Shelter Worker (Full and Part-Time)

Lazarus House Ministries started 39 years ago with a challenge from Mother Teresa (yes, THAT Mother Teresa) to a Marist Brother to make a difference in Lawrence. In the decades since, Lazarus House has earned a reputation as a trusted faith-based nonprofit in the Merrimack Valley. Food, shelter, work preparation, advocacy and clothing are our core strengths and we are committed to innovating to serve our community’s evolving needs best.

Position Summary:

This position is responsible for providing support to guests in a Ministry based approach and ensuring the atmosphere of the emergency shelter is safe, stable and structured. Staff help maintain a supportive and consistent environment providing an atmosphere of dignity, respect and safety for all who enter the emergency shelter.

Position Description:

· Interact with guests in a respectful manner, adding and restoring dignity to their lives, with a tone and understanding that we are serving our guests.

· Prioritize meeting guest needs with getting tasks done and managing volunteers in a busy working environment.

· Support guests; register, check-in, monitor, assess behavior and overall well-being.

· Orient newly arriving guests to shelter protocols and policies.

· Work with guests to maintain goals and life skills. Assist with life and problem-solving skills and support.

· Observe guests in day-to-day routines: maintain informal contact and develop informal opportunities to assist when needed.

· Make sure guests follow through with assigned chores.

· Ensure guests hand over medications to staff when entering the shelter. Lock up medications until guests need to take them.

· Understand the systemic issues that affect low-income families and individuals.

· Observe and assess agitation levels in order to proactively defuse potentially aggressive situations. Effectively de-escalate, diffuse, and monitor overall shelter environment for safety.

· Ensure preparation of or assist in meal preparation.

· Contribute to the overall cleanliness and upkeep of the shelter.

· Complete shift assignments as requested.

· Work within a multi-disciplinary Shelter team liaising with staff, and supervisors to promote a supportive, respectful environment.

· Use communication tools effectively including documentation and shift change to bring forward issues and occurrences that take place while on shift.

· With Shelter Staff team identify potential challenges and provide input for solutions to Shelter Coordinator and other Staff members.

· Supervise Volunteers.

· This position requires the individual to offer physical stability and support to the guests of the residence, such as but not limited to lifting and assistance if a guest was to fall, stabilizing guests during walking, assistance in execution of stairs, and helping guests up and down from chairs.

· Fulfill other position related duties as required

Lazarus House Ministries is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $16.50 - $17.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Overnight shift
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Lawrence, MA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• Have you ever worked with at-risk individuals??
• Are you verbally fluent in both Spanish and English?

Shift availability:

• Night Shift (Preferred)
• Overnight Shift (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $17