Residential & Crisis Support Specialist (Back-up)

About the role

This position is located in Evanton, Illinois. The Residential and Crisis Support Specialist, as a member of a larger domestic violence team, is the primary on-site position that helps maintain a safe and supportive residential environment and offers critical support to callers of the 24-hour crisis line.

Responsibilities

• According to protocol, compassionately welcomes new shelter residents and sensitively guides them through the resident-directed intake process.
• Warmly and proactively engages residents in a manner that reinforces our trauma-informed principles and builds a supportive space.
• Provides information and resource referrals to residents as needed.
• Champions the principles and practices of trauma-informed care in all interactions with residents.
• Responds to resident questions and reinforces critical safety guidelines and resident rights and responsibilities as needed.
• Distributes needed supplies to residents.
• Assists residents in navigating in-house conflicts, refers residents to client advocates as needed, and role models healthy boundaries, self-awareness, and self-care.
• Overnight and on weekends, independently assesses security needs and calls police when serious safety issues arise.
• Overnight and on weekends, exercises discretion to assess serious safety violations that necessitate the need for emergency discharge and conducts the discharge process in accordance with agency protocol.
• Maintains accurate notations and reviews them to stay updated on shelter issues.
• Records service documentation including narratives, phone and supplementary intakes, contact book, accident report forms, etc., ensuring timely entry into Salesforce.
• Timely and proactive submission of issues or concerns related to operations, facility, or client needs according to protocol.
• Reviews shelter, departmental, and organizational communication frequently.
• Maintains timely and accurate timesheets and other forms or documents as directed.
• Attends a monthly team meeting to share concerns, build community, acquire information, and discuss case issues.
• Aids in maintaining a clean, safe, and orderly environment by conducting walk-throughs as scheduled, promptly reporting security or maintenance issues, and carrying out cleaning duties if needed.
• Reports to Residential Services Manager when food and other supplies are running low and in need of restocking.
• Aids in supporting shelter food program by ensuring kitchen remains in compliance with health and food sanitation regulations by conducting walk-throughs, assisting in cleaning tasks if needed, reporting issues to the Residential Services Manager, and conducts meal preparation on a limited basis.
• Conducts relocation room checks per agency protocol and reports issues to the Residential Services Manager.
• Ensures compliance with emergency evacuation protocol as needed.
• Maintains a secure facility by adhering to related protocol.
• Supports volunteers providing assistance or services to shelter residents.
• Attends staff trainings and participates in agency committees.
• Pursues professional development.
• Understands and adheres to all YWCA Evanston/North Shore procedures and policies as well as YWCA Employee Handbook.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• Education: High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience and/or Training: At least 1 year of experience working with children, youth, adults, and families who are in crisis situations and/or have experienced domestic violence.
• Licenses/Certificates: Successful completion of the Illinois 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training Certificate within 60 days of employment.
• First Aid/CPR within 6 months of employment.
• Successful completion of the online ServSafe Manager Certification within 30 days of hire.
• Technology/Equipment: Intermediate proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Preferred Qualifications: Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology or related field. Experience and/or Training: 2-3 years of experience working with children, youth, adults, and families on issues related to domestic/intimate partner/family violence and offering support to individuals who have experienced trauma. Experience working in residential settings. Experience in crisis intervention and conflict resolution. Experience submitting reporting documentation and completing intake paperwork. Experience administering and evaluating key program metrics.
• Licenses/Certificates: Illinois 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training Certificate.
• Language: Fluency in Spanish or other languages.
• Technology/Equipment: Beginner proficiency with online case management systems.

Benefits

The salary range for this position is $19.97 - $22.19 / Hourly. A starting hourly rate above $19.97 is based on experience and education that significantly exceed the minimum requirements and is commensurate with the compensation scale.