Shelter Advocate - Safer Futures - Full-Time

Axess Family Services, Inc.; Kent (OH); On-site; USD 17,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Axess Family Services, Inc. is seeking a Shelter Advocate to provide crisis intervention, advocacy, and support to victims of domestic violence in shelter and on the crisis line. The role includes shelter coverage, some clerical duties, and collaboration with the Assistant Director.

Minimum qualifications include pursuing a degree in social work, strong empathy, and the ability to work under crisis conditions; the position requires compliance with agency standards and safety policies.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in social work and/or related field experience.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to work in a stressful/crisis-oriented environment.
• Must display caring, compassionate attitude.
• Understanding of domestic violence in the family and in the larger society.
• Must meet agency requirements for criminal background check (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation).

Responsibilities

• Provides direct service/advocacy/peer support to victims of domestic violence; maintains client confidentiality; completes client intakes according to shelter policies and procedures.
• Answers crisis hotline and provides referrals and crisis intervention as needed.
• Keeps Assistant Director apprised of issues and safety concerns; reports suspected child abuse immediately.
• Enforces no physical discipline of children in shelter; supports non-physical discipline techniques.
• Creates and maintains a supportive atmosphere; checks in with residents during shifts to meet needs.
• Maintains shelter cleanliness and assists with chores to provide life skills training.
• Provides childcare with mother's permission for jobs, medical, counseling, and appointments.
• Ensures fire and safety regulations are enforced.
• Assists with donations intake and storage.
• Submits documentation in the Transfer Log each shift for smooth communication.
• Attends monthly staff meetings and agency trainings; participates in staff development.
• Complies with agency policies, COA regulations, and applicable laws.
• Other duties may be assigned by Director/Assistant Director.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Diversity awareness

Stress management

Compassionate attitude

Communication skills

Background check readiness

Education

Pursuing a degree in social work

Job description

Description

Shelter Advocate

Safer Futures

Full-Time, 40 Hours/Week

$15.00/Hour

Schedule: Determined based on shift, part-time, or full-time position; Full-time may provide on-call

SUMMARY

Provides crisis intervention, empowerment and advocacy to victims of domestic violence in shelter and on the crisis line. This position provides shelter coverage and some clerical duties.

SUPERVISOR

Assistant Director

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides direct service/advocacy/peer support to victims of domestic violence; maintains client confidentiality; completes client intakes according to shelter policies and procedures.
• Answers crisis hotline and provides referrals and crisis intervention as needed.
• Keeps Assistant Director (AD) apprised of all issues, concerns, and behaviors that affect the resident’s case plan, as well as their safety and well-being; reports suspicion of child abuse to AD immediately.
• Enforces the rule of no physical discipline of children in shelter, which includes being supportive of mothers who are trying to learn non-physical discipline techniques.
• Creates and maintains an atmosphere of support and assistance for all residents; contacts each resident during your shift to ensure their needs are being met.
• Maintains the shelter in a clean and orderly manner; assists residents with chores as needed to provide life skills training and mentoring.
• Provides childcare, with mother’s permission, as needed and on a limited basis for jobs, medical, counseling, and legal appointments, as well as landlord interviews with approval from AD.
• Ensures fire and safety regulations are enforced.
• Assists with receiving, recording and storing donations.
• Submits documentation in the “Transfer Log” every shift to provide smooth transition and open communication between others working in the shelter.
• Attends monthly staff meetings and agency in-service training; participates in staff development activities.
• Complies with agency policies and procedures, COA regulations, federal and state requirements, and educational/certification/registry requirements.
• Other duties may develop in the course of events. The Director/Assistant Director has the authority to assign tasks not presently covered in this description.

The Duties and Responsibilities above represent the most significant duties of this position, but do not exclude other assignments that would be within the qualification and responsibility levels of this position.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Pursuing a degree in social work and/or related field experience.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to work in a stressful/crisis-oriented environment.
• Must display caring, compassionate attitude.
• Understanding of domestic violence in the family and in the larger society.
• Must be able to meet agency requirements for criminal background check (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation).

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• High School diploma or GED
• Certification of CPR & First Aid.

COMPLIANCE

This position requires compliance with AFS’ written standards, including its Compliance Program and Standards of Conduct and policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element considered as part of the regular performance evaluation.

Failure to comply with AFS’ Written Standards, which may include the failure to report any conduct or event that potentially violates legal or compliance requirements or AFS’ Written Standards or, for managers and supervisors, fails to detect non‑compliant conduct where reasonable efforts would have resulted in detection, will be met by the enforcement of disciplinary action, up to and including possible termination, in accordance with AFS’ Compliance Program Policy and Procedure: Addressing Instances of Non-Compliance through Appropriate Disciplinary Actions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, and use hands to finger handle or feel; to talk; or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to frequently lift up to 25 pounds. The employee may occasionally be required to lift 25 to 50 pounds; however, this is not essential; duties may be shifted to accommodate lifting restrictions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less). The employee will occasionally be working near moving mechanical parts, be exposed to outdoor weather conditions and exposed to a risk of electrical shock while running the copier, printer, other standard equipment and answering the telephone. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. Stress level can be high at times.

Note

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job.