Full-Time Residential Advocate

VOA Colorado

Durango (CO)

On-site

USD 28,000 - 30,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

Volunteers of America Colorado seeks a Residential Advocate at the Southwest Safehouse to protect residents’ emotional and physical well-being and to provide crisis intervention services. You will supervise volunteers and help maintain a safe, supportive environment.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and at least one year in human services; preferred experience with at-risk populations and de‑escalation techniques, CPR/AED certification.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in a related area.
One year of human service experience.
Direct experience working with at-risk populations preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides protection of residents’ emotional and physical well-being within program guidelines.
Participates in client and house maintenance activities and enforces rules.
Provides individual counseling weekly and helps clients set goals and action plans.
Conducts primary intake interviews with new clients, completes documentation and assesses admission eligibility.
Answers crisis line and maintains records related to crisis intervention duties.
Attends staff meetings, trainings, and coordinates with the Program Manager for information exchange.
Documents client behavior observations in case notes and maintains shift notes.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Empathy

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or related field

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Volunteers of America Colorado is a nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need transform their lives. Through more than 50 distinct human service programs, Volunteers of America changes the lives of more than 140,000 vulnerable Coloradoans each year. VOA services include housing and emergency shelters, hunger and nutrition services, and many other community support programs. Our work touches the mind, body, heart, and ultimately the spirit of those we serve. VOA integrates compassion with highly effective programs that build and strengthen communities.

WHAT MAKES VOA SPECIAL?

VOAC recognizes the unique needs of the older adult who needs a wheelchair ramp to stay at home safely, and the preschooler whose family needs additional resources. VOAC supports veteran’s efforts to exit homelessness as well as provides a safe place for survivors of domestic violence. Wherever VOAC goes, it combines relationship-building, volunteers and quality services to lift and support our neighbor’s efforts to become self-sufficient and reach their full potential.

Job Summary

The Residential Advocate provides for the protection of the physical and emotional well‑being of the Shelter residents. Responsible for providing residents with crisis intervention services and supervising volunteers on a regular basis.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provides for the protection of both the emotional and physical well‑being of residents within program guidelines.
Participates in general client and house maintenance such as supplying linen and personal items, implementing the client chore schedule, performing bed checks, enforcing curfew and other rules, checking chore completion, setting and checking alarms, and checking building for complete clearance during fire drills.
Provides individual counseling on a weekly basis with clients, assists the client with the identification of goals and implementing a plan.
Responsible for primary intake interviews with new clients, completing necessary documentation and determining if client is appropriate for admission.
Answers crisis line and the emergency hotline. Responsible for awareness of agencies as possible referral resources for crisis callers and residents. Maintains records associated with this duty.
Attends staff meetings weekly, in‑service training as required and meets periodically with the Program Manager for input and exchange of information.
Observes clients’ daily behavior and documents observations in case notes. Also responsible for daily shift notes and notes on any group sessions conducted.
Ensures maintenance of the facility as a comfortable and orderly environment and provides direct crisis intervention services with clients.
Responsible for conducting house and group session meetings as assigned.
Responsible for providing supervision and training of new employees and volunteers as assigned.
Able to give educational presentations to community groups, attend professional meetings when requested and conduct on‑site tours.
Maintains shift log and other paperwork as required.
Performs job responsibilities in accordance with the Social Work Code of Ethics.
Ensures guest voice is incorporated into programmatic evaluation and improvement.
Participate in on‑call rotation in conjunction with other Advocates, Senior Managers and Senior Director.
Performs all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Competencies

Models core culture attributes of VOACO that include “AIRS” (Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Service).?
Models and pursues with vigor VOAC’s three strategical critical virtues of HHS (Hungry, Humble, People Smart).
Demonstrates servant‑leadership and models open communication. Commits to providing a nourishing, truthful, approachable, joyful and healthy environment.
Demonstrates compassion for helping those that are the most vulnerable in our community. Demonstrates knowledge of or a strong willingness to learn about poverty, human service government programs, VOAC solutions and services, homelessness, aging, veterans, at‑risk youth and helping those most vulnerable in our society.

Supervisory Responsibilities

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.

Minimum Qualifications of Position

Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in a related area.
One year of human service experience.

Preferred Qualifications of Position

Direct experience working with at‑risk populations (i.e. people experiencing homelessness, veterans, and/or survivors of domestic violence)
Training in de‑escalation techniques/conflict mediation
CPR/ AED Certification

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Required to sleep on‑site from 11pm to 5am during designated block shift
Must be able to perform routine lifting, cleaning, and be able to walk up and down stairs
Bending, Climbing, Stooping, Kneeling, Reaching, Crouching, Squatting, Lifting (30 to 50 pounds), Balancing, Standing, Sitting, Hand/Foot motions, Walking, Seeing (Close and distant vision, Detect, Determine, Perceive, Identify, Recognize, Judge, Observe, Inspect, Assess, Estimate), Depth Perception, Hearing/Listening, Speaking/Shouting (Communicate, Discern, Convey, Express, Exchange), Use of Hands/Fingers (Grasping, Holding, Touching), Thinking, Calculating, Memory/Recall, Exposure to Indoor and Outdoor environments.

Starting Pay:

$ 20.30-22.02/hr

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

Full time: Thursday/Friday/Saturday 7am-8pm

Location

Southwest Safehouse

Employee must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Employee will perform job according to applied laws. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform this role, please contact HR@VOAColorado.org to begin the Interactive Process.

BENEFITS