PRN Shelter Advocate (Evenings, Overnights & Weekends)

About the role

Safehome is a nonprofit organization and domestic violence shelter. Our core purpose is to provide a healing atmosphere where survivors of domestic violence can gain inner strength, explore options, and be empowered to live a life free of abuse.

The Shelter Advocate provides support for residential clients and answers hotline calls. Must have the ability to communicate well, actively listen, and have good judgement.

Responsibilities

Hotline Responsibilities

• Actively listens and assess the needs of callers while providing support.
• Assists callers with safety planning and intentions for entering shelter by analyzing, interpreting, and deducing active and potential lethality risk factors.
• Recommend services most appropriate.
• Show respect to all callers in a consistent and ethical manner on a daily basis.

Shelter Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes with new residential clients.
• Maintains accurate and confidential records for each client, documenting resident behaviors, incidents, interactions, and progress in a consistent and ethical manner.
• Monitors building status and cleanliness, reporting malfunctions and ensuring building is kept clean.
• Monitors resident activity throughout shelter and manage conflict through appropriate intervention and communication with Case Managers.
• Identifies barriers to success for shelter residents and communicates to Case Managers and Client Care Manager.
• Monitors and secures physical environment to maximize safety of residents and co-workers, implementing appropriate reactions to security threats as needed.
• Develops an understanding of agency and program policies and procedures, implementing appropriately and interpreting to residents and volunteers.
• Assist in maintaining adequate level of shelter supplies for residents.
• Conduct shelter walk throughs to ensure resident safety and check for facility needs.
• Complete appropriate agency forms to document critical incidents.
• Help maintain readiness of vacant rooms for future clients. Be willing to pack rooms.
• Handle food, including cooking, serving, and cleaning.
• Keep office organized.

Requirements

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Job performance will require the ability to move throughout the building as well as sit or remain stationary for extended periods of time.
  • Effective computer literacy skills (Microsoft Office suite, data entry skills, word processing, basic email skills, client management programs, etc.).
  • Effective oral and written communication skills, including telephone, email, and social media etiquette.
  • Must demonstrate sound judgement, prioritize tasks, and manage time efficiently and resources effectively.
  • Must understand the concept of boundaries with clients.
  • Ability to work respectfully and professionally with diverse groups of people and various populations in a culturally competent manner.
  • Must be able to lift 40 pounds.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Experience preferred.
• Must not have any unresolved emotional issues regarding personal current or past experience with abuse of any kind.

Schedule

PRN employees work on an as-needed basis and must have availability to work evening, overnight, and weekend shift openings.