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BENEFITS: Catholic Charities offers a full line of benefits to select from medical, dental, and vision. Prescription drugs, life insurance, cash-balance pension plan, 403(b), vacation, 15 holidays, and sick leave.
ORGANIZATION PROFILE: Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego was founded in 1919 to provide service to those in need, to be a witness to the scriptural values of mercy, to advocate for justice, and to call all people of goodwill to join in these efforts. The agency responds to the needs of the poor in two counties of the Roman Catholic Diocese San Diego and Imperial.
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POSITION DESCRIPTION: *Rachel’s Women’s Center is a busy 7-day-a-week drop-in day center for women who are unhoused. The Participant Support Specialist is an essential member of the RWC team and establishes a welcoming, safe and supportive atmosphere for program participants. This team member plays a vital part in making Rachel’s Women’s Center (RWC) function smoothly and efficiently and assists women in meeting their basic needs in a dignified, respectful manner.
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1. OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES*
- Maintains a safe environment for participants, remaining aware of the ‘mood’ in the center
- Ensure the front desk area is always attended
- Prepares the facility for opening and stocks supplies for the day
- Plates participant’s lunch
- Assists with filing and distributing participants’ mail
- Knows and executes emergency protocols and responds appropriately
- Monitors guest and volunteer sign-in logs, answer phones, and ensure the facility is clean
- Greets donors, accepts donations, prepares receipts, and documents items received
- Ensures environment is clean and organized; prepares maintenance work orders as needed
- Assists with all routine program functions including answering phones, greeting donors, and processing donations
2. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
- Greets and signs in participants; prioritizes their immediate needs and guides them to services
- Reviews intakes with new participants, explains RWC daily routine, available services, and behavioral expectations
- Develops daily shower list, guides participants to the shower at their scheduled time, provides necessary hygiene supplies and clean clothing
- Coaches participants in Center upkeep; works cooperatively with team members
- Provides conflict resolution/crisis intervention to participants using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach
- Provides resources & referral information to participants; regularly updates resource information
3. AGENCY ENGAGEMENT/PROCEDURES
- Adheres to the Mission, Principles, and Policies of the Agency and Rachel’s Women’s Center.
- Provides role model for participants by exhibiting appropriate social behavior
- Sets firm boundaries with participants while remaining patient and trauma-informed
QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
- BA Degree in a related human service field or equivalent life/work experience.
- Minimum one year of experience in homeless services and/or of co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Candidates with lived experience or gender-specific women’s services are encouraged to apply.
- Bi-lingual Spanish preferred but not required.
- Well-developed de-escalation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills
- Understanding of trauma-informed care and experience trauma-informed approaches to service delivery, motivational interviewing and stages of change
- Strong computer skills and the ability to become proficient with database software
- Ability to read, interpret and apply documents such as policies, safety rules, operating instructions and procedure manuals
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively with groups of women
- Ability to multi-task and remain calm and patient with participants and co-workers
- Ability to work effectively with others as part of a team as well as independently
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:
Valid California Driver’s License and current automobile insurance in compliance with Agency requirements. This position is subject to background checks including FBI, Department of Justice, and those required by Federal contracts.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to walk for up to 8 hours per day with intermittent occasional standing, bending, squatting, or climbing
- The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
- Walking up and down stairs at least 3 times per day is an essential part of this job
- Specific vision abilities required for this job include the ability to see close up
Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.50 - $20.00 per hour