Residential Assistant

Catholic Charities St. Vincents School for Boys was founded in 1853 and rooted in our faith traditions of charity and justice supporting families adults and youth through social service and opportunities for healthy growth and development. Our values are respect compassion accountability and integrity. Our commitment is to support changing lives in the communities we serve; promoting a fulfilling and supportive environment; and involving the community in carrying out our mission. This program focuses on four underlying philosophies that are central to all of the services provided: Housing First; Trauma-Informed Care Person-Focused Care and Social Determinants of Health.

Catholic Charities St. Vincents School for Boys provides Transitional housing care and placement support for Transitional Aged Youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness ages 18-24 in Marin County CA in partnership with Marin County Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this program is to provide supportive wrap around services to end homelessness for youth and to improve the wellbeing of Marins homeless population through evidence-based trauma-informed practices. The services included in this scope of work serve as a critical element of the Countys implementation of a unified coordinated entry and care management system by standardizing screening assessments and care coordination; and by promoting bi-directional information sharing and care coordination among providers. The goal for this systems-level change is new coordinated and sustainable approaches that will improve successful outcomes for people experiencing homelessness in Marin.

The Residential Assistant will collaboratively develop and maintain a secure home-like environment in which youth aged 18-24 can experience stability form healthy attachments and develop age-appropriate social and independent living skills. Residential Assistants implement and integrate each youths treatment plan into all aspects of daily activities. They also carry out agency policies and procedures to ensure the smooth operation coordination and administration of the residences while fostering a supportive trauma-informed environment.

• Provide an orientation for each new participant to welcome them to the residential community and to help them establish/maintain safety within the environment and a sense of normalcy. Introducing the participants to staff and other youth offering a warm meal clothing hygiene and other basic needs support upon move in. Discuss house rules curfews and safety protocols.
• Actively utilize empathy consistency and appropriate boundaries to build trusting relationships with participants. Utilize active listening encouragement and de-escalations during crisis situations.
• Utilize community group meetings weekly to review managing personal spaces and shared responsibilities.
• Daily supervision and presence to maintain a stable safe and nurturing environment while supporting participants in the development of daily living skills emotional well-being and personal growth.
• Develop and encourage participants mentoring and role-modelling participation in established campus and house schedules routines & program
• Maintain a consistent presence in the residence throughout the day and night within the residence through established structure consistent routines and verbal intervention as needed.
• Support and model conflict resolution during peer disputes or group tensions.
• Maintain daily logs and incident reports; and send to the residential supervisor and program director.
• Conduct regular safety and cleanliness checks to ensure residence is secure and free of hazards. Role Model and support Independent Living Skills improvement through performing general housekeeping responsibilities such as cleaning menu planning grocery shopping cooking and laund Support the community within each residence as they relate to each other individually the group and the overall upkeep of the house thereby modelling and teaching the execution of these responsibilities.
• Perform food preparation duties such as: menu planning; prepare and serve meals; supervise cleanup of kitchen and dining areas storage areas and ensure all necessary areas are secured; develop clients skill level through their involvement in preparation serving and clean-up as
• Creatively implement participate in and make use of the philosophy opportunities and facilities of the ongoing educational clinical recreational and extracurricular programs designed to meet client needs.
• Transport and supervise participants to from and during various outings locations appointments home visits & community-based activities in accordance with all procedures and policies regarding outings and the use of Agency vehicles including the ability to obtain a valid California drivers license and other licenses as necessary to operate agency vehic
• Be familiar with individual participants treatment plans and integrate participants treatment plans into all aspects of their day-to-day including all program activities recreation activities and crisis Support direct and advocate for youth to access all treatment and program related activities.
• Observe each client and report any behavioral emotional or interpersonal concerns to the Case Manager Supervisor Program Director or Clinician.
• Support participants through life skills coaching such as: time management and scheduling navigating public transportation medication reminders managing appointments and work/school. Collaborate with Case Managers to reinforce goals from Individualized Service Plans and House Stabilization Plans.
• Provide documentation such as charting in participant logs critical incident reports communication logs day treatment logs & reports and milieu repo
• When required participate in individual group and family therapy as directed by any administrator or clinician.
• Be familiar with and liaison with Health Care Services and implement health care systems and procedures such as infection control first aide diet and medication distribution within the individual participants treatment plans.
• Participate in regularly scheduled supervision with immediate supervisor and be able to receive feedback make changes and discuss your own issues as they come up and relate to the job.
• Participate in regularly scheduled staff training and apply training to the wo
• Be familiar with and implement as required agency policies and procedures regarding emergency situation
• Be familiar with and administer according to established policy and procedures house accounting systems and the following role modelling budgeting Independent Living Skills (ILS): clothing and personal need allowances; personal allowances; recreation funds; food & house supply purchasing; budgeting for rent.
• Be familiar with and properly utilize Agency forms ledgers logs and charts.
• Help orient and train new staff as directed by the Program Superviso
• Provide a positive role model for individual participants and the group through the following professional standards: maintaining supportive relationships with other staff; being able to both give and receive feedback; maintaining high standards of personal hygiene grooming and appropriate standards of personal dress; maintaining clear boundaries between personal life and professional behavior on the job; displaying situation-appropriate emotional responses; maintaining identification within the duties and responsibilities of a Group Counselor as outlined in this job description not with the identity of the residential group; consistently supporting agency policies philosophy and ethics; being punctual in arriving for shifts meetings and appointm
• Carry out all Residential Assistant duties with an emphasis on nurturing supportive and trauma-informed practices to foster the healthy development and well-being of youth.
• Respond to behavioral or emotional crisis using trauma-informed practices and de-escalations techniques. Contact supervisors on-call staff or emergency services when appropriate. Complete incident reports in a required timely manner.
• Provide participants with resources to support their personal growth educational goals vocational development and community engagement.
• Perform all other such duties as directed by superviso

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; some college preferred.
• 12 years of experience in residential shelter or youth services preferred.
• Experience working with transitional age youth or individuals impacted by homelessness a plus.
• Must have a valid drivers license.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

• Commitment to trauma-informed person-centered care.
• Ability to maintain calm and professional demeanor in high-stress situations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word email and basic data entry.
• Cultural competency and ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Fluency in both Spanish and English (speak read and write) strongly preferred.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Intermittent bending standing stooping kneeling reaching twisting and walking.
• Intermittent lifting pushing and pulling.
• Intermittent repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists hands and/or fingers.

• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

• The worker is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• Driving is required for this position.