Visitor Services Associate Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Description

Department: Youth Prevention & Intervention

Program: Casa Nuestra

Status: On Call

Salary: $27 per hour

Schedule: Hours may vary. May also include overnight, holidays, or weekends to meet the various needs of the program. 

Location: Casa Nuestra, Chula Vista

# of Openings: 1

Who we are

SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) transforms communities to support the well-being and prosperity of children, youth, and families. For more than 50 years, we've worked throughout San Diego to provide safe shelter, transitional housing, intervention prevention programs, mental health support, and many other services that meet the ever-changing needs of our communities.

Our organization is dedicated to offering high-quality services and ensuring all services align with the community's needs. To best serve our communities, SBCS partners with various grassroots organizations throughout California to develop innovative strategies that enhance services, empower clients, and ensure that culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care is offered. SBCS provides a wide range of services tailored to meet each client's unique needs. At SBCS, our client-centered approach highlights the importance of respect, empathy, and compassion when interacting with all community members. 

As a mission-driven organization, our work is centered around providing exceptional, face-to-face support to our clients and community members to foster trust, accessibility and personal connection that are critical to our mission. 

About YOU

You are an advocate and champion of nurturing communities where families can pursue their dreams and fulfill their potential. 

You are dedicated to and energized by engaging directly with individuals and communities. 

You care deeply about the well-being and prosperity of ALL children and youth throughout San Diego.

You want to become a part of an energetic and effective team, and contribute your expertise, creativity, and insights to a unique role encompassing program management, development, and direct counseling services for at-risk children, adolescents, and families. 

About our organization

SBCS is home to a committed team of 470 dedicated employees and volunteers who diligently serve all of San Diego County. Having offered services for 52 years, SBCS is committed to providing hope and support for numerous young children, individuals, and families facing adversity. With an annual budget of $68 million, SBCS continues to be a beacon of assistance in the community. 

Competitive and Sustainable Employee Pay Package:

SBCS offers competitive pay and additional benefits for full-time employees, including generous vacation time, holidays, health, vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, an employee assistance program, discount programs, public service forgiveness loan, and an excellent retirement plan with matching contributions. 

Program:

Casa Nuestra is an emergency shelter for youth with justice or child welfare contact, or at risk of homelessness who need temporary housing to avoid detention while waiting for more permanent housing, placement, or reunification with parent or guardian after a crisis event. Casa Nuestra will be available to youth who have either been arrested and/or referred to San Diego County's Alternatives to Detention (ATD) or the Community Assessment Team or Juvenile Diversion (CAT/JD), as well as homeless youth referred by community entities (e.g., churches, schools) or youth on Probation (Ward).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Under the direct supervision of the Program Coordinator and Director, the Residential Associate is responsible for the supervision and care of youth residing at Casa Nuestra evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight. In addition, the Residential Associate will be responsible for implementing planned schedules, ensuring program guidelines are upheld, preparing meals, safely transporting youth, and maintaining a clean and sanitized environment as well as the following:

• Provide supervision, support, and respond to program needs of residents ages 12 - 17 residing at Casa Nuestra. 
• All on-call staff are required to sign up for  at least two standby shifts  per month, in addition to a minimum of one scheduled shift. During assigned on-call hours, staff must be available to report on-site within one hour, as needed. Staff must use the first 30 minutes of their standby shift to review the prior week's shift logs, current youth safety plans, and emails to ensure they are informed and prepared. Staff must be available to meet with Program Coordinator at least once a month to discuss performance, development, training, resident and programmatic updates, and any relevant operational matters.
• Staff must attend at least two team meetings or group supervision sessions per month
• Respond to medical and mental health emergencies by conducting crisis intervention and de-escalation and/or contacting appropriate personnel. 
• Manage and distribute resident self- administered medications as needed, in accordance with Medication Administration Record (MARS) protocols. 
• Collaborate with residents and staff to maintain a consistent supportive, and therapeutic approach.
• Build rapport with residents while demonstrating professionalism , maintaining appropriate boundaries, and serving as a positive role model. 
• Explain program requirements and guidelines to new residents and ensure compliance with these guidelines.
• Prepare and clean  bedrooms for incoming and exiting residents. 
• Maintain inventory and storage of personal items.
• Completion of assigned shift assignments including, preparing meals, taking residents on scheduled outings, driving residents to and from school and programming, cleaning out rooms when youth exit, completing checklist to ensure compliance with CCL.
• Conduct room safety check for any prohibited items, cleanliness and needed maintenance
• Conduct hands-off safety checks of residents upon entering Casa Nuestra
• Completion of Daily Shift Reports, Resident Watch logs and/or other needed reports before end of shift
• Maintain strong, consistent communication with co-workers by providing shift updates during the 30-minute shift change
• During overnight shifts, conduct bed checks in accordance with each resident's Resident Watch log. 
• Ensure unauthorized people are not on Casa Nuestra property.
• Attend all SBCS San Diego required meetings and trainings.
• Any other duties assigned.

Requirements

Must have at least one of the following prior professional or educational experiences:

•  A minimum of 2 years working in a group home for children or youth; or
• An associate of arts degree in a related field from an accredited university and 4-years direct experience; or 
• Two years of full-time residential childcare experience and at least 18 college units related to behavioral health, correctional, or psychology field.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required.
• Effective communication and listening skills to interact with residents and team members. 
• Must work well under pressure. 
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to act professionally at all times and as strong role model for residents. 
• Personable and friendly personality.
• Must maintain CPR/First-Aid certification. 
• Ability to work with a diverse population, possess cultural sensitivity, and maintain appropriate boundaries with clients.

Conditions of Employment

• Employment may be conditioned upon satisfactory completion of certain background clearances which may include a Department of Justice criminal background check requiring my fingerprints (Live Scan), Probation clearances, Community Care Licensing Clearances, Child Abuse Central Index Check (CACI), screening through the National Sex Offender Public Website, Physical Exam, drug test, tuberculosis (TB) test, Immunizations (TDAP, MMR, Influenza), and such additional clearances as may be required under the program. 
• Candidates/employees who have received a conditional offer of employment will be required to undergo testing for controlled substances, (including THC and CBD), in accordance with the County of San Diego's drug and alcohol policy and the federal Controlled Substances Act.
• Candidate is required to have reliable transportation; therefore, the candidate must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check. Candidate must also possess and maintain a current valid California driver's license and valid auto insurance policy. (30% of the time.)

Physical demands:

• Mentally and emotionally: Ability to work under deadlines, various projects and dealing with clients in crisis and difficult situations.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift. 
• Moves throughout the building. 
• Moves, raises, or lowers (includes upward pulling) an object or equipment up to 50 lbs. 
• Transports an object, from 20 to 50 lbs. across the facility, for various needs.
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force. 
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) 
• Ascending or descending stairs and ladders when applicable. Body agility is emphasized. 
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when ascending, descending, traversing.  
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles. 
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with objects or office machinery. 
• Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas. Communicating is important for those activities in which workers must impart information to clients or to the public, and in those activities in which they must convey detailed or important instructions to other workers accurately, or quickly. 

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time unless restricted by a negotiated contract.

Accessibility Accommodation

SBCS is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, parental status, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program - Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

At-Will Employment Status

Please note that all employment with SBCS is at-will, which means your employment may be terminated at any time by you or SBCS, without cause or advance notice. The terms and conditions of any employment may also be modified.