Reports to: Director of Program Operations
Status: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Non-exempt
Job Location: Ozone Park, Queens
OBJECTIVE:
Lantern Community Services is seeking responsible Residential Aides for all shifts at a new, 113-bed, Men's Shelter in Ozone Park, Queens. The Residential Aides will provide direct services to the shelter clients and be the primary connection between the Case Management/Housing staff and the clients. Some of the Residential Aide's work tasks will be serving meals, monitoring for safety, documenting and orienting new intakes, assisting with group activities and events, escorting to appointments, and ensuring compliance with shelter rules and regulations. Successful candidates will have prior experience providing compassionate care to vulnerable populations.
This is a full-time shift position and will include some weekend hours. Shift times will be designated as Days (7:00 am to 3:00 pm), Evenings (3:00 pm -11:00 pm), and Overnight (11:00 pm to 7:00 am). Lantern staff may be asked to adjust their work schedule depending on the operational needs of the site.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Fosters a nurturing and welcoming environment for clients.
- Assists in the turnover of shelter beds and ensures readiness for occupancy by new clients.
- Processes new client intakes, including completion of preliminary documentation, orientation to the facility, laundering of belongings, and bed assignments.
- Performs hourly inspections of the facility as well as routine and random inspections of bed areas and lockers.
- Secures clients' personal property and maintains an inventory of the client's belongings as needed.
- Assists in the monitoring and development of clients' independent living skills including maintenance of bed area, laundry, and personal hygiene.
- Assists in the planning and organization of recreational activities, events, and outings.
- Informs appropriate program staff of any issues that may affect the health and safety of clients or staff.
- Provides clothing and personal care items to clients.
- Maintains daily log, visitor and client sign-ins, and other record-keeping.
- Utilizes Safe Crisis Management in working collaboratively with Shift Supervisor and Security Staff to respond to incidents; Completes incident documentation as required.
- Completes electronic shift summaries and generates daily client census & curfew violation reports.
- Serves meals to clients at breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner.
- Conducts fire drills and generates documentation as required.
- Attends staff meetings, case conferences, and supervisory and in-service training sessions.
- Conducts a routine inventory of equipment and supplies.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Shift Supervisor or other supervisory staff.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A High School Diploma or GED is required.
- Food handler's certification required or willingness to obtain it in 3 months is required.
- 2 years of experience working in a shelter setting, security, customer service, hospital patient care, etc. Preferred
- Good interpersonal skills; high level of maturity and reliability.
- Must be adept and comfortable with crisis intervention.
- Basic Computer skills.
- Preferred: Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, mental health, substance use, or chronically homeless.
- Preferred: Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
Work Environment: This job operates in a shelter environment and works with a population who may experience mental illness, substance use, disability, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illnesses.
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs, and/ or kneel. Occasionally the employee will have to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Note:
Lantern Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Lantern Community Services (Lantern) values the diversity of all our clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners. By bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together, we create more vibrant, healthy, and just communities. Lantern welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and experiences regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, pregnancy, religion, immigration status, veteran status, class, creed, mental or physical disability, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law.
