Direct Service Advocate - Weymouth

Schedule options:

Part time: overnight Sat & Sun 7pm-7am

Part time: day/evening Sat & Sun 7am-7pm

Per Diem: either every Sat or every Sunday (1 12 hours shift) for either the overnight or day/evening shift

OR 8 hour shifts Sat 7am-3pm, Sun 7am-3pm or 3pm-11pm (can combine these into 2 shifts (16 hour on weekend)

Job Summary:

The Direct Service Advocate (DSA) in this role is responsible for creating a welcoming and safe environment for homeless adults who are unsheltered. The goal of the Weymouth Women's Shelter is to offer lifesaving shelter to unsheltered homeless adults throughout the year and to support safety and engagement of people who are reticent to utilize emergency shelters. The Weymouth Women's Shelter offers a low threshold environment that is predicated on harm reduction principles. The DSA in this role will promote safety by offering respectful support and consistent application of policies and procedures established for the safety of each person served and all stakeholders of the Weymouth Women's Shelter community. This is an year round program.

Essential Functions of Position (may include some or all of the following, based on modality):

* Facilitate access in a respectful, safe, and efficient manner to get all guests into the Weymouth Shelter.
* Respond to all requests and emergencies in a manner that respectfully attends to the immediate concern.
* Intervenes with guests in a manner that de-escalates anxious, pressured or overtly worrisome behaviors and safety concerns.
* Communicates with on-site co-workers in real time through use of cell/push phone system in a manner that optimizes effective communication of any concerns and delivery of the Weymouth Women's Shelter. Contacts on-call staff when necessary.
* Provide care for guests and maintain safety by visual monitoring of all guests, conducting safety checks throughout the space, actively and respectfully interacting with guests and the team to ensure a routines and safety procedures are followed.
* Assists in set up and cleanup of all activities such as intake/access, personal belongings storage, food & meal serving, beverages, etc.
* Assists in all end of shift wrap up activities including assisting with all clean-up of space, trash removal, and arrangement of furniture and supplies to ensure readiness for the Senior Center opening each morning
* Completes required documentation at intake, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), incident reporting, etc. as required.
* Provides as needed monitoring of the area outside the program (parking lot, line at front door of the Weymouth Women's Shelter, and area that trash is maintained) in order to optimize safety of guests, neighbors, and essential health standards.
* Assists guests in urgent need to secure shower, clothing, and medical interventions.
* Participates in weekly staff meetings and supervisions.
* Works collaboratively with all community partners including neighbors/abutters, Weymouth Police and other law enforcement personnel, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and other first responders, in a respectful and responsive manner.
* Administers Narcan as needed to mitigate opiate overdose and fatalities.
* Follows plans and restrictions established by Weymouth Women's Shelter leadership and team members.
* Follows all ServSafe practices to optimize the health and wellness of all guests.
* Adheres to universal precautions in all activities.
* Recognizes that the majority of guests have endured trauma and employs trauma informed care in all interactions.
* Respond immediately to all medical and behavioral health emergencies appropriately (such as administering first aid, CPR, calling EMS/BEST, or first responders to address and resolve the situation.
* Maintains confidentiality of all guests and their circumstances except for those team members, collateral partners, and emergency first responders with a designated need to know.
* Other duties as assigned by Program Director or his/her designee.

Requirements for the position:

* High School Diploma or GED
* Knowledge of modality specific issues, such as substance use, serious mental illness, and homelessness.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job the employee will be exposed to active substance use, as well as to guests that bring traumatic personal histories and vulnerability. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Guest regularly present with long histories of trauma and complex physical and behavioral health disorders. Given the persistent stresses experienced by guests, these men and women can sometimes present with uncertain, unpredictable, and potentially unsafe behaviors.

BaycoveAHS

• Weymouth, MA, USA