Resident Assistant II

Los Angeles LGBT Center•Los Angeles, CA

13d

About The Position

The Resident Assistant provides direct oversight and care to Youth Center members and residents and is responsible for being an after-hours presence for LGBTQ+ sheltered youth at the Center’s Interim Housing programs. This position works with a member/resident population that is currently or formerly experiencing homelessness and has high rates of health, mental health, and substance-related issues. The ideal candidate is familiar with and has experience with this population.

Requirements

Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ people.
A passion for the Center’s work and its mission to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people.
Minimum 3 years of experience working with youth experiencing homelessness/housing instability, foster youth, and/or mental illness, low-income, or individuals experiencing homelessness.
Ability to implement housing-first, harm-reduction, trauma-informed care principles.
Effective problem-solving skills and ability to multi-task.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong organizational, detail and interpersonal skills.
Self-motivated, energetic, flexible and the ability to work in a team environment.
Available to work schedules which include evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays.
Access to reliable transportation and the ability to be insured.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

Nice To Haves

Trained in Motivational Interviewing, Crisis Intervention, and Mental Health First Aid, a plus, including willingness to receive training within first 6 months of employment.
Experience with substance abuse case management and crisis intervention.
Bilingual skills, a plus (English/Spanish fluency preferred, American Sign Language fluency, a plus).

Responsibilities

Follow a framework of care goals and department protocols to ensure member and resident safety, provide crisis intervention and de-escalation along a spectrum of intervention techniques.
In partnership with the residential team, support case plan goals through regular communication, housing search, and referrals for education, employment, health, and mental health resources.
Implement philosophy-of-care, house rules, including housing-first, harm-reduction and trauma-informed care principles.
Provide a welcoming presence onsite for members and residents to engage with by answering questions and providing information.
Monitor member and resident access, including appropriate entry and departure, and oversee residential spaces to safeguard resident care.
Assist with the mediation of conflicts that arise and de-escalate residents who are exhibiting behavior that is inappropriate/anxious/aggressive or may be violating program rules.
Establish and maintain the upkeep and cleanliness of the youth center and residential program and assist residents with maintaining the cleanliness of their living spaces.
Plan and facilitate onsite programming, events, and social activities for member/resident engagement utilizing a Positive Youth Development framework.
Assist with the assessment of residents experiencing severe mental health symptoms and contact Psychiatric Medical Response Team (PMRT) if a resident exhibits behavior that is harmful to self or others.
Contact emergency services (e.g. police, ambulance, fire department, PMRT) in cases of emergency, such as a health or mental health crisis, fire, or presence of unauthorized persons.
Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as calls to emergency services, criminal activity such as property damage and theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or other unusual occurrences.
Follow alarm procedures and address disturbances in a safe manner, calling proper authorities if necessary.
Follow communication protocols to inform appropriate Center staff/departments regarding emergency issues, including after-hours Facilities maintenance.
Support the residential team with service documentation and data input into both our internal data base and HMIS.
Gain understanding of resident-specific personal and medical needs to best support residents and create appropriate relationships which promote the resident’s case plan.
Participate in staff meetings, planning meetings and other meetings as needed.
Other duties as assigned.