Street Light/Porch Light Shelter - Care and Support Specialist

Position Summary:

The Care and Support Specialist is responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, comfortable and respectful environment for up to 70 transition homeless youth (16-24 years of age). This position oversees the safe operation of the homeless youth shelter facility and provides individual client response, including supervision of daily and nightly routines; interpretation and guidance regarding program agreements; crisis intervention; and close supervision of the shelter milieu. The primary responsibility of this position is providing a safe, comfortable environment for homeless youth to sleep, rest, eat and tend to their basic hygiene needs. Street Light/Porch Light Shelters are AFSCME union programs.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Prior experience working with high-risk youth and people experiencing homelessness is preferred.
• Knowledge of trauma and trauma’s impact on homeless/street dependent youth is preferred.
• Bachelor degree in related field or equivalent education, experience and training that demonstrates knowledge and ability necessary to successfully perform job duties and responsibilities is preferred.
• Spanish speaking preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively in the following areas: Cultural diversity, team-based models; crisis management; systematic theory; Positive Youth Development approach; and adolescent development. Ability to work effectively may be demonstrated through academic experience, job experience, references, and interview answers.
• Genuine concern for young people and the ability to treat all people with dignity and respect, and openness to learning and implementing a Positive Youth Development approach to youth work.
• Must value working in a multicultural/diverse environment.
• A commitment to ongoing training and a willingness to receive and act upon feedback.
• Ability to climb and descend at least two flights of stairs.
• Ability to stay awake and alert throughout entire assigned shift (which are approximately 13 hours).
• Ability to participate in and complete frequent facility walk-throughs as part of contract requirements while on shift.
• Ability to accurately read, record, and interpret information and maintain paper and computerized information.
• Ability to use a computer with basic computer literacy in Word, Excel, Zoom and Google Gmail/Docs, as well as the ability to access, enter, and update data into web-based systems (ie: timesheets).
• Ability to provide visual and auditory supervision of program and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad variety of people, including staff, supervisors and management.
• Ability to effectively monitor safety and demonstrate group management skills, as well as effectively de-escalate potentially chaotic or volatile situations. This includes the ability to stay calm and emotionally available in an intimate residential environment serving highly traumatized youth experiencing homelessness, mental health symptoms and chronic alcohol/drug abuse.
• Ability to exercise tact, independent discretion and judgment within program guidelines in working with a variety of people.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based environment and to act on the agenda of the program.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries in working with others and in handling confidential information.
• Ability to attend scheduled shift, be punctual for scheduled shift and meetings, and be in a condition that ensures staff are able to assume responsibilities of position.
• Ability to problem solve, exercise independent judgment within program guidelines, and respond to crisis situations.
• Manual dexterity and physical capability to perform functions considered routine in a shelter environment, such as bend, stoop, kneel, reach, lift up to 20 lbs. (including overhead), and perform routine office tasks such as writing, phone use, filing, copying, and use of computer keyboard.

Other Requirements:

• Bloodborne Pathogens training is required on first day of employment.
• 1st aid and CPR certification. If employee does not have then they will complete process within 2 weeks of employment.
• Food handler's card. If employee does not have then they will complete process within 2 weeks of employment.
• TB test within 30 days of employment.
• Must pass DHS criminal history check.
• This position does not require driving. However, any employee who drives for work purposes must first complete the Agency’s driving approval process and receive written approval to drive. This applies to driving a personal vehicle, as well as an Agency vehicle.

The Care and Support Specialist position may include the following as well as other duties as assigned:

• Provides a safe, comfortable and respectful environment and close supervision and security for youth in a shelter facility.
  • Manages night-to-night interactions and crisis situations constructively, ensuring the physical security and emotional nurturing and growth of residents.
  • Will conduct regular walk-throughs of dormitory/bathrooms during shift according to program schedule.
  • Supports and monitors the implementation of program agreements through individualized interventions and follow through with consequences as indicated in the agreements.
• Provides supervision, guidance and modeling of behaviors to assist residents with nightly bedtime and morning wake-up routines, including respectful communication, cleaning responsibilities and other program expectations as outlined in Policy & Procedure Manual and Shelter Agreements.
• Oversees night-to-night operation of overnight shelter facility for homeless youth.
  • Assesses physical condition of facility and performs necessary maintenance to ensure compliance with Public Health, local fire Marshall, and city/state/county standards.
  • Communicates with Shelter Manager, Porchlight Supervisor and Facility Manager to coordinate maintenance and cleanliness of facility.
  • Coordinates with supervisors to plan, prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals.
  • Provides security for and dispenses prescribed medicine.
• Participates in Staff Meetings and Shelter Coordination Meetings every Thursday from 9:15 am-10:30 am, as well as regularly scheduled supervision meetings, and other meetings as needed and/or directed by supervisors or Director.
  • Attends trainings and retreats as scheduled and required by the program.
• Provides orientation of new clients in a friendly, clear, consistent and trauma-informed manner.
• Supports and assists substitute workers, volunteers and peer mentors in a respectful manner.
• Performs assigned record keeping and communication duties in a timely manner.
  • Make nightly entries into Staff Log.
  • Accurate and timely data entry into ServicePoint HMIS (training will be provided by supervisors)
  • Write trauma informed incident reports, as needed and as instructed in the Shelter Policy & Procedure Manual.
  • Responsible for understanding and completing other data tracking systems as they are developed and implemented. Supervisors will assist with training and ongoing support.
  • Completes required trainings and certifications in Relias and with supervisors.
  • Completes timesheets, on-boarding, other documents, and requests time off through employee dashboard.
• Reads all written communications, including work-related emails and program logs, prior to each shift. Refer to Shelter Guest List nightly in order to knowledgably supervise and monitor safe guest access.
• Completes and receives First Aid/CPR Certification within one month of hire and maintains certification throughout employment, providing emergency first-aid on an as-needed basis.
• Models and encourages respectful and professional communication and facilitates development of a positive staff/management/agency support system.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by Supervisors, the Director of Homeless Youth Services and/or the Executive Director.

Working Conditions:

• May involve exposure to communicable diseases, including a variety of illnesses and infections such as the common cold, TB, Hepatitis, flu, meningitis, and HIV.
• May involve exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized children, adolescents, adults, and families.
• May involve time in excess of routine schedule and overtime, including various shifts and/or weekend hours, and/or holidays.
• May involve exposure to information that graphically describes physical, sexual and emotion abuse of children and may experience vicarious trauma.

This position description is intended to give the reader a general idea of the overall purpose and the main activities and responsibilities that are intrinsic to this position. While this description is intended to be representative, it is not intended to be limiting.