What are the responsibilities and job description for the Shelter Monitor position at St Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol, Inc.?
The Shelter Monitor is responsible for supervising the resident activities of the shelter and to ensure compliance with program rules and expectations. They are also responsible for ensuring the safety of the residents and the security and cleanliness of the program. The shelter monitors are key to a team approach and commitment to ending homelessness in our community working from a Housing First, Harm Reduction, Person Centered approach.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop positive working relationships with supervisor and all members of the team
- Ensure a safe, clean, and manageable living environment for residents.
- Enforce all rules and regulations of the shelter.
- While always being visible and continuously interacting with residents, assist residents within limits in processing issues and problem-solving.
- Consult Shelter Manager regarding residents’ personal needs and behaviors that need to be noted or addressed.
- Supervise self-administration of medication.
- Monitor medication and consumption log in accordance with the established medication procedures of the program.
- Supervise resident program activities.
- Complete intakes and orient new residents including any children to the shelter.
- Conduct periodic inspections of the facility and grounds through rounds. This includes client rooms, common areas, doors, windows, lighting, fire safety equipment, boiler room safety, and other areas as assigned.
- Check for contraband and weapons within the facility and outside perimeter through general observation, room searches, and package/handbag searches as established through our search, contraband, and weapons protocols.
- Routine bed checks and documentation of client counts.
- Supervise/serve meals. Prepare or assist in lunch/dinner meal preparations.
- Follow appropriate critical incident protocol and accompanying documentation.
- Maintain a comprehensive and accurate written record of events that occur during shifts in the staff log, as well as thorough incident reports.
- Maintain resident sign-in/out log.
- Preparing rooms for intake and discharge.
- Answer telephone and route calls or messages to appropriate staff. Respond to in-person and telephone inquiries from the public.
- May assist in training new staff or volunteers.
- Receive and secure all donations received during the shift, as well as provide donation receipts to donors upon request.
- Promote involvement of residents in participating with after-dinner chores by requesting help with voluntary tasks such as mopping, wiping down tables, etc…
- Multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment.
- Assist Case Manager. This could include duties such as encouraging residents to complete necessary items to aid in their continued self-involvement for their success or perform internet research, or other duties as assigned.
- Attend staff meetings and trainings as directed.
- Must remain awake and alert on all designated shifts.
- Follow all St. Vincent De Paul Mission of Bristol service philosophies, policies, and procedures.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Maintain appropriate boundaries when working with shelter residents and staff.
- Maintain confidentiality, neutrality, and professionalism in role.
- Work effectively with persons who have diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and backgrounds.
- Adapt to change productively and handle other tasks as assigned.
- Arrive to work promptly, regularly, and concentrate and perform accurately.
- Ability to interact and communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing.
- Bilingual preferred.
- Operate commercial kitchen equipment such as ovens, stove tops, commercial dish washers, steam tables, etc…
- Follow all proper procedures for the healthy and sanitary preparation and serving of meals.
- Understand and effectively carry out oral and written instructions.
- Perform repetitive manual tasks that require agility and manual dexterity.
Education and Experience:
- High School diploma or equivalent required, Associates Degree in related field preferred.
- Ability to ensure the safety and security of program operations.
- Knowledge of mental health and substance abuse is helpful and preferred.
- Experience in shelter environment preferred.
- Good computer and other office equipment skills.
- Must be able to maintain resident confidentiality.
We encourage and invite diversity throughout the organization. We want all employees, at all levels, from every category including non-employees such as volunteers, Board members and contractors to treat others with respect and professionalism. In practice as we execute our mission, we work towards consistency, reliability, and open communication.