Youth Advocate Full Time

Summary of Position

The major function of the Youth Advocate is to assist and respect youth at Booth Brown House shelter and housing programs. This is accomplished by spending quality time with youth planning programming that enhances youth independence and supporting office and clerical tasks of the program. Youth Advocates also assist with promoting positive program dynamics supporting youth with program expectations and emotional support to youth.

Wage and Schedule

Wage: $20.65 per hour Schedule: Sunday-Thursday, 4pm-12am Location: 1471 Como Ave, West St. Paul, MN 55108

Qualifications

• High School Diploma
• GED required
• Two years of college preferred
• Licensing requires staff to be at least 21 years of age and older
• Experience working in a social service setting preferred
• Ability to accept supervision and work with a team of co-workers
• Ability to work well with youth of diverse cultural and socioeconomic groups
• Respect confidentiality
• Ability to work within ethical and legal parameters of social services
• Willingness to support the philosophy, goals, and mission of The Salvation Army
• Must pass the background checks
• Must complete CPI, CPR, and First Aid within 90 days of the date of hire
• Must have the ability to operate a computer and use a keyboard to enter information

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

### General Youth Care

• Meet and greet all youth in a professional and courteous manner
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with youth
• Orient new youth to the rules and policies of Booth Brown House programs
• Professionally communicate positive and problematic observations about youth
• Assist with the storage of belongings left by youth and the return or disposal of their belongings 60 days after discharge
• Support youth in working towards their self-identified goals
• Assist youth in locating resources and services within the community
• Facilitate group activities and classes as appropriate that foster positive youth development and independent living skills
• Create an environment where youth are able to optimize their life chances and raise their self-esteem
• Approach from a non-judgmental standpoint

### Reporting and Documentation

• Maintain accurate professional and non-judgmental entries in the Communication Logs and daily charting
• Read all pertinent communications, including but not limited to daily logs, meeting notes, safety plans, etc.
• Complete all other necessary paperwork, such as incident reports and relevant statistics, as directed

### General Administration

• Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good relationships with co-workers
• Arrive to work on time
• Uphold current policies regarding proper notification when missing a shift
• Attend educational opportunities when appropriate
• Participate in supervision meetings
• Full-time staff are required to attend all monthly staff meetings and in-services
• Any absence must be pre-approved by supervisor
• Answer telephone pleasantly and efficiently
• Identify calling party and transfer to appropriate staff or provide general information
• Screen and identify incoming visitors to the building
• Any other duties as reasonably required

### Program Safety

• Utilize effective conflict resolution techniques to de-escalate situations if needed
• Support youth in abiding by program policies and expectations to assist them to maintain their housing and live within the community
• Equally apply reasonable consequences to youth in the program
• Monitor the building residents and guests by completing frequent rounds and reviewing of cameras as needed
• Ensure shelter has staff supervision during operating hours
• Assist with random urinalysis
• Read and abide by all safety plans and behavior contracts established for youth
• Contact emergency personnel and on-call supervisor as appropriate during crisis situations
• Tend to all safety concerns in a timely manner

### Property Upkeep

• Clean and disinfect any area that is contaminated by a youths body fluid in a safe and prompt manner
• General housekeeping in shelter and housing programs, including but not limited to:
• Youth common spaces
• Staff offices
• Laundry rooms
• Shelter bedrooms and bathrooms
• Clean and prepare apartments between tenants
• Inventory pack and store youth belongings as needed
• Ensure that all soiled Booth Brown House laundry is washed, dried, and appropriately stored
• Assist with snow and ice removal at all building entrances and sidewalks
• Complete maintenance requests as needed
• Submit requisitions for office and cleaning supplies as needed

Working Conditions

Booth Brown House serves youth who have experienced extremely traumatic events, and staff may have to handle very stressful interactions with youth and/or staff. Staff may experience vicarious trauma and need to be very mindful of their own boundaries and triggers. It is always encouraged to seek support and guidance from co-workers and administrative staff. Staff will use equipment, such as snow blowers, vacuums, and cleaning agents, that may be hazardous if used incorrectly. Occasionally, unpleasant physical working conditions, such as working outside in inclement weather for brief periods of time, can be expected. The essential duties and responsibilities of this position cannot be performed from home.

Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Risk Level

Risk Level 2 - The task or activities conducted by Risk Level 2 workers do not involve reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials but could result in such exposure in non-routine emergency situations.

Physical Activities and Requirements of Position

• Talking: Especially where one must frequently convey detailed or important instructions, information, and ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.
• Repetitive Motion Movements: Frequently and regularly required using the majority of the body.
• Average Visual Abilities: Average ordinary visual activity necessary to prepare or inspect documents.
• Physical Strength: Variety of work, sitting approximately 50% of the time with some prolonged standing, walking, bending, climbing.
• Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally.
• Travel: The incumbent will be required to travel by organization vehicle.
• Mental Activities and Requirements of Position:
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to deal with a variety of variables.
• Mathematics Ability: Ability to perform basic mathematical functions and intermediate mathematical functions, averages, percentages, money management, etc.
• Language Ability: Ability to read a variety of books, magazines, instruction manuals, atlases, and encyclopedias.
• Ability to communicate distinctly with appropriate pauses and emphasis, correct punctuation, and variation in word order using present perfect and future tenses.
• Ability to speak, read, and write fluent English.

Working Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative and are not inclusive of the initiative expected to assume other responsibilities as needed.