PRN Youth Shelter Care Staff

The Matthews House Mission: Empowering youth and families through connection, self-efficacy, and independence.

The Matthews House Vision: A community that is aware, belongs, and is self-sufficient.

The Matthews House Values: Relationship-centered, Assume the best of people, Own your role, Innovation, Remain curious

JOB DESCRIPTION: We are seeking a committed and relationship-centered individual to work at The Landing, a new youth and young adult shelter opening in January 2025. The Youth Shelter Care Staff will be responsible for providing direct supervision of youth aged 15-20 at The Landing and supporting each youth or young adult in their next steps to independence. This includes orienting new youth to the shelter, connecting youth with resources including food/laundry/computer access/case management, assisting youth in increasing self-efficacy and reducing risky behavior, ensuring client safety, providing delivery of appropriate and effective program services, and maintaining a safe and positive environment. Duties include supervision of youth in the shelter day room, group facilitation, ensuring facilities are maintained, youth orientations and assessments, crisis phone counseling, client data collection, documentation, and ensuring that the program is facilitated in a manner that meets the mission of The Landing and The Matthews House. This position will ensure that interactions at The Landing are trauma-informed and support the physical and emotional safety of youth and staff. Your work will enable you to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve and will contribute to the positive, supportive work culture at The Matthews House.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Required: Be at least 21 years of age and have completed two years of college education. A high school diploma or equivalent and one year's experience in the human services field may be substituted for the required college.
• Be culturally attuned, sensitive, and compassionate to the people of the community being served.
• Demonstrates skills critical to working with youth in crisis, including crisis management, verbal de-escalation, and resource knowledge.
• Familiar with adolescent development, family systems, conflict management and developmental stages.
• Must have proven organization, time management, critical thinking, and team partnership skills.
• Ability to respond safely to emergency situations.
• Must be able to transport and have a clean driving record.
• Must pass a CBI/FBI fingerprint screening, drug test, TB test, and physical.
• Skilled in word processing and able to learn database software.
• Knowledge of local community and resources preferred.
• Bilingual/bicultural Spanish speaker is preferred but not required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The minimum performance expectations include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Ensure the physical and emotional safety of all residents, including maintaining appropriate supervision, monitoring shelter activities, and intervening when necessary to resolve conflicts or crises.
• Build positive relationships with youth, providing them with emotional support, guidance, and advocacy for their needs (e.g., health, education, personal development).
• Assist youth in supporting their daily living needs such as accessing personal hygiene and meals, and completing chores. Support youth in developing independent living skills.
• Respond to emergencies, behavioral issues, and crises with appropriate intervention, including de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution.
• Confidentially maintain accurate records, including daily shift logs, incident reports, and any other required documentation. Communicate effectively with supervisors and other team members.
• Assist in the planning and facilitation of recreational, educational, and therapeutic activities for youth that promote their personal growth and well-being.
• Work collaboratively with other staff at The Matthews House, external professionals, community resources, and parents/guardians to ensure the overall program’s objectives are met and that youth are connected with the necessary resources.
• Must obtain QMAP certification as part of employment training.
• Positively represent The Landing in the community to persons interested in the issue of homelessness for education, funding, and advocacy purposes.
• Educate and train volunteers in all aspects of working with youth who are homeless or at high risk of homelessness.
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect youth and young adults’ information, equipment, materials and facilities.
• Develop and maintain a high level of knowledge regarding best practices in working with adolescents, diversity/equity/inclusion, community resources and computer programs.
• Actively participate in weekly team meetings and support suggestions and policies set by the leadership of the organization.
• Actively participate in all required monthly staff meetings, professional meetings and trainings.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support and maintain the positive culture of The Matthews House and uphold agency values: relationship-centered, assume the best of people, own your role, innovation, remain curious.
• Communicate professionally through written documentation and verbal communication.
• Ensure all services provided are within the Matthews House guidelines and policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Employees in this position may be subject to long hours on their feet in a shelter environment that may include physical conditions such as encountering drugs and paraphernalia, sharps, and interpersonal contact from non-employees that include sexual innuendo or threatening language.

The Landing provides personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety training to prepare and protect The Landing’s employees in these uncontrolled environments. Compliance with safety protocol is required, which may include the use of PPE, involvement of law enforcement, and/or enactment of emergency protocols, detailed in The Landing’s Emergency Operations Plan.

SCHEDULE:

• Schedule will vary according to needs. The Landing is a 24/7/365 facility, and your schedule will require some flexibility and will require working some holidays.
• Weekends, overnights and holidays will be required to fulfill the duties of this position.
• Services will be provided within the shelter in Loveland.

BENEFITS:

• 401(k) with 3% match by employer
• A mission-driven environment with strong staff culture

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

The Matthews House is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity in any term, condition, or privilege of employment. We do not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability or any other status protected by state or local law.