Shelter Advocate- Casual

Shelter Advocate – Casual

The Shelter Advocate provides crisis intervention and creates a safe and welcoming environment for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking and their children by providing emotional support, connecting residents to resources, and facilitating activities in shelter to build community.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required;
  Bachelor's degree in human services or related field or specialized training in domestic violence preferred.
• One-year experience in crisis intervention and residential service preferred.
• Must pass criminal, child abuse and neglect, and sex offender background checks.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict and adept at de-escalation techniques
• Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to be empathetic and establish rapport.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries.

Responsibilities:

• Provides crisis intervention and individual support.
• Answers agency crisis line and responds to client crisis needs.
• Links clients with community resources.
• Maintains confidential, accurate, and timely client records and documentation.
• Monitors building and shelter security systems and procedures.
• Provides admittance and intake of shelter residents; arranges alternate shelter, as needed.
• Coordinates and facilitates shelter programming activities including, but not limited to: field trips, recreational outings, in-shelter activities, co-location of community resources, and holiday celebrations.
• Assists in activities related to daily shelter operations.
• Completes cleaning tasks assigned during scheduled shifts.
• Assures necessary maintenance and custodial functions, as needed.
• Safeguards confidential information gained as a result of the position.
• Complies with applicable local, state and federal licensing requirements / certification and or regulations.
• Complies with Association policy regarding required reporting of child abuse, elder abuse, suicide and homicide.
• Attends all team and staff meetings, participates in collective team and agency efforts, and complies with all YWCA Kalamazoo policies and practices.
• Remains flexible and manages changing priorities on a continuing basis.
• Knows and adheres to Association policies, procedures, and practices.
• Works cooperatively with program participants, YWCA staff and volunteers.
• Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions and

Essential Functions:

• YWCA assigned building
• Occasional off-site locations; promotional events, networking events, community engagement events, etc.
• Potential outdoor events
• Potential Actions:
  Sitting, standing, kneeling, bending, some lifting
• Frequently required to remain stationary
• Frequently required to move
• Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Occasionally required to taste or smell
• Occasionally required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
• Continually required to communicate and exchange accurate information
• Occasionally exposed to wet and / or humid conditions (non-weather)
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate-loud
• Occasionally work in high, precarious places
• Occasionally work around fumes, airborne particles, or toxic chemicals
• The employee must frequently lift and /or move more than 25 pounds.
• The employee must occasionally lift and /or move more than 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include:
  Close vision;
  Distance vision;
  Color vision;
  Peripheral vision;
  Ability to adjust focus;
  Depth Perception
• Specialized equipment, machines, or vehicles used: computer, copier, and motor vehicle
• Frequent travel to and from offsite locations and events
• Frequent exposure to blood borne pathogens, airborne pathogens, or infectious materials
• Additional remarks regarding work environment: ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Conditions are subject to occasional exposure to agitated or threatening individuals.
• Irregular work hours may exist, including early morning, evening, weekends, holidays and on an on-call basis for emergencies.

Training Requirements:

• Orientation to YWCA Personnel Policies, Mission, Purpose and One Imperative.
• Orientation to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Confidentiality, Mandatory Reporting.
• Other appropriate training and in-service which will occur during employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer