Residential Advocate

Friendship Place • Washington, DC

1d • $18 - $20 • Onsite

About The Position

The position provides support to participants in bridge housing a from homelessness to permanent housing. The bridge housing model seeks to stabilize participants and coordinate with external providers to house participants within 90 days. The Valley Place approach embraces a Housing First model and philosophy. The Residential Advocate works to empower participants to rebuild their lives, relying on their own strengths, and using wraparound resources in a holistic, participant-driven process. s they transitioProvide supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness with serious mental illnesses, addictions, medical concerns, etc.

Requirements

• General knowledge of working in a homeless shelter or residential facility preferred.
• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent.
• 1 year of experience working with vulnerable families and/or youth is preferred.
• Must have or be able to obtain a First Aid/CPR/AED certification that includes?a hands-on skills testing module.? May be called into action to perform life-saving measures.? Friendship Place will provide First Aid/CPR/AED training.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing chronic homelessness
• Experience with addictions, mental health, and co-occurring disorders
• Experience working with individuals with mental health concerns or addiction preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word; ability to learn database programs.
• Must possess strong intra- and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively express ideas, needs, and observations both verbally and in writing. This includes the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with clients, colleagues, and supervisors, and to document interactions and incidents accurately, professionally, and in a timely manner. The employee should demonstrate active listening, emotional awareness, and the ability to adapt their communication style to different individuals and situations.
• Capacity to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Understanding of adult rehabilitation services and a person-centered approach
• Ability and willingness to work in a diverse and challenging environment.
• Ability and willingness to work as a team player.
• Ability to maintain healthy and professional boundaries.
• Must be able to arrive at work and scheduled meetings on time.
• Strong commitment to mission, including racial equity and social justice.
• This role involves working closely with individuals who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. At times, the work may involve exposure to emotionally sensitive or challenging situations. Employee must be compassionate, self-aware, and able to maintain healthy boundaries while supporting others in a respectful and trauma-informed way.
• The employee must have a valid government-issued ID and have reliable transportation to arrive at the worksite on time.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.
• Consistent Sitting, walking

Responsibilities

• Deliver face-to-face contact to participants, and work in conjunction with case managers and external providers
• Demonstrate empathy and flexibility in responding to participants’ needs and requests, fostering wellness and independence
• Engage participants and assess individual needs, preferences, and strengths
• Monitors the residents, units, and grounds of Valley Place at all times to ensure the security and safety of each resident
• Provides appropriate oversight of the participants at the bridge housing site and enforces program policies
• Provides de-escalation services to participants as needed and, in conjunction with other staff and on-site security, ensures the safety and well-being of all staff and residents.
• Assists in the planning and organization of site-based programming and recreational activities and events for individuals at Valley Place.
• Reports unusual incidents to the appropriate parties and writes unusual incident reports.
• Reports observations to case management staff to support the participants in progressing towards goals.
• Performs weekly and as necessary inspections of units.
• Distributes food during meal services and discards waste.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings and regular supervision
• Complete progress notes and all mandatory paperwork within required timeframes (48 hours for case notes, 24 hours for unusual incidents)
• Maintain participants’ electronic records in the Housing the Homeless database
• Attend professional trainings and conferences as needed
• Maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• Seeks out opportunities for professional development.
• Maintain compliance with trainings, background clearances, and meeting attendance at all times.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• We offer an excellent benefits package including low-cost health insurance, health reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 403B defined contribution plan matching, employee assistance programs, professional development, employee resource groups, 14 paid holidays, 15 days of vacation and 10 days of sick leave during 1st year of employment, and much more! (Benefits are pro-rated for part-time employees).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED