Operations Assistant Coordinator

BACKGROUND

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable. The BPHC envisions a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of antiracism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

The Boston Public Health Commission’s Homeless Services Bureau (HSB) provides emergency shelter, job training, behavioral health support, and housing services to unhoused individuals in Boston. We serve close to 5,000 individuals every year and are one of the largest providers of emergency shelter in New England. We aim to make homelessness in Boston rare, brief, and one time.  We do that by problem-solving with new guests at the front door to try to prevent anyone from entering homelessness to begin with. For individuals who do become homeless and use our shelters, we help them quickly move out of homelessness and find a safe place to call home. Once housed, we provide in-home support to ensure someone does not return to homelessness. We use a Housing First and racial justice framework, which is built on the foundation that housing is a social determinant of health, a basic need that everyone deserves, and does not require sobriety. We foster evidence-based approaches such as trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and motivational interviewing in the delivery of our services, and ensure services are low-threshold and accessible to our guests.

The Operations Assistant Coordinator is part of a team that oversees front line Emergency Shelter Operations staff, to assure safe shelter operations and the overall well-being of shelter guests. Operations Assistant Coordinators serve as the bridge between shelter operations and shelter services, meeting individuals “where they are” and providing non-judgmental, trauma-informed services and resources to individuals.

DUTIES

• Provide a safe and supportive environment for those experiencing homelessness. Responsible for the overall stability of the shelter environment for guests and staff by ensuring compliance with shelter rules and policies.
• Assists in the daily operation and supervision of emergency shelter operations staff.
• Supervises and provides milieu support – which may include escorting guests throughout shelter and individual guest engagement and performing services in the main housing areas of the shelter, designated low-threshold units/areas, and other specialized units/space.
• Carries out certain responsibilities of Coordinator in his/her absence and on weekends. Schedules Operations and fill in staff to ensure shift coverage and shelter safety. Assists in the supervision and training of assigned staff. Assists in staff evaluations. Assists Coordinator in preparing time sheets. Communicates to staff all information concerning internal operations and changes in policy and procedure.
• Supervises and implements shelter safety procedures including regular safety rounds throughout shelter and search procedures for guests entering shelter.
• Enforces rules and policies objectively, fairly and appropriately. Develop positive professional relationships with clients to facilitate care.
• Ensure basic needs of shelter guests are addressed and facilitate access as needed; includes distribution of safety and public health supplies, food, clothing, linens, etc.
• Coordinate the distribution and collection of guest resources including linens, food, clothing and toiletries.
• Facilitate immediate access to safety, health, and public health supplies for all guests.
• Conduct formal and informal assessments to determine needs and make appropriate referrals to internal and external programs
• Coordinate with internal programs to assist in the administration and/or facilitation of group meetings, life skills and information training, and day program activities.

• Provides appropriate conflict management and crisis intervention.
• Conducts and facilitates shift meetings in collaboration with the Coordinator.
• Assist guests with daily living tasks as appropriate.
• Conducts informal counseling sessions to assess n