JOB TITLE: Shelter Director/Human Services Professional
EMPLOYER: Advocates for Children
DEPARTMENT: Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter
REPORTS TO: Chief Program Officer
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/15/2024
SUMMARY: The Shelter Director /Human Services Professional (HSP) position is responsible for ensuring that the educational, medical, emotional, and social needs of each youth are met. Case management services include but are not limited to: ensuring client files comply with regulatory/contract standards; monitoring and reporting the safety, permanency, and wellbeing of shelter residents; coordinating social services; serving as a liaison with the courts; and on-call accessibility. The position is also responsible for leading a team of professionals including program and case managers and providing program oversight. Job duties allow for the use of sound independent professional judgment and discretion, and involve contact with a variety of individuals, community groups and agency representatives.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Human Service Professional:
Shelter Director:
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
QUALIFICATIONS:
COMPETENCIES:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
EMPLOYER: Advocates for Children
DEPARTMENT: Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter
REPORTS TO: Chief Program Officer
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/15/2024
SUMMARY: The Shelter Director /Human Services Professional (HSP) position is responsible for ensuring that the educational, medical, emotional, and social needs of each youth are met. Case management services include but are not limited to: ensuring client files comply with regulatory/contract standards; monitoring and reporting the safety, permanency, and wellbeing of shelter residents; coordinating social services; serving as a liaison with the courts; and on-call accessibility. The position is also responsible for leading a team of professionals including program and case managers and providing program oversight. Job duties allow for the use of sound independent professional judgment and discretion, and involve contact with a variety of individuals, community groups and agency representatives.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Human Service Professional:
- Screen potential applicants for shelter placement.
- Complete intake and orientation process with new residents, ensuring all youth documents are complete, and develop individualized service plans for new and existing residents
- Develops individualized service plans for each resident.
- Advocate for residents through attendance at Family Team Meetings, Transitional Round Tables, citizen panel reviews, and court hearings.
- Refer youth to mental health, medical, and dental services.
- Provide oversight of medication management of residents.
- Prepare and maintain accurate and up-to-date records of each resident.
- Document accurate and up-to-date client progress through monthly summaries, Georgia SHINES, GA+SCORE, and client files.
- Foster a relationship with residents and build permanent connections.
- Partner with residents to develop relationships with a mentor from the community.
- Attend meetings with other state and local agencies to remain knowledgeable of all issues affecting agency and children in our care.
- Facilitate all critical incident reporting on residents to OPM/RCCL as appropriate.
Shelter Director:
- Oversee residential programming, therapeutic services, and ensure compliance with licensing standards.
- Manage the program’s budget and expenses.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including grants (VOCA, RHY, DFCS, etc.).
- Complete disbursement requests, monthly expense reports and approve team requests.
- Evaluates and modifies programs to meet and achieve required benchmarks for client success, occupancy and stabilization, and performance targets.
- Hire, train, and supervise key personnel; ensure staff files, background checks, and annual trainings requirements are compliant.
- Facilitate staff meetings, support teams in managing programs and ensure key personnel are updated on any changes to shelter policies and procedures.
- Review daily logs and progress notes of residents.
- Supervise residents, manage crisis interventions, and assist with personal goals using trauma-informed care.
- Maintain relationships with referral sources and community partners.
- Assume on-call duties on a rotating basis to support direct care staff.
- Assure confidentiality of information related to clients, personnel, and other information of confidential nature.
- Demonstrate a commitment to PQI and attend meetings as required.
- Other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provides supervision of Education Coordinator and Independent Living Coordinator
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the area of behavioral or social sciences, social work, childhood education, business or public administration or related field and two (2) years of working experience in the field of social services or human service with at least one year in an administrative or supervisory capacity
- Knowledge of the Department of Family and Children Services, human behavior, loss and trauma, and domestic violence.
- Computer skills required: Database Software; Word Processing Software (Word); Electronic Mail Software (Outlook).
- Effective verbal and written communicator with all persons in a culturally competent manner.
- Must be familiar with the community and community support agencies.
- Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check and drug screen.
COMPETENCIES:
- Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
- Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
- Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
- Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
- Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Occasionally required to stand.
- Occasionally required to walk.
- Frequently required to sit.
- Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity.
- Continually required to talk or hear.
- Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
- The employee must occasionally lift and /or move more than 25 pounds / frequently lift and/or move up to 15pounds / continually lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include:
- Close vision; Distance vision; Color vision; Peripheral vision; Depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- Frequently required to drive a personal vehicle.
