Resident Assistant

Catholic Charities•Woodbridge, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Resident Assistant works at Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington’s St. Margaret of Cortona Transitional Housing Ministry in Woodbridge, Virginia. The ministry provides 12–24 months of transitional housing to homeless single mothers with children who are exiting emergency or domestic violence shelters. The Resident Assistant helps ensure the safety of resident families and is considered essential personnel during hardships such as extreme weather and other emergencies. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight, and requires evenings and holidays. It is onsite and non-exempt. The role oversees evening requirements and facility safety, enforces ministry standards, responds professionally to urgent or high-risk situations, and follows emergency procedures. The Resident Assistant supports residents’ service plans, communicates with the interdisciplinary team, documents interactions and incidents, monitors security cameras, maintains nightly logs, and contacts first responders and the Program Director about concerns. The role also responds to office calls, helps clients with basic laptop use, and may assist with childcare, basic client needs, household-item distribution, resident events, and apartment turnover. Staff meetings and trainings are attended when available and as directed by the supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least two years of experience in human services or emergency shelter work.
Experience in a residential environment.
Current CPR and First Aid certification.
Fluency in Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and other relevant software.
Ability to learn tasks and procedures, follow processes, complete work independently, and make timely decisions within a workflow.
Ability to comply with Agency confidentiality, mandated reporting, privacy, and HIPAA requirements.
Ability to maintain professional boundaries and use trauma-informed care practices.
Valid U.S. driver’s license, good driving record including at least three positive points on the Virginia Motor Vehicle Record, and at least three years of U.S. driving experience.
Effective interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work independently and with diverse constituencies.
Ability to remain awake and attentive during the night shift.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree.
Bilingual Spanish/English.
Experience working in programs serving victims of domestic violence.

Responsibilities

Oversee evening requirements and facility safekeeping in accordance with Agency guidelines.
Enforce Ministry standards under Agency safety guidelines.
Respond calmly and professionally to urgent and high-risk problems requiring police or medical assistance; complete required documentation and administer emergency procedures.
Work with the Program Director and interdisciplinary team to serve families and reinforce clients’ service plans, including communicating about client progress.
Accurately document interactions, incidents, unusual activities, and concerns.
Train clients in laptop use and answer limited questions about laptop operations.
Monitor security cameras, review unmonitored footage routinely, and maintain accurate nightly logs of unauthorized or unusual site activity.
Notify first responders and the Program Director of concerns or incidents immediately, or as soon as it is safe to do so.
Answer office phone calls and connect callers with appropriate people or resources to address emergencies.
Use drug-testing equipment and a Breathalyzer device.
Participate in staff meetings and trainings when available and as directed by the supervisor.
Provide occasional childcare for resident children while adult residents attend case management, therapy, or Life Skills classes.
Evaluate and provide for clients’ basic needs while on shift; distribute household items, toiletries, and other items as needed.
Collaborate with staff to facilitate resident events, such as First Saturday backyard cook-outs.
Assist with apartment turnover preparations as needed.
Uphold Catholic social teaching in the workplace.