Resident Assistant

Resident Assistant

The Resident Assistant provides direct oversight and care to Youth Center members and residents and is responsible for being an after-hours presence for LGBTQ+ sheltered youth at the Center's emergency overnight and transitional living programs. This position works with a member/resident population that is currently or formerly experiencing homelessness and has high rates of health, mental health, and substance-related issues. The ideal candidate must be familiar with and have experience with this population.

Essential Functions:

• Follow a framework of care goals and department protocols to ensure member and resident safety, provide crisis intervention and de-escalation along a spectrum of intervention techniques.
• Implement philosophy-of-care, house rules, including housing-first, harm-reduction and trauma-informed care principles.
• Provide a welcoming presence onsite for members and residents to engage with by answering questions and providing information.
• Monitor resident access, including appropriate entry and departure, and oversee residential spaces to safeguard resident care.
• Assist with the mediation of conflicts that arise and attempt to de-escalate residents who are exhibiting behavior that is anxious/aggressive or may be violating house rules.
• Establish and maintain the upkeep and cleanliness of the youth center and residential program and assist residents with maintaining the cleanliness of their living spaces.
• Assist with the coordination of onsite evening/weekend events and social activities for member/resident engagement.
• Assist with the assessment of residents experiencing severe mental health symptoms and contact Psychiatric Medical Response Team (PMRT) if a resident exhibits behavior that is harmful to self or others.
• Contact emergency services (e.g. police, ambulance, fire department, PMRT) in cases of emergency, such as a health or mental health crisis, fire, or presence of unauthorized persons.
• Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as calls to emergency services, criminal activity such as property damage and theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or other unusual occurrences.
• Follow alarm procedures and address disturbances in a safe manner, calling proper authorities if necessary.
• Follow communication protocols to inform appropriate Center staff/departments regarding emergency issues, including after-hours Facilities maintenance.
• Assist with the coordination of case management, housing and other onsite service staff on behalf of residents that need after-hours monitoring, follow-up, or assistance.
• Gain understanding of resident-specific personal and medical needs to best support residents and create appropriate relationships which promote the resident's case plan.
• Participate in staff meetings, planning meetings and other meetings as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications and

Experience:

• Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ people.
• A passion for the Center's work and its mission to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in related field, specifically working with youth experiencing homelessness/housing instability, foster youth, and/or mental illness, low-income, or individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Experience with substance abuse case management and crisis intervention.
• Knowledge of housing-first, harm-reduction, trauma-informed care principles.
• Effective problem-solving skills and ability to multi-task.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong organizational, detail and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated, energetic, flexible and the ability to work in a team environment.
• Available to work schedules which include evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays.
• Bilingual skills, a plus (English/Spanish fluency preferred, American Sign Language fluency, a plus).
• Access to reliable transportation and the ability to be insured.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic…