Lead Residential Counselor

CORNERSTONES INC•Reston, VA

6d•$22•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Residential Counselor (RC) is responsible for safe and efficient operation of the Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS) and Winter Seasonal program during their assigned shift. The Lead RC acts as the lead staff person on the shift bearing ultimate responsibility for ensuring that all the essential responsibilities for shelter operations are carried out during the shift and that services are equitable and delivered with integrity in accordance with the Agency Mission, Vision, and Values. The Lead RC evaluates and provides for the individual needs of each participants maintaining the dignity and confidentiality of all guests, staff, and volunteers. The Lead RC coordinates and assists volunteers in the performance of their responsibilities and maintaining accurate and detailed documentation. In addition to working with participants and volunteers, the Lead RC is responsible for assisting donors and community members by addressing their needs and concerns appropriately. The Lead RC must have strong interpersonal and motivational skills. In addition, they must possess a patient, trauma-informed approach to service delivery. All duties are performed in a professional and timely manner, in a fast-paced, high-demand environment. The Embry Rucker Community Shelter serves both single adults and families with children. A candidate that is bilingual in English/Spanish and has the ability to use one's lived personal experience of housing instability to help assess system barriers is a plus.

Requirements

High School Diploma.
Certification in MANDT or similar technique.
CPR and First Aid Certification.
Verbal and written proficiency in English and Spanish.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite or related software.
One year of supervisory experience.
Experience working with vulnerable individuals and families including people with mental health and/or substance abuse disabilities is required.
Ability to work with families with minor children.
Patient, trauma-informed approach to service delivery that is equitable and delivered with integrity.
Strong interpersonal and motivational skills.
Familiar with and able to implement Risk Management and Emergency Procedures.
Ability to learn, process information, prioritize competing priorities and make sound and reasoned decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to complete tasks while navigating frequent interruptions.
Ability to maintain ethical boundaries as well as confidentiality of participants and accurate records is required.
Effective verbal and written communication skills with staff, clients, volunteers.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
Detail-oriented, with strong attention to follow-through.
Ability to work collaboratively with others and as a member of a team.
Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when necessary.
Must be detailed, flexible, and able to work accurately under pressure and meet deadlines.
Must be responsible, dependable, and display the highest level of integrity.
Candidate will be required to pass criminal background and Child Protective Services background checks.
Must have a valid drivers’ license with no history of significant accidents or moving violations
Candidate must be able to drive 15 passenger van.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
Ability to use one's lived personal experience of housing instability to help assess system barriers is a plus.

Responsibilities

Establishes and maintains a working and residential environment that promotes mutual respect between staff members, participants, volunteers, and community.
Interacts with participants in a positive and respectful manner that is trauma-informed and uses a racial equity lens.
Greets visitors and answers phone in a welcoming and engaging manner.
Completes shift documentation including, but not limited to: shift notes, changeover updates, safety inspections, and perimeter checks.
Provides support, problem resolution, and emergency crisis intervention and stabilization services for participants.
Provides orientation to new participants to facilitate adaption to the shelter environment.
Supports and assists volunteers while performing their duties.
Monitors all aspects of shelter activities and conducts changeover with outgoing and incoming staff members.
Reads email, shift logs, incident reports, etc. during shift in order to remain up to date.
Maintains confidentiality and privacy of all identifying information concerning participants in accordance with applicable confidentiality and privacy laws, rules and regulations.
Serves as essential staff during inclement weather and other emergencies.
Attends required staff meetings, retreats, and trainings.
Position requires frequent physical activity including unloading and stocking donations, distributing supplies, doing laundry, cleaning, completing grounds checks and dorm checks.
Overnight positions are awake positions and require staff on duty are alert and responsive throughout the entire shift.
Services are delivered in accordance with Agency Mission, Vision, and Values.
Perform any other duties deemed necessary to support the program and agency.
Begins shift by engaging in pass down with the previous Shift Lead, reviewing all shift summaries and critical incidents that took place on the previous shift, conducts a huddle with the RCs to determine the shift plan for rounds and safety inspections, conducts an initial round and safety inspection of the facility and documents who is present and who is absent, reviews all sign in sheets for accuracy, completes inventory of supplies, and reviews donations slips for completeness and accuracy.
Provides oversight and guidance for Residential Counselors on the assigned shift.
Completes and signs off on special documentation including but not limited to: critical incident reports and documentation for case files.
Reviews, gains approval, and signs off on all No Trespass and Suspension notices completed during shift.
Completes medication monitoring training, and monitors medications.
Reviews med log for completeness and accuracy throughout shift.
Contacts management during serious incidents and communicates with program staff regarding shelter guest and residential issues.
E-mails Case Managers and Outreach Workers as needed when case management questions or concerns arise during the shift.
Conducts house meetings.
Receives donations and assists donors in completing the donation form.
Conducts after-hours intakes as needed.
Transports participants to Hypothermia Prevention site as needed.
Ensures that all documentation and shift responsibilities are completed prior to leaving the facility including: e-mailing shift summaries, Critical Incident Reports, and reviewing all donation forms for completeness and accuracy.