Youth Advocate

Description

Benefits: Approximate benefits package value: $20,000

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
• Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• Employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly)
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off
  
  

Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, VOA Utah encourages individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person's life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

Position Summary

The Youth Advocate position exists to support homeless and at-risk youth as they move toward stability, self-sufficiency, and independence. We do this through offering shelter, basic needs, referrals, resources, and individualized case plans to 15-22 year old youth.

Essential Duties

• Engages with youth in case plans or conversations with the intent to empower them in identifying and then making positive choices toward stability as well as assisting them in accessing emergency shelter.
• Ensures a safe environment for staff, volunteers, and clients and assesses medical emergencies and provides CPR/First Aid as needed.
• Answers phones, greets clients, volunteers, donors, and other visitors in a friendly and professional manner and provides assistance as needed.
• Attends regular staff meetings, shift change meetings, and one on one meetings with supervisor as scheduled.
• Utilizes the onsite supervisor on the on-call system for guidance and support and follow appropriate protocol for covering shifts in the event of illness, vacation, or other time off.
• Manages difficult client behaviors by encouraging adherence to expectations for service through a trauma informed lens.
• Ensures that all paperwork related to client and program activities is in accordance with licensing and contract requirements, properly completed, managed confidentially, and stored appropriately.
• Uses agency vehicles to complete errands and to provide safe transportation for clients when necessary.
• Exhibits professional boundaries with clients.
• Attends work on a punctual, regular, and predictable basis.
  
  

Secondary Duties

• Completes rounds and perimeter checks of interior and exterior of building.
• Submits all paperwork in a timely manner and records important notes in shift change log or HMIS.
• Prepares meals as necessary.
• Maintains cleanliness of shared workspace, facility, and vehicles as well as center laundry.
• Assists other shifts with waking clients or getting them to bed as necessary.
• Maintains positive, professional interactions with community resources including staff from other VOA programs, emergency services, fire, police and sheriff, criminal justice, staff from other community providers, client family members, agency donors, community support groups, and referral sources.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with coworkers and supervisory staff.
• Performs other functions as necessary or assigned.
  
  

Requirements

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Required

High school diploma or equivalent required and 2 years of social services or youth-related experience (at-risk youth preferred) or any combination of education, experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Ability to use a computer, phone, and copy machine.
• Ability to interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks; flexibility to respond to changes.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.
• Ability to lift and carry 30 lbs.
• Work requires a lot of movement and activity. Must be moving around and interacting with clients for extended periods of time.
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver's license and have a good driving record.
• Must be able to pass Utah DHHS background check for those working with vulnerable populations.
• Must be able to pass pre-employment drug test.