Relief/On Call Residential Advocate

Volunteers of America Colorado; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 23,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Volunteers of America Colorado seeks a Relief Residential Advocate to support shelter residents, provide crisis intervention, and supervise volunteers. The role emphasizes compassionate care, trauma-informed practice, and maintaining a safe, welcoming environment.

You will engage with clients, track progress, and help connect them with services while working with a small team in the Durango shelter. The ideal candidate has at least two years in human services, strong communication, and the

Qualifications

• Two years experience in human services or related area.

Responsibilities

• Provides for the protection of both the emotional and physical well-being of residents within program guidelines.
• Supervises volunteers on a regular basis and participates in staff meetings.
• Provides crisis intervention services and conducts individual counseling.
• Manages intake interviews, documents, and determines suitability for admission.
• Maintains shift logs, case notes, and group session records.
• Ensures the facility is safe, clean, and orderly and participates in on-call rotations.

Skills

Two years experience in human services

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 Relief 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.
• Participants 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.
• Provides trauma-informed care.
• 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 sessions 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.

Competencies

• Models core culture attributes of VOACO that include “AIRS” (Accountability, Integrity, Respect, and Service).
• Models and pursues with vigor VOAC’s three strategic 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

• Responsible for providing supervision and training of new employees and volunteers as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Of Position

• Two years experience in human services or related area

Preferred Qualifications Of Position

• Direct experience with relevant population preferred.

Knowledge And Skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products and Windows environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organization and problem‑solving skills.
• Must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license (must pass a background check, credit check, and driving record check).

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform routine lifting, and 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

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

• Part Time/Relief positions may include overnights/weekends/holidays
• On call 1 week as part of rotation with Residential Advocates, Senior Managers and Senior Director

Location

• Durango Community Shelter and Southwest Safehouse – Durango, CO

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 [e-mail] to begin the Interactive Process.

Volunteers of America is an EEO/AA Employer

Position will Remain Open Until Filled

VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT OFFERED FOR THIS ROLE

Veterans Strongly Encouraged to Apply

Salary Description

• 20.30

Salary Description 20.30