Resident Life Associate - Shelter

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: RESIDENT LIFE ASSOCIATE

DEPARTMENT: BUCKS COUNTY EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER

REPORTS TO: RESIDENT LIFE ASSOCIATE LEAD

SUMMARY: BUCKS COUNTY EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER (BCEHS) RESIDENT LIFE ASSOCIATE (RLA) This position is primarily responsible for effectively managing all aspects for a facility with approximately 80 residents. Residents include adults and children. RLA’s cover three shifts. 8am to 4pm, 4pm to Midnight and Midnight to 8am. Typically, a staff member is assigned a shift time, but flexibility is required in order to maintain staffing for all three shifts. RLA is expected to ensure security and manage the resident’s needs during these times. The expectation is that policies and procedures will be adhered to for all shifts.Shifts will be staffed as needed to ensure appropriate coverage. Transition from shift to shift is expected to take place without interruption to service being provided to residents. At all times, a safe, secure, clean, healthy environment will be maintained for staff and residents.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Oversee facility operations during assigned shift.
2. Provide support to Resident Life Associate Lead as well as any other staff member on duty.
3. Oversee transportation needs and requests from residents.
4. Oversee resident’s cleaning of facility, including dormitory, dining hall, bathrooms, main hall entry, children’s playroom, and other common areas.
5. Maintain accurate information in admissions ledger and shift communication logs. Review shift communication log from previous shift during transition and discuss any outstanding issues or concerns.
6. Maintain all files and records to ensure strict confidentiality.
7. Answer phone calls to shelter and handle crisis information, referrals, and routine request. Take messages ad forward to appropriate staff in a timely fashion as appropriate.
8. Enforce shelter regulations and manage violations appropriately according to policy and guidelines. Engage Resident Life Associate Lead for issues and concerns as they occur.
9. Complete safety and security tasks on each shift including monitoring security system; limiting entry to the facility to authorized residents, staff, volunteers, maintenance persons, agency representatives, and guests to preserve order and protect property.
10. Conduct regular rounds of facility as follows:
11. Walk around entire perimeter of Shelter property, including a check of all vehicles in parking lots, dumpster area, sewer pump and empty field. Direct any persons found loitering outside to leave the premises.
12. Inspect complete interior of Shelter building, including all hallways, offices, activity rooms, kitchen, mechanical rooms, storage rooms, and garage. Check all windows and doors to assure all are closed and locked. Check all fire exit doors to ensure they are unobstructed.
13. Keep a detailed log of facility checks, and dormitories, noting any problems and/or concerns that arose, and what actions were taken to abate, correct or solve the problem.
14. Report all issues and concerns related to equipment, safety, or security, immediately to the Resident Life Associate Lead.
15. Sweep and mop staff hallway, staff bathroom and atrium. Clean, stock, and disinfect staff bathroom. Stock resident bathrooms. Clean and stock atrium and supply closets, and empty all trash cans.
16. Determine accurate census at the beginning of each shift by reviewing admissions/discharges from previous day/night, status of cot chart and briefing from shift change team.
17. Determine an accurate nightly census by making rounds of cot area after curfew, review admissions/discharges and update cot charts.
18. Complete Shift Taks List daily, in their entirety.
19. Coordinate and support resident needs; including but not limited to, transportation request, Nurse communication, Case management communication, request for bagged lunch, late dinner, escort to lockers, locating and providing personal care supplies, facilitating resident activities, prep and service of provided snacks.
20. Assist with meal preparation, meal service, cleaning kitchen, pantry organization and/or donation room responsibilities.
21. Identify and communicate concerns related to facility and/or equipment that may present a risk through work order system.
22. Supervise rotation of volunteers for various tasks as appropriate.
23. Participate in training and education as required.
24. Pursue continuing education to maintain and up-grade social service knowledge and practice skills. Use supervision to identify and address professional development needs. Specifically attends on-going development of sensitivity to diverse cultural groups, particularly groups served by this position.
25. Understand and observe each resident’s rights to privacy and confidentiality as articulated by agency policy and procedures – particularly for special programs, projects, services to which this position is assigned.
26. Participate in meetings, committees, process improvements as required.
27. Complete and maintain orderly, legible, timely records of services and other documents in narrative or data formats as required by the agency or its contracts.
28. Flexibility with work schedule in support of crisis intervention, resident needs and on call activities as agency needs require.
29. Performs other related duties as assigned by management

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. High school diploma or general education degree (GED), with related life/work experience and/or training in a related health, human and/or customer service profession, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Computer skills required.
3. Candidates must be able to complete satisfactorily:
   1. Drug Screening
   2. FBI fingerprinting Clearance
   3. Pennsylvania Criminal Clearance
   4. Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance

COMPETENCIES:

• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Cost Consciousness - Conserves organizational resources.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional resident situations; Responds promptly to resident needs; Solicits resident feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Asks for and offers help when needed.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Participates in meetings.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports agency’s goals and values; Benefits agency through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively, Edits work for spelling and grammar.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, squat, bend at the waist and walk. Employee must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. They must be physically able to react swiftly as the behavior of residents may change without obvious cause, creating, at times, dangerous situations.