Seasonal Winter Warming Advocate Job Center North Dakota USA,Social Work

The Winter Warming Center is a City of Fargo seasonal program that provides secure, low-barrier, overnight warming space for individuals experiencing homelessness in the FM area. From November-April, the Winter Warming Center will be staffed from 8:00pm-8:00am inside the Downtown Engagement Center to mitigate the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Minimal services will be provided during this time as the Warming Center is only intended to serve those who would otherwise be unsheltered due to local shelters being over-capacity.

As part of our efforts to improve outcomes for the people serve, we are committed to working with community partners and city resources to develop clear goals focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. We will collaborate with community partners, program participants, and our staff members to identify and address the ways that systemic racism and other forms of bias contribute to disparities in health outcomes.

The Winter Warming Harm Reduction Advocate position will qualify for an overnight and weekend pay incentive.

Scope of Responsibility

The Harm Reduction Advocate provides and enhances safe emergency shelter, drop-in services, and intoxication and withdrawal management (WMU). The advocate meets the immediate needs of homeless persons that cannot access other shelter options in the community as well as the needs of the WMU clients. As a direct contact for the guests and clients, the advocate provides a safe and respectful environment while conducting guest intakes, assisting guests with housing, helping make referrals to other agencies and services, and performing a variety of tasks during hours of shelter operation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions

Frequently interacts with others in the work unit, the public, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information.
Interaction with the public, vendors/ community partners or across departments occasionally includes negotiations involving convincing the other party to do something to achieve a basic work related objective

Responds to Public Health Emergencies.

Has a working knowledge of the National Incident Management System for emergency preparedness and has completed the courses required for their job;
Fulfills roles within the Department's Emergency Operations Plan as determined by Emergency Preparedness and Management staff;
During an actual emergency, is accessible 24/7 with an established family contingency plan in place.

Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.

Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss.
When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;

Maintains a safe and supervised shelter and WMU environment; facilitates the efficient and effective operation of the shelter and WMU on a day-to-day basis.

Coordinates shelter guest and WMU client check-in process including bed assignments, bag and property checks, breathalyzer checks, and assessments for safety;
Completes the intake process with new shelter guests and WMU clients and ensures all needed information has been obtained;
Provides intake, assessment and monitoring per shelter and WMU policy.
Provides shelter guests or WMU clients with essentials such as food, fluids, toiletries, etc.
Assures access to emergency services for guests and clients as necessary;
Completes all paperwork, maintain and update shelter guest and WMU client files, and clearly communicate with other shelter and WMU staff through written and verbal reports;
Completes and maintains necessary records, maintaining confidentiality and complying with regulations regarding client confidentiality.
Utilizes the employee communication log to summarize relevant events of each shift;
Reads the employee communication log before beginning shift duties;
Communicates, complies with, and enforces all shelter and WMU rules, policies, and procedures;
Focus on building relationships with…