CLIENT ADVOCATE

Full-Time Advocate Position

Established in 1926, Family Service League is a social services agency transforming lives and communities through mental health, addiction, housing, and essential human services with more than 60 social service programs in over 20 locations.

Family Service League is seeking a full-time Advocate for a homeless shelter in Smithtown, NY. The Advocate is responsible for ensuring the safety of families and their children, interacting and providing support to families and children, enforcing shelter rules, completing intake consent forms, conducting curfew checks, providing transportation, and turning over units for new clients as clients are periodically discharged from the shelter.

$3,000 Sign-On Bonus!

We offer a generous benefits package including the following:

• $3,000 Sign-On Bonus!
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Retirement Savings Plan with a 5% employer contribution
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Generous PTO (paid time off)
• Up to 11 paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave
• Student Tuition Remission Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Discounts and more!

Responsibilities:

• The Advocate will complete new client intakes.
• Explain shelter rules and regulations to clients.
• Conduct curfew checks, which includes walking outdoors to each unit.
• Conduct Safety Checks.
• Monitor the safety of the property.
• The Advocate will address any issues of safety in unit, remove any dangerous items.
• Assist with pantry distribution.
• Assist with distribution of donations.
• Turn over rooms for new clients.
• Provide transportation.
• Provide crisis intervention.
• The Advocate will oversee compliance of rules, regulations, and policies of shelter.
• Set and observe appropriate boundaries with clients; observe client confidentiality and HIPPA protocols.
• Advocate for client needs.
• Attend staff meetings, individual supervision, and trainings as required.
• Collaborate with the Security to discuss and resolve client incidents.
• Responsible for reading and understanding the Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Required to read and respond to daily emails.
• This position is essential to the safe and continuous operation of the program. Essential employees are expected to report to work during inclement weather and other relevant emergency situations to ensure uninterrupted care and support for clients.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Prior experience in Human Services or related field preferred.

Knowledge of homeless population and DSS policies and regulations.

Excellent organizational and time-management skills required.

Strong interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills required.

Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office required.

Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Valid and clean NYS Driver's License required.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires sitting and standing for extended periods of time, as well as moderate lifting up to 10-15 pounds. Must be able to go up and down stairs.