Part-Time Shelter Advocate

POSITION DESCRIPTION

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

CADA’s mission is to provide safety and support to victims of domestic and sexual violence through advocacy, education, and shelter. We do this through practice of our five values: anti-oppression, community, dignity, stewardship, and survivor-centered. We cultivate an organizational culture that centers wellness and sustainability for employees, recognizing that it is the people that make the mission happen. We utilize tools such as Brene Brown’s BRAVING and extensive work on occupational identity to prepare employees to be successful in fulfilling CADA’s mission and values.

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for assisting victims and survivors of domestic violence/sexual assault through education, advocacy, and shelter. The Shelter Advocate works within a 22-bed emergency safety shelter setting where the advocate will assist women and their children and is also responsible for the 24-hour help line. In each setting the Shelter Advocate provides advocacy, safety planning, information, referrals, service management, emotional support, crisis intervention, and follow-up services to victims so they may have the choices, support, and linkages necessary for them to be successful in pursuing a violence-free life. Other services may include the advocate-initiated response on the crisis line, elder abuse, human trafficking, and child abuse.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Maintenance of Shelter Environment and Activities

• Ensure and/or coordinate 24-hour victim-centered crisis intervention, support and advocacy for victims of domestic violence/sexual assault.

• Responsible for all aspects of daily shelter operations including the operation of the security system.

• Ensure that there is appropriate coverage and support at all times.

• Promote a healthy shelter living environment by ensuring that shelter guidelines and responsibilities are followed by shelter residents and that any issues are addressed immediately through proper protocol.

• Respond to the needs of shelter residents by providing supplies as requested, supporting

individual needs, mediating conflict that arise, and supervising overall shelter activities

• Ensure a safe, clean environment for shelter residents and staff.

• Responsible, in conjunction with co-workers, to clean and sanitize the facility on an ongoing basis and all resident rooms upon resident departure.

• Coordinate necessary transportation for CADA clients and their children.

• Participates in shelter program planning, development, and implementation.

Performance Standards

• Performs regular safety checks of all common areas and resident rooms.

• Participates in shelter staff meetings.

• Participates in shelter program planning, development, and implementation.

• Completes tasks in a timely manner with minimal direct supervision.

• Analyzes causes of interpersonal conflicts and calmly resolves complex communication issues.

Direct Service

• Ability to work with people of all ages from diverse racial, cultural, religious, social and economic backgrounds and life styles. This applies to working with CADA clients, residents, staff, and interns/volunteers.

• Promote survivor healing. Consider the victim/survivor and their unique needs and abilities first. Listen generously with presence, patience, belief, and compassion.

• Complete and maintain necessary documentation through established written and computer protocols.

• Provide information, linkage, and referrals with community service providers to victims in order to facilitate accomplishment of service management goals, avoid duplication of services, and to ensure that victims can access resources available to them.

• Provide advocacy and support to children and mothers of diverse ages, races, cultures, backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, sexual orientations, abilities, and histories of trauma and abuse.

• Available to be on call on weekends and work alternate shifts if needed.

• Mentor and coach co-workers, interns/volunteers.

• Willingness to perform other duties as assigned.

• Perform other reporting requirements as needed.

• Model and maintain healthy, professional boundaries with clients.

• Encourage an atmosphere where co-workers, interns, volunteers and clients feel valued and empowered.

• Hold self and others accountable to high standards of service.

• Must be able to analyze many variables and choose the most effective course of action for clients and/or the organization at any given point in time.

• Assist victims in developing a safety plan.

• Conduct follow-up meetings with victims to assess progress toward completing service management goals and identify areas requiring further assistance

• Facilitate access to housing, employment, physical and mental health development and services.

• Assist women obtain services from social service agencies, criminal justice systems, medical and educational personnel.

Performance Standards

• Understands human behavior and related sensitively and effectively with victims of domestic and sexual violence and their families.

• Demonstrates commitment to co-workers, interns/volunteer, and client’s success by coaching, mentoring, and sharing information as appropriate.

• Completes tasks in a timely manner with minimal supervision.

• Resolves problems, handles conflict, and makes effective decisions independently.

• Helps to ensure that programming reflects CADA’s mission and values.

• Stays calm in high pressure situations.

• Analyzes causes of interpersonal conflicts and calmly resolves complex communication issues.

• Seeks trainings as needed to assist with meeting job standards.

• Works independently and as part of a team.

• Participates in program meetings, staff meetings and CADA trainings.

• Consults with and schedules check-ins with Shelter Manager periodically.

Help Line

• Ensure and/or coordinate 24-hour victim-centered crisis intervention, support and

advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

• Promote survivor healing. Consider the victim/survivor and their unique needs and abilities first. Listen generously with presence, patience, belief, and compassion.

• Assist victims in clarifying problems; providing information, identifying and exploring solutions, and promoting self-advocacy.

• Consult with CADA staff from Keep Me Safe, Community Advocates, and Community Educator to ensure supportive services.

• Follow the Advocate-Initiated-Response on the crisis line when law enforcement calls to report domestic abuse.

• Coordinate and collaborate across the community and systems to access support and resources in the self-determined interests of each client.

Performance Standards

• Provides appropriate information regarding resources and options for victims.

• Effectively gathers information from law enforcement about domestic and sexual violence.

• Provides short-term safety planning, offers emotional support and suggests continued contact.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bilingual.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

· Ability to maintain professional interactions with community partners and systems representatives.

· Ability to work with people from diverse racial, cultural, ability, social and economic backgrounds.

· Ensure individual and agency adherence to all confidentiality policies in the interest of clients and safety.

· Computer skills and experience using Microsoft Office software.

· Valid driver's license, current insurance, and car are required.

· Ability to work day, evening, and/or weekend hours.

· Satisfactory criminal background check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

· Frequently operated a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a calculator, telephone, copy machine, and computer printer.

· Occasionally operates a motor vehicle.

· Occasionally moves supplies and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.

· Frequently communicates with clients, staff, and community partners in stressful situations. Must be able to exchange accurate information in all situations.

HOURS: Flexible – Includes: all weekday evenings, weekends, and overnights, some week day morning.

CADA is committed to cultural diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or any other legally protected status.

TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter and resume to amberw@cadamn.org stating why you want to work at CADA and describe a time in your life when you have used advocacy to support someone.

Work Remotely

• No

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15 – 25 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Evening shift
• Holidays
• Night shift
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:

• Mankato, MN 56001 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Mankato, MN 56001: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17