SHELTER ASSISTANT

BETHANY HOUSE SERVICES INC•Cincinnati, OH

10d•$16 - $16•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Shelter Coordinator, the Shelter Assistant supports shelter residents by helping maintain a safe, clean environment, assisting families residing in the shelter, and documenting safety or security concerns and rule violations. The role includes welcoming and orienting clients, providing support and crisis intervention, responding to guests’ needs, enforcing shelter guidelines, maintaining property safety and cleanliness, assisting with food service, and completing shift documentation. The Shelter Assistant works individually and as part of the shelter team, while maintaining confidentiality, professional boundaries, and respectful relationships with clients and colleagues.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of experience in a social service environment.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries with clients.
Ability to work in a flexible, fast-paced, growth-oriented environment while maintaining a positive, solution-oriented, client-centered approach.
Experience in crisis intervention and problem solving, including the ability to defuse situations without escalating conflict.
Understanding of and willingness to be trained in trauma-informed care, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ability to maintain client confidentiality.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to be compassionate and firm with clients.
Ability to accurately record required client and staff information while maintaining confidentiality and strong boundaries.
Ability to use Microsoft Office products, specifically Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Reliable and regular attendance.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet BHS vehicle insurance requirements.
Successful completion of BHS criminal background checks and drug tests.
Ability to perform essential physical tasks including kneeling, standing, pulling, climbing, balancing, crouching, walking, lifting, stooping, using tactile sense and hearing, reaching, grasping, pushing, fingering, repetitive movements, and talking.
Ability to exert up to 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
Vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Responsibilities

Create a welcoming environment by greeting clients, orienting new clients to the shelter, and answering questions.
Empower clients and provide support and crisis intervention through a trauma-informed care lens.
Provide resource information or triage questions for families residing in the shelter.
Communicate necessary client information to shelter staff.
Follow and enforce shelter guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Assist guests with shelter needs, including questions, concerns, hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, bedding, and food.
Maintain the safety and security of shelter property and report concerns to the Shelter Manager, on-call staff, or authorities.
Maintain shelter cleanliness by performing housekeeping tasks such as sweeping, mopping, and disinfecting.
Complete shelter room checks.
Complete assigned shadowing tasks when new support staff team members join.
Maintain positive, supportive, and respectful guest relations, including active listening, preserving confidentiality, avoiding power struggles, and maintaining patience in difficult situations.
Work individually and with the shelter team to engage in effective de-escalation.
Issue blankets, sheets, and towels, and distribute other supplies according to BHS procedures.
Assist with all aspects of food service during the shift as needed.
Document shift notes at least once per shift and complete required documentation, including task-list checklists, incident reports, reasonable suspicion forms, and mandated reporter documentation and reporting duties.
Maintain family confidence and protect operations by keeping information confidential.
Participate in training, supervision, and team meetings.
Work effectively with coworkers, participants, and others by communicating constructively, considering others’ ideas, keeping commitments, using respectful forms of address, and respecting workforce diversity.
Perform other duties as assigned.