Residential Advocate

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Residential Advocate

FLSA Status: Non exempt

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Department/Location: Domestic Violence Shelter | East Hampton, NY | Remote work is not available for this position

PURPOSE

Ensure the safety and security of the Shelter and residents. Assist residents with activities for daily living and ensure cleanliness in all areas of the Shelter. Monitor and de-escalate issues before they become problems. Maintain proper documentation as needed.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain the safety and security of the Shelter and provide confidentiality to Shelter residents
• Conduct a minimum of three walk-about security checks during each 8-hour shift, including client rooms, living room, basement, and outside grounds; maintain an awareness at all times of who is in the building
• Lead fire drills and emergency evacuations
• Assess emergencies and contact appropriate responders (Fire, Police, EMT)
• Provide emergency coverage as needed

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Interaction

• Enter client information and activities into the client database; ensure proper record-keeping and statistical data collection
• Ensure the physical safety of the inhabitants of the house and report any nonemergency problems in the log; initiate and process incident reports as needed
• Ensure that client logs are completed, including logs for medication, transportation, phone, and signing in and out
• Conduct intake of new clients; copy any important papers; complete/utilize the Intake Checklist to ensure accuracy
• Upon intake, notify emergency services of the client's arrival and assign client locker and lock, document lock distribution
• Ensure client locks medications in appropriate safe, document medications in medical folders

Daily

• Night shift: set alarm, confirm clients are present, and check halls, doors, and thermostats
• Submit appropriate data to the Department of Social Services through the SOAR reporting procedure
• Check residential freezer temperature and input information in the daily temperature log
• Scan hotline forms to Courage email
• Oversee the completion of chores by clients and ensure that clients are following house guidelines
• Assist clients, when necessary, with wake-ups for school, etc.
• Carry out conflict resolution with empathy and confidence, document all incidents

Hot Line Management

• Answer crisis hotline calls; process proper paperwork for all calls received; enter information into the Apricot database

Other

• Update the occupancy chart located on Google Drive when necessary
• Transport clients when needed
• When a room becomes available, clean the room and launder sheets and towels for the next client
• Contact the on-call manager for guidance on any Shelter Emergencies
• Attend staff meetings and professional development training

POSITION RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to the Shelter Director and the Shelter Assistant Director

 

• The incumbent in this position does not have direct reports but may be tasked to assist and train others

 

QUALIFICATIONS

High School diploma and 4+ years of experience in any of the following areas: social work, women's studies, psychology, or counseling, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the duties of the position. An Associate's degree in the areas listed above with relevant internships is acceptable.

Required capabilities:

• Demonstrated dependability and initiative; ability to handle crises with minimal supervision
• Excellent interpersonal skills; empathetic listener
• Must maintain program/client/agency confidentiality and treat clients, staff, and volunteers with dignity and respect
• Ability to set and observe appropriate personal limits and boundaries, especially with shelter clients
• Flexibility to deal effectively with a variety of people, situations, problems, and changes
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to write clear, accurate notes and complete other paperwork thoroughly and accurately
• Must be computer literate in Word, Excel, and Google Docs

Other requirements:

• Must have a valid New York State Driver's License (Required)
• Bilingual / Spanish (Preferred)

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Sits, stands, stoops, squats, walks, and moves intermittently during work hours
• May lift, push or pull 10-15 pounds daily; may push or pull up to 50 pounds occasionally
• May be subject to hostile and emotionally upset clients
• Subject to frequent interruptions
• All Shelter staff must go up and down stairs carrying donations, including food and clothes

OTHER DUTIES

Every effort has been made to make agency job descriptions as complete as possible. However, it does not state or imply that these are the only duties required for this position or the sole responsibilities for which this employee will be accountable. The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, is a logical assignment to the position, or is within the scope of generally accepted business practices for an employee with this specific job title.

 

The Retreat Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

THE RETREAT, INC. is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, age, marital status, domestic violence victim status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, gender identity, religion, genetic predisposition, familial status, ancestry, prior arrest or conviction record or any other protected category under applicable law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The agency values and is committed to providing compassionate, empathetic, culturally aware services to all clients/members. Interactions are approached with these values in mind, and it is expected that clients/members will be treated with compassion, respect, and sensitivity during the provision of holistic, inclusive, and welcoming services.