Residential Advocate

Description

Position Title: Residential Advocate

Reports To: Division Director – La Casa

Classification: Non-Exempt

Location: NW, Washington, DC

Hours: Days - Monday - Friday; 7:00 AM until 3:00 PM

About Us: Friendship Place is a nonprofit organization serving the Washington, DC, region, empowering individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with community involvement. Friendship Place offers the most effective model for addressing homelessness, with innovative, customized programs with positive, demonstrable results and a lasting impact on the community and beyond. Our programs are person-centric and individualized to meet the needs and goals of individuals, families, youth/young adults, and Veterans experiencing homelessness. We provide outreach, hospitality, health care, shelter, case management, housing, job placement services, and advocacy. We have established a national presence and are known for sharing best practices in the field.

Our Core Values: Friendship Place is a Person-First Organization that promotes transparency and ethical practices among our team and those we serve. All individuals in our organization are expected to perform their job duties in a manner consistent with our core values. These include the following: Excellence and Innovation, Finding Ways to Say “Yes,” Caring at the Core, Agents of Change, Support, Empowerment and Development, Building Relationships, Integrity, and Accountability

Summary: The Residential Advocate at Friendship Place ensures resident and building safety, security, and optimal operations. As a Residential Advocate, you will warmly greet residents and help maintain a safe, secure building. This role involves conducting resident wellness checks, monitoring building activities and operations, and, from time to time, assisting residents with needed items available for their use. The Advocate role is part of the La Casa Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) team. The PSH program follows the Housing First model and philosophy, applying best practices and comprehensive case management to ensure resident success. The program provides on-site services to 40 previously chronically homeless single males. The new apartment building consists of seven floors, with 40 studio-sized units that contain a private kitchen and bath

Essential Competencies and Responsibilities:

• Warmly greet and direct residents and building guests at the front desk of this Permanent Supportive Housing program for 40 single men.
• Monitor security cameras in the building and ensure staff/participant/building safety by appropriately responding to any security issues that may arise.
• Become familiar with the Housing First Model, HSRA, and HIPAA to inform job duties and program philosophy.
• Develop rapport with each resident through routine contact and communication.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of residents by providing routine wellness checks.
• Monitor residents’ medical and psychiatric needs while reporting any concerns to the case management team, case manager supervisor, and division director in a timely manner.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed, and contact emergency response teams, including Mobile Crisis, MPD, the fire department, and paramedics, when necessary.
• Complete incident reporting when necessary and communicate any incidents, allegations, security breaches, or sensitive situations to case managers and the Division Director on resident and program outcomes, including areas for improvement.
• Demonstrate empathy and flexibility in responding to residents’ needs and requests.
• Work collaboratively in a team environment to address crisis needs.
• Attend and participate in supervision meetings, staff meetings, agency training, and professional training and conferences as required.
• Follow all agency policies and procedures.
• Ability to work beyond the designated 8-hour tour of duty and display flexibility with last-minute shift needs.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Requirements:

Education:

• High School Diploma/GED Required
• Bachelor’s Degree Preferred
• 3 years of general work experience, including one year of experience in direct human service
• Must have or be able to obtain a First Aid/CPR/AED certification that includes a hands-on skills testing module. Friendship Place will provide First Aid/CPR/AED training

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Excellent time management, detail-oriented, organized, capable of maintaining confidentiality, and able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus
• Experience working with individuals with mental health concerns or addiction preferred
• Must possess and be able to demonstrate strong intra- and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively express ideas, needs, and observations both verbally and in writing. This includes the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with clients, colleagues, and supervisors, as well as to document interactions and incidents accurately, professionally, and in a timely manner.
• Must be able to demonstrate active listening, emotional awareness, and the ability to adapt their communication style to different individuals and situations.
• Ability to work well under pressure and as part of a diverse team
• Demonstrates professionalism across all levels of the organization
• Strong commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, and values
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word; ability to learn database programs
• Ability to maintain healthy and professional boundaries
• Must be able to arrive to work and scheduled meetings on time
• Strong commitment to mission, including racial equity and social justice
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, supervision, and actively seek out professional development opportunities
• Maintain compliance in all assigned mandatory training and background clearances

Working conditions: The office is located in an apartment building, and the employee may be exposed to conditions that arise in homes, including occasionally biohazards (e.g., blood, tissue, human waste) and conflict.

Physical and Environmental Requirements:

• Employees must be able to sit for extended periods while performing repetitive motions and in various positions.
• Must be able to spend time walking the occupied floors and grounds of La Casa.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. and work in outdoor conditions during outreach activities.
• Some evening or weekend hours may be required.
• This role involves working closely with individuals who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. At times, the work may involve exposure to emotionally sensitive or challenging situations. Employees must be compassionate, self-aware, and able to maintain healthy boundaries while supporting others in a respectful and trauma-informed way.

Background checks: [This position is classified as Protection Sensitive under DHS]. The selected candidate will be required to complete and pass background checks specific to contract requirements that may include criminal history background check and fingerprinting, FBI Background Check, DC Metropolitan Police Background Check, State-of-Residence Police Background Check, DC Child Abuse Registry (CFSA), National Sex Offender Registry Check, Drug Panel and Alcohol Screening, Tuberculosis Test, and Driving Record check (for positions transporting participants). Reference checks and verification of current and/or previous employment are required

Direct reports: None

Indirect Reports: None

Specific Requirements: Must have a valid government-issued ID and reliable transportation to and from work. This position is designated as 'essential' and may require the employee to report to work, or remain at work, during inclement weather, natural disasters, or other emergencies, even if the organization is closed to other staff.

Other Details:

Application Deadline: This job is open until filled or until the hiring manager determines they can no longer accept applications.

Compensation: The hiring pay range is between $17.95 - $20.23 per hour. The starting salary is based on a step system. A candidate’s starting pay is determined based on meeting the basic position requirements and current completed education, credentials, and work experience. Please note: The step system is set and not open to pay negotiation.

Benefits: We offer an excellent benefits package including low-cost health insurance, health reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 403B defined contribution plan matching, employee assistance programs, professional development, employee resource groups, 14 paid holidays, 15 days of vacation and 10 days of sick leave during 1st year of employment, and much more! (Benefits are pro-rated for part-time employees).

COVID-19: All Friendship Place employees, regardless of their vaccination status, must continue to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19, in accordance with the agency’s COVID-19 protocols and applicable law and guidance. This includes but is not limited to wearing masks in congregated settings, washing their hands or using hand sanitizer often, monitoring their daily health, and staying home if they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms (or if they are otherwise prohibited from reporting to work by a health provider under CDC, state, and local guidance). Since the public health and legal landscapes regarding this policy are subject to frequent changes, Friendship Place reserves the right to amend or cancel this policy at any time at its sole discretion, consistent with applicable law, consistent with CDC guidelines, and the DC Department of Health.

Location: Washington, DC

Interview Process: Phone screening, panel-style interview, final interview.

Website: www.friendshipplace.org

Opportunity Statement: We support all qualified individuals within our workforce without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, personal appearance, familial status, family responsibilities, political affiliations, matriculation, credit, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Friendship Place is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact human resources at humanresources@friendshipplace.org

How to Apply: Interested applicants should apply via the organizational website. All of our current career openings can be found by visiting www.friendshipplace.org