Employment

Essential Duties

• Complete intake process with youth according to established guidelines, and make appropriate contact with and/or referrals to other agencies.
• Ascertain that a medical health assessment, completed by a healthcare professional, has been scheduled within 24 hours of a youth's admission.
•  Enforce program rules, consequences, and privileges.
• Supervise youth and coordinate their activities, including assignment of household chores, meal preparation, recreation, etc.
• Be available as a source of case management support for youth.
• Create a healthy atmosphere within the house, conducive to congenial group living.
• Plan and prepare meals for residents in accordance with federal guidelines.
• Maintain overall household safety, maintenance and cleaning including collecting and taking outgarbage, shoveling snow off walkways, stairs and porch, de-ice with salt, vacuuming, mopping, etc.
• Under the direction of the RHYMES Supervisor, complete case files.
• Assist in the completion of required reports as directed by the RHYMES Supervisor.
• Conduct/coordinate individual, group and family sessions, as appropriate.
• Complete shift checklist and house checks.
• Administer medications as scheduled.
• Provide supervision and continued training of volunteers and new staff as directed.
• Attend required staff meetings.
• Attend mandatory training.
• Accrue at least 24 hours of continuing education annually.
• Continue professional growth through independent study and attendance at training sessions andworkshops, as identified by RHYMES Supervisor and Executive Director.
• Facilitate operations and programming in accordance with RHYMES policy and procedures.
• Respond to telephone calls that require a response.
• Carry and answer work phones (or add Elevate App to personal phone) always.
• Check RHYMES mailbox on each assigned shift for internal communications and agency mail.
• Conduct follow-up evaluations for your assigned caseload, phone-calls, family sessions with discharged youth.
• Other duties, at the discretion of the RHYMES Shelter Director.

Qualifications

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Education, Experience/Interest

• Minimum age of 20
• High School Diploma or equivalent, G.E.D.
• Experience/Interest in providing human services or taking human services-related coursework
• Experience/Interest in serving and/or working with youth who have runaway, experienced trauma, crises, and/or homelessness

Required Language & Written Skills

• Strong communication skills
• Strong oral skills
• Strong active listening skills
• Strong written skills
• Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently and effectively

Preferred Education, Experience, Skills

• Lived experience related to that of the youth we serve
• Experience serving and/or working with youth who have runaway, experienced trauma, crises, and/or homelessness
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in human services or related fields (such as Social Work, Sociology, Education, Psychology, Counseling and Guidance, Criminal Justice or any other area in the human services field approved by the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services)
• CPR and First Aid Certified
• Bilingual Spanish/English and/or Hmong/English language abilities

Computer Skills

Must possess basic computer skills, including word processing (Microsoft Word), Microsoft Office, and Internet communications.

Other

• Must be able to handle crises and work well under pressure
• Must be able to demonstrate practices of cultural responsiveness and cultural humility
• Must display empathy for people who are often in difficult circumstances
• Must demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills and mature judgment
• Must be able to keep an emotional distance from the youth
• Successful completion of a Wisconsin Department of Transportation Vehicle/Driver Record Information (Request MV2896, if required to perform job duties)
• Must maintain a minimum of $100,000 automotive liability insurance, and submit documentation of the same (if required to perform related job duties)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of confidentiality and agree to maintain this policy in all areas of agency work
• Successful completion of a State of Wisconsin Department of Justice Criminal Background Check and other mandated backround checks
• Successful completion of basic RHYMES training program within thirty (30) days of hire
• Must be available to work days, evenings, overnights, and/or weekends

Physical Demands

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical activities may include but are not limited to:

• Climbing stairs
• Shoveling walkways and sidewalks
• Sitting for periods of time

Work Environment

The shelter is a home for runaway youth, youth in crisis, and youth experiencing homelessness. Youth present with many issues including, but not limited to, physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, alcohol and other drug use, mental health issues, physical health problems and problems with family dynamics. Shelter Staff must have the ability to engage with and support youth who are facing challenges and struggling in their daily lives.

Status

This job description references full-time and part-time hourly Shelter Staff positions.

RHYMES, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer which affords employment opportunity to all applicants without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, color, religion, national origin, handicap, disability or status as Vietnam-era or special disabled veterans; and is in accordance with applicable Federal laws and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.