes comply with current program standards, laws, or regulations.

Competencies, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to handle intoxicated residents calmly and proficiently.
2. Ability to remain alert during shift to respond quickly to resident's needs and emergency type situations.
3. Ability to read, comprehend, and follow established policies and procedures.
4. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing as appropriate for the needs of a diverse audience.
5. Ability to observe and document resident behaviors.
6. Ability to endure and balance work fluctuations, deadlines, and interruptions.
7. Ability to manage work time well, prioritize and meet deadlines.
8. Ability to exercise good judgement, courtesy and tact in working with diverse staff, families, and the public.
9. Ability to establish good rapport with people of diverse cultures and belief systems.
10. Gives full attention to verbal instructions, taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions as appropriate.
11. Uses logic and reasoning to identity the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
12. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
13. Must demonstrate sound judgement, professional boundaries, ethics, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Work Environment/Job Conditions

1. Agency is a mandated tobacco, drug and alcohol free workplace.
2. General office environment; shared office space.
3. Uses computers and computer programs effectively to enter data, create spreadsheets and process information, and, develop documents, program and training materials.
4. Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.
5. Communicates with others outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, and other external sources in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail in keeping with current policies & procedures.
6. Must have the ability to operate the following equipment: desktop computer, telephone, copier, PC printer, and fax machine.

Physical Demands

1. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
2. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly to grasp, type, see, talk, hear, and lift and carry 50 pounds of weight by utilizing proper lifting techniques and working in a safe manner. This position will also be performing physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, bending, and handling materials.
3. Occasionally performs sedentary activities that require sitting for long periods and repetitive use of hands, wrists and arms for handling, positioning, moving materials, and manipulating things.
4. Must be in good general health and free from serious physical, mental health and/or substance abuse problems.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a on-call position for all housing properties: 325 East Third, Karluk Manor, Safe Harbor Muldoon, Sitka Place

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Education and Employment Requirements

1. Must be at least 21 years of age.
2. State and federal background checks, including fingerprints, may be required.
3. High School Diploma or equivalency.
4. Ability to successfully pass an assigned online training course in a timely manner.
5. Knowledge of working with persons with substance abuse, homelessness, mental health with six (6) months actual and/or direct experiences; or service to substance dependent, mentally ill, or homeless residents.
6. Must provide TB screening clearance within 30 days of hire and annually thereafter at employee's expense.
7. Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
8. Basic level of computer skills necessary to use and create documents, use spreadsheets, collect and enter information into database and to compose email messages.
9. Must be optimistic, having a high degree of compassion, perseverance and ethics.
10. Responsible work ethic with reliable attendance.
11. Proven ability and willingness to be self-directed in problem-solving and decision-making and perform basic assignment with little or no direct supervision while also working effectively as a team member.
12. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
13. Must be able to provide own transportation to meet work schedule requirements.
14. Must have a valid driver's License and maintain a valid driver's license throughout the course of employment. Must provide a copy of current driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles annually.
15. Must have an insured vehicle, present proof of insurance, and maintain proof of insurance throughout the course of employment.
16. Must keep all matters concerning participants in strictest confidence as required by HIPAA privacy and the 42 CFR, Part II confidentiality regulations.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Experience working with homeless people, and working with diverse rural/urban Alaska Native population, competence in multi-cultural environments.
2. Experienced user of MS Office Suite, which contains Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

---