Shelter Support Coordinator

at SOS, Inc in Emporia, Kansas, United States

Job Description

JOB TITLE: SHELTER SUPPORT COORDINATOR

REPORTS TO: SHELTER MANAGER

CLASSIFICATION: NON-EXEMPT STATUS: FULL-TIME

JOB SUMMARY: The Shelter Support Coordinator provides safe shelter and basic needs such as food and clothing to survivors of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking living within the SOS Shelter. Assists in overseeing all maintenance and cleaning for the shelter, shelter grounds and vehicles. Provides support advocacy to shelter residents, ensuring that they are comfortable in their surroundings, feel safe, have a good understanding of SOS services and shelter rules.

The roles, responsibilities, job functions, knowledge, skills, and abilities set forth herein may be revised from time-to-time in order to comply with federal and state laws, departmental needs and the changing requirements for this position.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

GENERAL ADVOCACY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide short-term one-on-one support to survivors of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking. Survivors will be in shelter. Support may include, but is not limited to, emotional support counseling, teaching of life skills, education regarding sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking and/or assisting with employment and housing opportunities.

· Provide on-going emotional and physical safety planning.

· Make appropriate resident and helpline call referrals to community agencies.

· Refer clients leaving shelter to outreach advocates for continued or follow-up services as necessary and/or requested.

· Provide transportation for survivors or assist survivors in making transportation arrangements as needed.

· Conduct Strength Need Assessments with sheltered survivors and assist in creating individualized goals.

· Provide regular contact with sheltered survivors to expedite appropriate services.

· Assist in referring survivors with protection orders as appropriate.

· Offer survivors tangible options to barriers and support personal empowerment of decisions.

· Provide on-call relief with other staff on a rotating basis.

SHELTER RESPONSIBILITIES

· Help shelter residents to maintain a safe clean and healthy environment for themselves.

· Help shelter manager by performing or overseeing (if job demands) overall maintenance, upkeep and appearance of the shelter, shelter grounds, and vehicles. This includes arranging for needed repairs, making sure that appliances, etc. are in good working condition. Adhere to procedures and policies when coordinating repairs.

· Pick up, organize, and account for donations as needed.

· Provide support to shelter residents using an empowerment approach, maintaining professional boundaries, and encouraging open dialogue of resident needs and concerns to the assigned Advocate, Shelter Manager, or Crisis Service Director, as appropriate.

· Maintain contact with residents on food needs. Buy groceries as needed.

· Provide shelter coverage, working the later shift.

· Help maintain the storage and garage areas, disperse furniture, and other items to residents when moving to permanent housing.

ADMINISTRATIVE/CONTINUING EDUCATION

· Document survivor calls and services and other imperative information using internal database and shelter files per agency policy and procedures.

· Attend All Staff meetings.

· Participate in weekly case staffings, monthly staff meetings, and supervision as arranged.

· Attend professional training and continuing education opportunities when possible and at the request of your supervisor. Apply to attend KAVA training – Kansas Academy for Victim Assistance within 20 days of your employment start date.

· Complete other duties as assigned by the SOS Executive Director, including complying with grant goals and objectives, but not limited to, informing crime victims of their statutory rights, and assisting crime victims in seeking available compensation.

OTHER

· Assist SOS employees and the public in a professional manner.

· Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner to get along with public, co-workers, and management.

· Be pleasant, respectful, and civil with others on the job and display a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

· Maintain composure, keep emotions in check, control anger, and avoid aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

· Be reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfill duties.

· Attend work on a regular and predictable basis as scheduled.

· It is imperative to practice self-care due to vicarious and secondary trauma staff may incur. Employees are requested and expected to take care of themselves. SOS will assist with wellness tools for group and individual settings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Must possess a valid Kansas Driver’s License and auto insurance.

· EDUCATION: High school or general education diploma.

· EXPERIENCE: Shelter Support Coordinator are expected to perform in a satisfactory manner by the end of twelve months on the job.

· KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, and issues pertaining to the empowerment of victims and survivors. Demonstrate a client-focused environment/approach that encourages empowerment of all clients. Must have the ability to receive, interpret, and follow verbal and written instructions. Required to read, write, and speak English fluently. The ability to speak Spanish is beneficial but not required.

· SKILLS: Desirable skills include but not limited to:

· Communications: Possess good listening skills, strong writing, and oratory skills.

· Decision-Making: Frequent situations occur that are outside established policies

· and procedures and require astute judgment.

· Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to

· produce answers that make sense.

· Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general

· rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated

· events).

· Integrity & Ethics: Demonstrate personal and professional integrity. Ability to

· maintain confidentiality along with representing the agency in a positive and

· professional manner

· Interpersonal: Frequent contact with other departments, SOS employees,

· government agencies, and the public. Able to work with a diverse group of people,

· in a non-judgmental and empathetic manner especially those of other races,

· cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds, and to be as inclusive as possible and as

· indicated in the SOS Employee Handbook.

· Office Technology: Operate personal computer with proficient use of

· Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, printer, and copier.

· Problem Solving: Frequent problem solving occurs in this position. It requires the

· ability to evaluate alternatives to resolve disputes.

· Public Relations: An ability to network with community professionals and

· represent the agency in a positive and professional manner.

· Supervisory: None

· Working Conditions: Subject to work after hours on occasions with hours flexed

· during the same pay period.

· Other: Organizational and time management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally and up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Requirements of moving about the building and sitting/standing at desk. Frequently express ideas verbally and in writing.

This job description has been examined for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA).

Salary Starting at: $33,280

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Benefits: Paid Vacation and Sick Leave; Paid Holidays; Health, Dental and Vision Insurance with optional Cancer and Hospital Indemnity plans; Life Insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP); Flexible Spending Account (FSA); Simple IRA