Support Specialist - Kensington Campus (Monday -Friday, 7am - 3:30pm)
The People Concern
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The People Concern is hiring a Support Specialist for the Kensington Campus in Lancaster, CA. This 100% onsite, full-time role supports residents in interim housing, handling client needs, safety, and engagement while upholding trauma-informed care.
Training and mentorship are provided to foster growth and effective community support. You will work Monday–Friday, 7:00am–3:30pm, joining a dedicated team focused on empowerment, dignity, and recovery.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or GED or Equivalent.
- Minimum one year experience in related work.
- Effective customer service skills and ability to handle difficult situations.
- Ability to work independently and think critically.
- Professional demeanor regardless of circumstances.
- Commitment to improving the community through empowerment and dignity.
- Familiarity with non-violent crisis intervention.
- Familiarity with issues faced by population served.
- Must obtain/maintain Food Handlers, CPR and First Aid certifications.
- Demonstrate initiative towards professional development.
Responsibilities
- Act as the first point-of-contact for all immediate client needs such as phone access, linens, water.
- Monitor and oversee the floor and common areas to ensure safety and cleanliness.
- Be visible on the floor and actively engage and welcome clients.
- Conduct regular walk-throughs of the facility and maintain a supportive environment.
- Attend staff meetings, trainings and retreats as scheduled.
- Oversee client cubicle/bed area maintenance in a trauma-informed manner.
- Facilitate client engagement activities and groups.
- Complete incident reports, update shift logs, and document in HMIS.
- Develop trusting client relationships using motivational interviewing and harm reduction.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Welcome to The People Concern! We are glad that you have an interest in joining our team!
What you should know about us!
Here at The People Concern, we pride ourselves on:
- Being courageous leaders, taking action where others sit back!
- Caring for others, where we treat every person in an empathetic and respectful way!
- Upholding our integrity, because we are trustworthy, always doing what is right even when no one else is looking!
- Working as an effective team, where we are always collaborating and supporting each other while pursuing excellence in our work!
Within our shelters, specifically, you should know that what sets us apart is:
- We create restorative living environments, where clients can thrive while preparing for permanent housing.
- We prioritize Diversity, Equity & Inclusion among our clients and seek to always create a safe space through cultural competency and humility.
- We seek not to recreate punitive systems of control or "power over," but rather share "power with" the clients, who are the experts in their own lives.
- We believe deeply in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and the housing first model and expect our teams to always uphold these principles.
What we expect and value in our people:
- Initiative: You like to work and be active your whole shift. You find things to keep you busy that benefit the clients and the program at all times. You make suggestions and pick up tasks to help the community.
- Critical thinking/problem solving: You should be able to encounter a problem, gather information, and formulate a solution. You will be supported by your team, but your thoughts will be valued!
- Tenacity: Simply put, you get the job done. You don't let barriers stop you and you problem solve to find solutions.
- Respect towards others: You are constantly evaluating and assessing yourself for bias and contributing to a Diversity & Inclusion work space.
- Empathy: You see the clients as people. You don't demand respect or infantilize them. You are here to be a part of seeing them on their journeys to living their best lives.
We love where we work and we are honored to do it. If this sounds like something you want in on and can contribute to, please review the formal qualifications and duties below:
- Act as the first point-of-contact for all immediate client needs and requests such as phone use, linens, water, etc.
- Monitor and oversee the floor including communal areas, patios, bathrooms, dorms and showers, ensuring program guidelines are upheld and that the physical site is well-maintained and safe, including general cleaning duties
- Be visible on the floor at all times and actively engage and welcome clients
- Conduct regular, thorough walk-throughs of the facility
- Create a supportive environment to ensure client progress towards stability
- Attend relevant staff meetings, trainings and retreats as scheduled
- Oversee client cubicle/bed area maintenance in a trauma-informed manner
- Facilitate a client engagement activities, such as groups or other activities
- Complete incident reports, update shift logs, and document in HMIS, as needed and email relevant documents/updates before the end of each shift
- Develop effective, trusting relationships with clients and use a client-centered approach that includes motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care
- Intervene during crises to actively de-escalate situations, with client and staff safety in mind, using non-violent communications skills
- Work as part of a team to provide comprehensive, integrated care to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance addiction
- Communicate effectively, and in a timely manner, with management, peers, and clients
- Maintain client confidentiality at all times, while following agency, state, and HIPAA laws
- Other duties as assigned
- High School Diploma or GED or Equivalent
- Minimum one (1) year experience in related work
- Possess effective customer service skills and the ability to handle difficult situations
- Ability to work independently and think critically
- Ability to act in a professional manner regardless of circumstances
- Commitment to improving the community through empowerment and dignity
- Familiarity with non-violent crisis intervention
- Familiarity with issues faced by population served
- Ability to self-motivate and to appropriately organize and motivate others
- Computer literate; able to use computerized database system for information management
- Ability to work as a team member
- Able to obtain and maintain Food Handlers, CPR and First Aid certification
- Demonstrate an ability to take initiative towards continued professional development
- Ability to communicate in a language other than English
- Ability to lift 10 pounds
- Ability to work in all types of weather environments
- Ability to work with Persons Experiencing Homelessness (PEH)
- Act as a role model
- Demonstrate a sense of responsibility
- Continuously learn and improve
- Acknowledge your own areas of improvement
- Hear and provide honest, specific and direct feedback
- Create an environment where everyone is welcomed valued and respected
- Collaborate
The People Concern is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to non-discrimination in employment. We select the most qualified individual for the job based on job-related qualifications regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, credit history, sexual orientation, arrest and court record, genetic information, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or other applicable laws.
The People Concern empowers the most vulnerable among us to rebuild their lives. One of Los Angeles County's largest social services agencies, The People Concern was formed in 2016 in a merger of two trusted social service organizations based in Los Angeles County, OPCC and Lamp Community. Informed by more than fifty-eight years of work in the community, The People Concern is a leading provider of, and advocate for, evidence-based solutions to the multi-faceted challenges inherent in homelessness and domestic violence.
With compassion and profound respect for those we serve, we provide a fully integrated system of care - including outreach, interim housing, mental and medical health care, substance abuse services, domestic violence services, life skills & wellness programs, and permanent supportive housing - tailored to the unique needs of homeless individuals, survivors of domestic violence, challenged youth, and others who have nowhere else to turn.
The People Concern's model of integrated and comprehensive care empowers our participants to navigate the multi-faceted obstacles in their lives, become their best selves, and ultimately, connect with and contribute to their communities.
- Medical Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Retirement Planning (403b) & Matching
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Vacation Days
- Paid Sick Days
- Employee Assistance Plans (EAP)
- TELUS Health
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Basic Life / Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
- Voluntary Short- and Long-Term Disability
- Voluntary Pet Insurance
- Corporate Discounts: Discounts on Hotels, Theme Parks, Concerts, Movies, Restaurants & More
- The People Concern University & Certificates
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