Direct Care Worker – SHINE Program

Franklin County Young Adult Housing Direct Care Worker
– SHINE ProgramThe Gándara Center provides residential, mental health, substance abuse, and preventive services for children, adults, and families across the Pioneer Valley and eastern parts of Massachusetts.

Founded in the Hispanic community, we value cultural diversity and strive to provide culturally competent, innovative services to a diverse community.

The Mission of the Gándara Center is to promote the well-being of Hispanics, African-Americans, and other culturally diverse populations, through innovative, culturally competent behavioral health, prevention, and educational services.The Direct Care staff for SHINE Young Adult Housing (DC/SHINE) is responsible for maintaining a youth-centered, safe and therapeutic environment within a transitional housing for young families / young adults experiencing homelessness.

The DC/SHINE staff ensures that program participants follow all program rules and expectations and receive necessary support services.

The DC/SHINE staff is responsible for ensuring that emergency situations are handled and reported in a professional manner.Empowering Lives.

Restoring FamiliesPRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:+ Develop strong, supportive relationships with the clients.+ Provide for client care and safety, and observe all safety measures.+ Conduct rounds of property as dictated by policy+ Accurately log all required documentation.+ Provide appropriate, safe responses to emergency situations when necessary and to act as the program liaison with outside emergency services as needed.+ Provide crisis intervention.+ Notify the Franklin County Young Adult Housing Coordinator (program coordinator) and / or Supportive Housing Services Manager immediately in the event of a client crisis, suspected illegal activity or any behavior constituting an incident in the program.+ Perform routine housekeeping tasks, as needed.+ Recognize that diversity of each individual and family in respect to ethnic, cultural, gender and sexual orientation must be valued and respected.+ Provide basic community resource information to all young adults including pregnant and parenting young adults experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.+ Transportation of clients, as needed, using personal vehicle.OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:+ Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Coordinator.Required SkillsKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES+ High school diploma or equivalent required.+ Lived experience preferred.+ At least one year of experience working in a related field dealing with youth and young adults preferred.+ Must have valid driver’s license.+ Must meet agency requirements for driving history records.+ Must have availability of an automobile to transport clients or perform other supportive services as necessary.+ Ability to deal with conflict in an appropriate manner.+ Ability to master First Aid, CPR, Defensive Driving, Fire Safety and crisis intervention+ Ability to maintain proper attendance.+ Must exhibit sound judgment in implementing program and agency policy and procedures.+ Work well as a team member.+ Attend all required staff meetings.+ Complete all required documentation not limited to, but to include: Incident reports, log documentation, and maintenance request+ Attend scheduled supervisory meetings with Program Supervisor.+ Commitment to racial equity and inclusive practices.+ Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.LEADERSHIP, TEAM MANAGEMENT, AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS+ Have knowledge of Agency and Program policies, practices, and procedures and to meet all rules and regulations of the Agency.+ Have a basic understanding of key community homeless and other emergency resources available to youth/young adults.Sensitivity to, and respect for, the diverse world views and different communication styles of individuals of diverse ethnic, linguistic and/or cultures which nurture and shape an organization that celebrates and promotes diversity in its workforce;Highly effective and well-honed verbal and written communication in English; interpersonal skills necessary to persuade and guide both peers and other Agency staff regarding operational matters.Exhibit exemplary customer service, compassion, and care in the execution of all duties and interactions.Benefits:+ Retirement Plan 403(b)+ Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance+ Paid vacations+ Paid holidays+ 8 discretionary days a year+ Discounts offered to your Verizon and/or Sprint plansThe Gandara Mental Health Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.Required Experience