Family Shelter Program Staff

Who are you:

The Family Shelter Program Staff is part of the shelter program team and is responsible for completing tasks associated with the day-to-day shelter operations of our clients family shelter programs that currently serve 50 families combined, including congregate, scattered site and motel/hotel units. Our programs are funded primarily by the Executive Offices of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH), Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS).

What will you be doing:

• Use a strengths-based, trauma-informed care and a collaborative approach with participants.

• Treat all participants, guests, staff, collaterals, vendors, contractors, and volunteers with respect and dignity.

• Maintain excellent boundaries, a high degree of confidentiality and ethical behavior, and always adhere to all HIPPA regulations.

• Use language translation services, accordingly, as described in contractual agreements to ensure clear and accurate communication.

• Document and communicate effectively with the shelter program team to ensure continuity of care.

• Ensure that each participant's emergency and basic needs are met upon entry and during the entirety of their stay.

• Participate in all company, staff, and supervision meetings and maintain up to date knowledge and understanding of resources for essential, programmatic, and supportive services, including but not limited to best practices, trauma informed care, strength-based approaches, and other modalities, via third party training.

• Prepare and submit Serious Incident Reports to the Senior Director.

• Initiate non-violent crisis prevention/ intervention when necessary and apply de-escalation and safety skills and techniques during responses. Initiate calls to 911 or the 24/7 Behavioral Crisis team, as outlined in program policies and procedures.

• Develop positive, productive, and collaborative relationships with families, while upholding guidelines, rules, and behavioral expectations.

• Submit maintenance tickets or supply requests as needed for participants.

• Support participants in their housing search and assist participants with housing applications. Including assisting with the completion of applications, review of applications, photocopying applications, and mailing applications.

Our ideal candidate has:

• Arrive on time and stay for the full duration of the assigned shift until relieved by staff.

• All shifts require staff to be awake for the entire duration of the shift.

• Answer telephone and field questions as appropriate.

• Maintain participant census accurately throughout shift to ensure all participants are accounted for.

• Ensure participant safety by completing hourly rounds, supervising participant behavior, interactions in shelter site and outdoor property.

• Maintain detailed documentation in staff log of all significant events and interactions throughout your shift; complete incident reports as necessary for events such as interactions with local law enforcement, calls to 911, for an ambulance, or to crisis stabilization services, altercations among participants/guests, etc.

• Orient/train temp agency staff and ensure temp staff are familiar with the policies, procedures, and scope of service as determined by our client and contracting agencies.

• Monitor the self-administration of medication by participants to ensure all medications are taken as prescribed by the provider., and complete and maintain all medication documentation in accordance with Citizens Inn policies and procedure and contractual agreements.

• Work with families to store medications in a safe and secure area, separate and apart from cleaning fluids and toxic substances, and inaccessible to children under the age of 10. Each family's medications must be made available to them to ensure that they are able to take their prescribed dosages at the prescribed times. During unit inspections, any identified medications found unsecure must immediately be stored out of reach of children under the age of 10 and adults must be informed of the importance of storing medicines in a safe and secure area inaccessible to children under the age of 10.

• Monitor community meals, program groups, children's play space, and ensure safe and appropriate interactions among participants.

• Provide necessary equipment and supplies for each family to maintain the cleanliness of their own room and/or scattered site and co-shelter unit. Ensure all common areas in congregate shelters are cleaned daily. All units must be thoroughly cleaned upon a family's departure and provisions for removal of trash from rooms/units must be made and communicated to families.

• Ensure cleaning / sanitation of office space is completed during shift