Mountain Home is seeking Direct Care Specialists (DC Specialists) to help ensure Mountain Home’s residential and childcare programs are safe, stable, and nurturing environments for young mothers and their children. Our DC Specialists serve a very important role at Mountain Home, providing essential direct care to our participants and helping maintain consistent and dependable service at all times. DC Specialists do not necessarily have set schedules or regularly schedules hours, instead, they work when additional support or relief coverage is needed. DC Specialists sign up for available shifts that work with their personal schedules but are expected to work at least one shift a month in our residential program and at least one shift a month in our childcare program. University of Montana students who have been awarded Work-Study are strongly encouraged to apply! Visit here to learn about UM's work-study program.

Ideally, our DC Specialists have a passion and talent for helping others, communicating clearly and compassionately, and are able to connect and empathize with individuals, including diverse and marginalized populations. They remain calm in high-stress situations and encounters. They are trustworthy, dependable, relatable, and friendly. Ideal DC Specialists have knowledge of trauma-informed care, adverse childhood experiences, and experience in providing quality direct service to adults, young people, and children. We prefer individuals who have received education in social work, psychology, counseling, early childhood, or similar programs and/or who have been through relevant training.

Who We Are and Why We Are an Employer of Choice!

Mountain Home is a fast-growing 501(c)3 nonprofit (public student loan forgiveness employer!) based in Missoula whose mission is to provide a safe home and nurturing community where young mothers discover their strengths, and children thrive. Over the last 22 years, we have built an effective, holistic model of care which integrates supportive housing, mental health care, employment and education support, trauma-informed childcare, and more. We work closely with young families, donors, and community partners to build brighter futures, two generations at a time.

We are an organization that serves our community and our employees. Take a few minutes to read why we are an employer of choice!

What You’ll Do

The Direct Care Specialists are responsible for the following depending on which program they are working in:

Residential Program:

• Providing direct care to mothers and children who have experienced trauma
• Building rapport with families while maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Providing residents with transportation and helping with homework, applications, etc.
• Performing and documenting all room, chore, and safety checks
• Administering breathalyzers and urinary analysis and responding to crisis situations
• Enforcing residential meetings, chores, meal preparation, and quiet hours
• Providing assistance and support to help residents remain or return to independence
• Receiving, inspecting, sorting, washing, and putting away donations
• Documenting daily notes and incident reports in an online client database
• Work at least one shift a month unless there are no shifts available
• Performing other appropriate duties as assigned

Childcare Program:

• Providing nurturing, sensitive, and trauma-informed direct care to young children 0 -3
• Meeting the physical and emotional needs of infants and toddlers
• Facilitating purposeful and developmentally appropriate interactions, activities, and play
• Preparing food and feeding infants and toddlers individually or in groups
• Changing diapers/assisting with using the toilet, and monitoring nap time routines
• Maintaining cleanliness of childcare spaces, equipment, materials, and supplies
• Abiding by state childcare licensing rules and regulations
• Building rapport with parents while maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Documenting dates, times, and notes for children as required
• Work at least one shift a month unless there are no shifts available
• Performing other appropriate duties as assigned

Who You Are & Keys to Success

To be successful in this job, you will excel in four areas:

Relationship-building: You have enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with young people and children. You empathize with the population we serve and are able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. You believe in our mission and the communities we serve. You listen closely to the need underneath the concern and work collaboratively to devise solutions.

Time Management: You are known for showing up for work on time and finishing your entire shift. You always put the families’ needs first as that is the number one priority of Direct Care Specialists. You allocate appropriate periods of time for specific tasks and prioritize tasks based on importance without sacrificing quality.

Excellent communication skills: You speak clearly and professionally whether in person, on the phone, or over email. You communicate well with program participants, staff, and community members. You are honest and genuine.

Commitment to racial equity and social justice: You recognize the role of gender, race, income, age, and other identities in shaping our client’s needs. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

What Else You Should Know

Mountain Home is an equal-opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities of diverse perspectives and have lived experience. We encourage people of color, indigenous folx, members of the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities to apply.

Direct Care Specialists do not necessarily have set schedules, they work available shifts that accommodate their personal schedules while at the same time working at least two shifts per month and attending staff trainings and meetings at least monthly and as often as possible. They do not work more than 19 hours/week on a regular basis. DC Specialists report to lead staff within the residential and childcare programs. The position is based onsite at Mountain Home in Missoula, Montana. The role may require occasional local travel. The base wage for this position starts at $17 hourly with the hired individual’s wage calculated using Mountain Home’s wage matrix. There is an additional $1.50/hour bonus for night shifts! Available benefits include an employee assistance program (EAP), and opportunities for training and professional development.

All offers of employment at Mountain Home are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check. The following factors will be considered for applicants with a criminal and/or less-than-ideal driving history:

• The nature of the conduct/behavior and its relationship to the position

• The recency of and circumstances surrounding the conduct/behavior

• The age of an individual at the time of the conduct/behavior

• Societal/cultural conditions that may have contributed to the conduct/behavior

• The probability that an individual will continue the conduct/behavior
• The individual’s commitment to rehabilitation and changing the behavior