Overview
Title: Assistant Director
Program: New Providence Women’s Shelter
Program Description:
The New Providence Women’s Shelter is a 130 bed 24/7 emergency shelter for homeless women diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Our comprehensive services include case management, individual and group counseling, recreational activities, and housing placement assistance. Additionally, an on-site Article 28 Clinic provides primary and behavioral health care services.
Overall Responsibilities:
Under the general direction of the Shelter Director, with latitude for independent action, the Assistant Director coordinates with the Building Manager and the Director of Social Services to ensure that the day-to-day operations are up to Project Renewal and Department of Homeless Services (DHS) standards; supervises the Residential Aides, making sure the shelter is staffed by them on a 24/7 basis in accordance with DHS guidelines, which include the necessary ongoing First Aid training, fire safety certification, and Opiate Overdose Prevention Training; oversees the activities providing for the safety of the residents and staff in the building; performs related work.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The essential duties of the Assistant Director include but are not limited to the following activities:
· Monitors day to day activities to ensure there is a clean, safe, and secure environment provided for both clients and staff. Regularly tours the interior and exterior of the building to make sure conditions are in accord with established standards. Initiates corrective action if necessary.
· Ensures that required Incident Reports are prepared by staff and submitted to both Project Renewal and DHS staff in a timely fashion, providing all relevant information and documentation as soon as possible following the incident.
· Supervises Residential Aide program staff to ensure that services are being provided to the clients, security protocols are being followed, and that notations are being made in the designated logs.
· Ensures that staffs are provided training in required skills, including communicating and interacting with clients, security protocols and use of security equipment, record keeping and incident reporting.
· Monitors the implementation of the Shelter Emergency Plan, which includes conducting required Fire Drills three times a month; maintaining the records to have current certificates for Fire Safety Warden, scheduling staff for training as needed.
· Participates in case conferences in response to client complaints, using conflict resolution techniques to amicably resolve issues.
· Assists the Director in compiling information and documentation needed to defend a claim submitted by either a client or staff member.
· As designated by the Director, attends the District Service Cabinet Committee meetings and Council meetings.
· Performs other duties as assigned by the Shelter Director.
· Available to respond to emergencies on a 24/7/365 basis, especially after normal working hours and on weekends.
Physical Activities
While performing the duties of this position, the Assistant Director must be able to navigate the 6-story facility by foot, climbing up and down the stairwells, to observe staff and see clients. Furthermore, the Assistant Director must stand to talk to clients and staff, sit for extended periods of time at the computer, reach or squat to get records from files.
Qualifications:
· BA degree in social work or related human services is preferred.
· Associates degree with minimum of five (5) years’ experience, working with mentally ill, LGBTQI+ population or homeless individuals.
· Fire Guard certification F-02 or Fire Safety Coordinator F-80
Preferred skills:
Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate staff to accomplish stated program goals and objectives while developing their individual and group skills.
Team building: Ability to develop and foster, through demonstration, a team spirit, enabling staff to overcome the challenges of providing needed services to a special client population.
Communication: Excellent oral, writing, and listening skills are a must.
Organizational: The ability to work well within a highly pressurized, deadline environment, while meeting the short- and long-term mandates of the program.
Interpersonal: An ability to interface with clients as well as all levels of staff.
Computer: Knowledge of case management software as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.