Residential Advocate

The Residential Advocate provides support and direct assistance in a trauma informed setting to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of women and children who are domestic violence survivors. We have full-time positions available with various shifts (day, evening, and overnight) that may include weekend hours.

Note: Residential Advocates (RAs) are essential employees and expected to report to work during weather emergencies or other unusual events. RAs must stay at the center until they are relieved by another responsible staff person, even if others are delayed. The building may not be left without responsible staff on duty at any time.

Responsibilities:

• Provides support and direct assistance to shelter residents to ensure their health and safety, which includes walking the hallways, making sure that children are safe and occupied and bathrooms and common areas are kept clean.

• Responds to calls from the Crisis Center or Abused Persons Program about new admissions. Welcomes new residents to the center, assists with their orientation and intake to the residential facility and provides for immediate needs; also assist with resident admissions and discharges.

• Assists in the provision of nutritious meals and snacks for residents and children per established schedule, and assists residents in meal preparation, set up and clean up.

• Ensures that the facility is clean and in good order, eliciting assistance from residents and other RAs to handle routine household chores. Prepares rooms that have been vacated for new residents and does laundry. Alerts the Residential Services Coordinator of need for repairs or maintenance.

• Coordinate activities and assist residents with daily living tasks and/or concrete service plans, ensuring safety, cleanliness and order in the Center. Be responsive to moment-to-moment resident needs and act as a liaison between the resident and counseling staff.

• Provides transportation for residents to appointments as deemed necessary in program vehicle, or with tokens and taxi vouchers. These may include court, medical appointments, social services, and housing agencies, and to pick up client belongings that were left behind.

• Assists with Child Care duties as requested and with weekly recreational and leisure time activities at the Center. Assists with special seasonal events such as the Holiday Store, Summer Camp and birthday celebrations.

• Reads the current Log at the start of every shift and adds client notes, shift log notes and critical incident reports that are neat, timely and accurate. Assists at Community Meetings to discuss resident concerns and build a sense of community.

• Provides supportive assistance to residents in developing life skills as identified in their service plan. Assists in the sorting, storing and distribution of donations to the center.

• Overnight Residential Advocates in addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above, complete wellness checks and safety rounds of the facility every hour.

Position Qualifications:

• High school degree required, Bachelor's degree in Social Science, Health and Human Services, Social Work, or counseling field preferred.

• Two years' experience with mental health/substance abuse preferred. Domestic Violence/Shelter setting experience is a strong plus.

• Oral fluency in Spanish preferred.

• Must have valid driver's license with less than three points.

Starting pay $21/hour

The Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) has been helping people across the Washington metropolitan area meet emotional, social, and physical challenges for more than 120 years. A nonsectarian provider, we serve people of all religious backgrounds, races and ethnicities, helping the youngest child to the most fragile senior, from individuals to entire families. JSSA provides services and support to nearly 31,000 individuals a year through our wide range of counseling, educational, specialized employment, in-home support, hospice and nursing care, and social services. We are a growing Agency and strive to be an Employer of Choice. As such we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a healthy work-life balance, collaborative team environment and many opportunities for personal growth and professional development. We pride ourselves on our mission to be the first place for the Jewish community, as well as the community at large, to turn for clinical and social services of the highest quality that sustain and nurture all who seek assistance. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. AA/M/F/D