Job Title: Residential Advocate
Job Location: Northern RI Safe House
Reports to: Senior Director of Emergency Operations
Position: Full-time (37.5 hours per week); $25-$26 an hour, depending on experience, with benefits that include health/dental insurance, paid holidays, accrued vacation/sick/personal time, an Employee Assistance Plan, and a 401(k) plan.
Schedule: Flexible schedule/ One Weekend Day as needed
ABOUT US: Sojourner House is a comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault agency that provides residential, educational, and community-based interventions to families and individuals impacted by abuse. We have offices in Providence and Woonsocket; and programs that operate statewide. Our goal is to help our clients rebuild their lives, piece by piece, through a variety of services. All of our programs work from the premise that violence is an unacceptable means of solving interpersonal conflict, and we encourage only non-violent methods of working out conflicts.
BASIC FUNCTION: Responsible for coordinating the different components of Sojourner House’s Safehouse Shelter program in northern Rhode Island. Working with the Housing Team and the larger residential program, the Advocate will provide direct services and programming to shelter clients and transitional housing clients. The Advocate will work alongside other staff of the Residential Program to provide clients with support and empowerment as they seek to rebuild their lives.
PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES
· Provide individual case management services to clients in Sojourner House’s residential programs, including transitional housing, safehouses and crisis shelter. This includes weekly 1:1 meetings, regular phone check-ins, and periodic visits to their apartment as needed. Develop action plans with clients that outline goals related to education, employment, child care and permanent housing. Assist clients in obtaining appropriate substance abuse, mental health, and/or medical services as needed.
· Develop and implement programming to benefit clients in the residential shelter program, which can include units statewide. Facilitate support groups, meetings and/or programs that will benefit clients and other community members. The advocate will regularly assess the needs of Sojourner House’s safehouse and transitional clients and offer programs reflective of those needs.
· Provide shelter coverage at Sojourner House’s emergency shelter(s), and assist with shelter hotline calls, referrals, and intakes.
· Coordinate children’s services and make referrals as necessary for housing families with minor children, which may include but are not limited to: enrollment in the local school system, art expressive therapy groups, tutoring sessions, play groups, field trips, after-school, recreational and enrichment activities, child care, and mental health programs.
· Provide outreach and advocacy to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors living in the community of Northern Rhode Island.
· Answer phone calls, conduct intakes of new clients, and provide referrals and information to potential clients.
· Gaining HIV and Hep C testing certification to test clients in the community, at the safehouse, as requested by the supervisor.
· Monitor and implement shelter expectations and ensure that residents follow these guidelines and procedures by creating an environment of trust and community.
· Complete data entry and submit necessary reports and paperwork as required for grant compliance.
· Work with the Maintenance team and the Sr. Director of Emergency Operations to address the needs of the shelter and owned transitional properties. This may include cleaning units between clients, assisting with cleaning common areas, and performing light housekeeping tasks from time to time.
· Stay abreast of RI community issues by building and maintaining relationships with housing and social service agencies in Northern Rhode Island, and throughout the state.
· Prepare and deliver community presentations in Northern Rhode Island on issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault and housing when requested.
· Support Sojourner House’s philosophy of client empowerment and respect for individual choices.
· Work as necessary with other residential advocates and Volunteer Manager to help supervise volunteers.
· Perform other duties as requested by the Sojourner House management team.
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in social work, psychology or a related field or equivalent work experience.
EXPERIENCE AND SPECIAL SKILLS:
· A minimum of two to three years of experience in human or social services
· Proficiency in Spanish, both written and oral, is preferred
· Familiarity with domestic violence and/or gender issues
· Must be organized and demonstrate superior leadership skills
· Computer literacy (Google Workspace, Word, Excel, and general Internet skills)
· Familiarity working with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds
· Experience developing and delivering community presentations
· A demonstrated familiarity with LGBTQ+, HIV/AIDS, mental health, and/or substance abuse populations
· Access to a vehicle in order to facilitate traveling between the agency’s multiple locations and apartments
· Comfort working individually and in teams
· Innovative thinking to approaching issues of poverty and service delivery
· Familiarity with social service services in Rhode Island
· Applicant must pass a federal and multi-state background check if offered the position
· Ability to work a flexible schedule, including one weekend day, providing on call support as needed.
SCHEDULE, WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is a full-time, on-site position. Travel to other offices and agency-owned buildings throughout the state will be required. Evening and weekend hours may be necessary to meet agency needs.
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made as necessary.
- This position may involve working with clients who have pets and in spaces where animals, including but not limited to dogs and cats, may be present.
- Regularly required to stand; sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands; and talk or hear
- The employee must be able to carry objects weighing 10-25 pounds occasionally
- Frequently required to walk and climb several sets of stairs
- Must have a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle; frequent travel to other locations is required
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and the environment is sometimes chaotic
TO APPLY
Individuals interested in this position should go to our Careers Portal to submit an application . We ask that candidates share their resume, a cover letter outlining their interest and how they meet the requirements of the role and 2-3 professional references. Please note that references will not be contacted unless an applicant is a finalist for the position, and we will notify you before contacting your references. If you are unable to apply online, applications may also be made via mail by sending the materials to Sojourner House, Attn: HR/Residential Advocate, PO Box 28302, Providence, RI 02908.
Sojourner House is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered without regard to color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetics.
To learn more about our work, please visit us at www.sojournerri.org.
