Residential Counselor Hypothermia Prevention Program

Descriptive Summary

The Temporary Residential Counselor (RC) for the Hypothermia Prevention Program is responsible for safe and efficient operation of the program from December 1^st through April 1^st. The Residential Counselor works as a team on the shift. The Residential Counselor bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring that all the essential responsibilities for shelter operations are conducted during the shift and that services are equitable and delivered with integrity in accordance with the Agency Mission, Vision, and Values. Residential Counselor evaluates and provides for the individual needs of each shelter guest, maintaining the dignity and confidentiality of all guests, staff, and volunteers. The Residential Counselor must have strong interpersonal and motivational skills. In addition, they must possess a patient, trauma-informed approach to service delivery. RC coordinates and assists volunteers in the performance of their responsibilities and maintaining accurate and detailed documentation. In addition to working with shelter guests and volunteers, the Residential Counselor is responsible for assisting donors and community members with food donations. and has the ability to use one's lived personal experience of housing instability to help assess system barriers is a plus.         

Key Performance Indicators

• Opens and closes the Hypothermia site each day.
• Sets up coffee and food serving area daily.
• Receives food donations and assist donors in completing the donation form.
• Greet visitors and answers phone in a welcoming and engaging manner.
• Interacts with Hypothermia shelter guests in a positive and respectful manner.
• Provides orientation to new Hypothermia shelter guests to facilitate adaption to the shelter environment.
• Monitors and maintains participant count throughout entire shift.
• Completes a walk through every hour and documents in the Fire Watch logbook.
• Passes out mats once the floors have been swept and mopped.
• Organizes and passes out sleeping bags and blankets.
• Cleans and organizes supply, mat, and sleeping bag closet.
• Keeps kitchen and Hypothermia area clean at all times.
• Completes shift documentation including, but not limited to: shift notes, changeover updates, and perimeter checks.
• Notifies supervisor of any critical incidents and completes Critical Incident Report prior at the end of shift.
• Establishes and maintains a working and residential environment that promotes mutual respect between staff members, participants, volunteers and community.
• Conduct after-hours intakes as needed.
• Provide support, problem resolution, and emergency crisis intervention and stabilization services for shelter guests.
• Reads email, shift logs, service suspensions, incident reports, etc. during shift in order to remain up to date.
• Communicates with program staff regarding participant and residential concerns.

• Ensures that all documentation and shift responsibilities are completed prior to leaving the facility.
• Attend required staff meetings, retreats, and trainings.
• Position requires frequent physical activity including unloading and stocking donations, distributing supplies, doing laundry, organizing, completing grounds checks and dorm checks.

• Overnight positions are awake positions and require staff on duty are alert and responsive throughout the entire shift.
• Serves as essential staff during inclement weather and other emergencies.
• Must be available for required training.
• May be deployed to work Residential Counselor positions at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS) as needed.

• Performs any other duties deemed necessary to support the program and agency.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This role has no supervisory responsibilities

Shifts Available:

5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.  

5:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m.  

11:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.  

11:30 p.m.-7:30 a.m.-Last ½ hour to be completed at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter to help the front desk due to the extra shelter guests for breakfast.

Must commit to a minimum of 2 shifts per week.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• High School Diploma.
• Certification in Mandt or similar technique.
• CPR and First Aid Certification.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English a plus.
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals including people with mental health and/or substance abuse disabilities is required.
• Experience with Microsoft programs including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to learn, process information, prioritize competing priorities and make sound and reasoned decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to complete tasks while navigating frequent interruptions.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with staff, clients, volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented, with strong attention to follow-through.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and as a member of a team.
• Must be detailed, flexible, and able to work accurately under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Must be responsible, dependable, and display the highest level of integrity. 

Work Environment:

• This position is performed in a shelter environment and is essential personnel.
• An Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Physical Requirements

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

• Prolonged sitting and a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular in person interaction with the public, clients, and stakeholders.
• Handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds
• Occasional navigation of (stairs, ramps, ladders,…)
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate

Salary : $18