Kendall County Women’s Shelter
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Residential Specialist
Salary Range: $12.00 - $14.50 Hourly
SUPERVISOR: Shelter Director
STATUS: Non- EXEMPT
FUNCTION:
To ensure the physical safety and emotional well-being of residents. To provide all
aspects of crisis intervention as needed and to provide supportive tasks which are essential to shelter
operations.
QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in social services family studies, sociology, psychology or other
related fields or 3 years work experience working in a social service agency or a volunteer agency, and
data entry skills.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES:
Crisis Intervention
1. By means of active listening, to provide quality telephone crisis intervention in order to
determine service eligibility of clients and to assist clients in crisis.
2. To provide information to callers regarding shelter services, programs, eligibility requirements,
etc. in such a way as to educate callers about the services of Kendall County Women’s Shelter.
3. To screen in-coming calls in order to ensure client confidentiality.
4. To ensure that in-coming calls are appropriately logged in order to maintain proper and accurate
documentation of records.
5. Arrange and/or provide emergency transportation for eligible callers to access shelter services.
6. When incoming calls are for staff members, transfer to appropriate staff member or voicemail.
Take a separate message for the staff that do not have a voicemail. Including time of call, date,
and caller’s name. When possible, try to obtain a brief message as to the nature of the call.
7. Monitor security system and shelter security on an on-going basis.
8. Assist Clients with day-to-day living needs.
9. Provide crisis intervention and peer support to clients as needed.
10. No sleeping on the job is permitted on any shift.
Shelter Maintenance
Manage the shelter during assigned shift including but is not limited to:
1. Enforcing shelter rules, policies and procedures.
2. Helping to assure a calm, supportive atmosphere.
3. Responsible for daily inspection of physical facility and grounds for safety, cleanliness, and
needed repairs including the pet shelter.
4. Distributing incoming resident and staff mail.
5. Assuring client participation in mandatory house meetings.
6. Conduct daily room checks and ensure compliance with community living assignments.
7. Conduct the House Meeting on designated shift.
8. Responsible for remediation of maintenance problems related to physical facility by reporting to
Coordinator of Residential Services.
9. Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and organization of workspace and common areas.
10. Responsible for client room preparation upon client entrance and ensuring client room is clean
upon client exit.
Record Maintenance
1. Document necessary information in Client Files and Communication Log; accurately complete
Client Intake Forms and Exit Forms.
2. Document supplies used in inventory logs.
3. To document and record all donations received, sort and distribute unused items.
4. 7 PM to 7AM Full-Time shift is responsible for reviewing and inputting intakes and daily services
into the client database for end of the month reports.
Volunteer Activities
1. Works collaboratively with advocate volunteers scheduled at facility.
Other Duties
1. Attend Staff Meetings.
2. Other duties assigned by the Shelter Director or Executive Director.
Equipment Used to Perform Job
Daily:
Occasionally:
Telephone
Ten key/calculator
Fax Machine
Automobile
Copy Machine
Computer
Typewriter
Physical Requirements:
In order to perform the job, a person must have the ability to do the following physical actions:
1. Frequently sit (approximately 25% to 80% of the time)
2. Frequently stand (approximately 10% to 60% of the time)
3. Frequently walk (approximately 10% to 40% of the time), generally from 5-30 feet within the
office.
4. Frequently lift and carry an average of 5 to 20 pounds and occasionally as much as 40 to 70
pounds or more. Items to be lifted or carried might include, but are not limited to, boxes or files,
copy paper supplies, materials, donations, etc. Most items will be carried by hand. Most items
must be lifted to knee or waist level, some items lifted to chest level and only a few items
overhead.
5. Frequently push and pull objects in order to open and close file drawers, occasionally move
items around the office such as a box of copy paper or computer paper, occasionally a small
piece of furniture, the office chair, the vacuum cleaner, etc.
6. Occasionally bend and kneel to file, retrieve items, etc.
7. Occasionally twisting or rotating upper trunk to right or left while sitting or standing.
8. Occasionally place arms above, at, and below shoulder height to reach.
9. Frequently climb stairs or inclined surfaces.
10. Ability to get to and from works; ability to move from one work location to another work
location during the day if necessary. Possession of a valid Driver’s License for client
transportation purposes or to run necessary errands. Must furnish current proof of insurance.
11. Must be able to work a flex schedule. This position may require work on evenings and
weekends.
Environmental Conditions
1. Frequently requires going outside during hot or cold temperatures or during wet conditions
in order to work with clients, or prepare for special events.
2. Frequently requires going outside during evening and night hours.
3. May work alone at times.
4. May have somewhat cramped work quarters depending on availability of office space.
Appearance
1. Neat.
2. Professional.
3. Must reflect as a proper representation of Kendall County Women’s Shelter.
Adherence to the Philosophy of Kendall County Women’ Shelter
1. Employee must demonstrate knowledge of and performance in accordance with the
philosophy of compassion, caring and respect for the welfare and dignity of others.
2. Must display a non-judgmental acceptance of all clients/volunteers/staff/coworkers.
3. Establish and maintain good rapport in working relationships.
4. Display appropriate and consistently positive attitude.
5. Remain composed during stressful situations.
The above job description reflects the general duties considered necessary to describe the
principal functions of the job as identified, and shall not be considered as a detailed description
of all work requirements that may be inherent in the position. Additional duties may be or
assigned from time to time.
Employee Acknowledgement
I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of this job description. I meet all requirements for this
position and believe I have the ability to perform the duties as stated.
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Date
Employee’s Signature
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Date
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Supervisor’s Signature