Engagement Specialist Sojourner House

HOUSING FORWARD•Oak Park, IL

42d•Onsite

About The Position

This position has the overall responsibility of providing basic support and ensuring the safety of all residents of Sojourner House during weekday evenings and weekends. This position will report to the Director of Medical Respite. Hours are Friday 5:00pm to 9:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 5 hours each day, with flexibility in times. The role involves treating participants with dignity and respect, fostering a sense of community, assisting with new resident orientation, conducting daily wellness checks, restocking supplies, maintaining cleanliness and safety, managing crises, documenting incidents, understanding the impact of trauma, completing case notes, supporting clients with Individual Service Plans (ISPs) and community resources, ensuring policy adherence, providing administrative support, collaborating with other staff and agencies, and becoming certified in CPR, First Aid, Blood borne Pathogens, and CPI.

Requirements

High School Diploma with two years’ experience in social services.
Ability to problem solve and diffuse situations.
Calm demeanor, strong engagement skills.
Ability to work evenings and weekend hours.
Must have reliable means of transportation, valid driver's license and proof of insurance.

Responsibilities

Treat participants with dignity and respect.
Greet, welcome and engage residents living in a congregant and independent living setting and help foster a sense of community and cooperation.
Assist with orientating new residents to the program and settling them into their unit as needed.
Daily wellness checks on all residents and address basic needs, provide basic support and assistance to residents as needed.
Restock the pantry and refrigerator as needed.
Keep common areas clean and monitor for overall cleanliness and safety of the facility.
Report any maintenance issues to Program Director.
Mitigate and manage any on-site crisis as they arise.
Report and document all incidents, emergencies, substantial behavioral difficulties, and any intrusions or visits by police, ambulance, or any other outside agencies to the Director immediately.
Be aware of the impact of trauma on participants and prevent and/or respond quickly and compassionately to triggers and post-trauma responses.
Complete case notes, shift reports and logs and contribute to inter-shift debriefings. Review logs and reports for prior shifts or nights as needed between shifts.
Staff will support clients in working towards the goals outlined in their Individual Service Plans (ISPs).
Assist clients in researching community resources.
Ensure program rules and policies are observed.
Provide administrative and operating support to Program Director as needed.
Work in partnership with other staff, interns and staff from other agencies and hospitals.
Become certified in CPR, First Aid, Blood borne Pathogens, and CPI (Non-violent Crisis Intervention) according to the schedule of trainings provided by the agency.