Support Specialist

Title : Support Specialist

Reports to : Program Director

Location : Vagabond Inn, 3101 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Schedule : Saturday-Monday, 7 : 00 am - 3 : 30 pm

Status : Part-Time, Non-Exempt (Hourly), Non-Management

Summary

A support specialist will act as the first point of contact for all immediate client needs and requests, such as phone use, linens, water, laundry schedule, etc. They will respond to clients' needs (in a trauma-informed care scope) and assist with other tasks given to support the shelter and other staff members. A support specialist's role is vital to the success and support of the clients and the shelter itself.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as the first point-of-contact for all immediate client needs and requests, such as phone use, linens, water, etc.
• Monitor and oversee the floor, including communal areas, patios, bathrooms, dorms, and showers, ensuring program guidelines are upheld and that the physical site is well-maintained and safe, including general cleaning duties
• Be visible on the floor at all times and actively engage and welcome clients
• Conduct regular, thorough walk-throughs of the facility
• Create a supportive environment to ensure client progress towards stability
• Attend relevant staff meetings, trainings, and retreats as scheduled
• Oversee client cubicle / bed area maintenance in a trauma-informed manner
• Facilitate client engagement activities, such as groups or other activities
• Complete incident reports, update shift logs, and document in HMIS, as needed, and email relevant documents / updates before the end of each shift
• Develop effective, trusting relationships with clients and use a client-centered approach that includes motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care
• Intervene during crises to actively de-escalate situations, with client and staff safety in mind, using non-violent communication skills
• Work as part of a team to provide comprehensive, integrated care to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance addiction
• Communicate effectively and promptly, with management, peers, and clients
• Maintain client confidentiality at all times, while following agency, state, and HIPAA laws
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications / Requirements :

and sit throughout the day.

Work Environment

1. Office environment with occasional field activities with participants and staff.

2. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, and occasionally lift or carry up to 35 pounds.

3. May be exposed to elements like cold, heat, dust, noise, and odor.

4. May need to bend, stoop, twist,

EXPECTED BEHAVIORS OF ALL STAFF

Equal Opportunity Employer

The People Concern is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to non-discrimination in employment. We select the most qualified individual for the job basedon job-related qualifications regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, credit history, sexual orientation, arrest and court record, genetic information, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or other applicable laws.

About the People Concern

The People Concern empowers the most vulnerable among us to rebuild their lives. One of Los Angeles County's largest social services agencies, The People Concern was formed in 2016 in a merger of two trusted social service organizations based in Los Angeles County, OPCC and Lamp Community. Informed by more than fifty-eight years of work in the community, The People Concern is a leading provider of, and advocate for, evidence-based solutions to the multi-faceted challenges inherent in homelessness and domestic violence.

With compassion and profound respect for those we serve, we provide a fully integrated system of care - including outreach, interim housing, mental and medical health care, substance abuse services, domestic violence services, life skills & wellness programs, and permanent supportive housing - tailored to the unique needs of homeless individuals, survivors of domestic violence, challenged youth, and others who have nowhere else to turn.

The People Concern's model of integrated and comprehensive care empowers our participants to navigate the multi-faceted obstacles in their lives, become their best selves, and ultimately, connect with and contribute to their communities.

Benefits & Perks