The Direct Care Worker at Harmony House provides a safe and secure home environment designed to support to the women and children who enroll in the shelter’s short-term program. The Direct Care Worker works independently on shift and acts as a support worker for the residents, collaborating with resident and Program Director in the development of a plan to secure independent and successful housing.

Direct Care

• Provide a safe, supportive, nurturing, and healthy environment for residents and children.
• Responsible for the day-to-day monitoring of the residents and their children at all times while on duty.
• Support residents in maintaining all daily hygiene and healthy habits for themselves and their children.
• Support residents in maintaining the cleanliness and neatness of the Home at all times.
• Aid in the development of the program and plan activities according to the needs and interests of the residents and their children.
• Provide educational support to residents and children.
• Support residents in meal planning, preparation and serving of nutritious meals.
• Act as a positive role model for the residents demonstrating self-respect, dignity and adherence to treatment and agency goals.
• Maintain daily log and progress notes for each resident while ensuring confidentiality.
• Receive phone intakes and forward the necessary intake information to the Program Director to review.
• Fulfill the shift duties which may include general housework, cooking and cleaning.
• Complete other tasks as assigned by the Program Director.
• Report all concerns to the Chain of Command (Program Director, Residential Program Supervisor).

General Performance Factors

The performance factors described here are representative of the conduct required from all Family & Children's Aid staff members in order to successfully fulfill the requirements of this position.

• Reliability – Acts in a manner that demonstrates reliability, trustworthiness and persistence.
• Teamwork - Maintains cooperative and respectful peer relationships and contributes as an active team member.
• Communication - Maintains effective written, oral and communication skills.
• Professionalism -Conducts self as a professional in style and actions; build and maintain professional boundaries with clients; professional self presentation.
• Quality of Work - Demonstrates innovation, passion, knowledge and creativity in work.
• Supervision - Actively participates in the supervision process.
• Policy and Procedure - Adheres to program-specific and agency-wide policies and procedures, as outlined in the Program Handbook and FCA Personnel Polices & Practices.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Cognitive capacity to write and communicate, orally, in standard English.
• Intellectual, emotional, and physical capacity to manage unpredictable and potentially violent clients.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to forty (40) pounds.
• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes.
• Vision adequate to read correspondence, computer screen, forms, etc.
• Good manual dexterity and ability to write legibly.

Requirements

• Attend internal Basic Skills training.
• Must be punctual, arrive on time for shifts and follow agency procedure for absences.
• Dress in a manner which is professional and appropriate to the position.
• Must be able to work afternoons, evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Must be able to stay awake through full shift.

Skills and Attitudes

• Ability to perform with grace under pressure.
• Ability to resolve interpersonal conflict in a straightforward and timely manner.
• Ability to perform in a team and to share responsibilities and duties.
• Ability to set priorities, be organized, a self-starter.
• Ability to be friendly, empathic and an adept communicator.
• Ability to treat both staff, residents and children with respect.
• Incorporate core agency values into daily practice.

Qualifications

• Must have a clean criminal history.
• Must have a clean pre-employment drug test, post offer physical and TB screening.
• Related experience working with adult population and children with behavioral and emotional difficulties strongly preferred.
• Must have knowledge, skills, abilities, and the desire to work with homeless women and their children.

FCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled