Youth Advocate - Multiple Shifts

Description

Schedule: Grave, swing, and day shift available. Full Time positions are 40 hours per week. Some shifts include weekends.

Full-Time Benefits:

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
• Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• Employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly)
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off

About

Volunteers of America, Utah is an affiliate of a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization that has served communities across the United States for more than 125 years. Volunteers of America, Utah’s mission is to provide community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. Our programs serve people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness. We encourage all who are passionate about making a difference, including individuals with lived experience, to apply.

Position Summary

The Youth Advocate provides direct support and supervision to youth and young adults ages 15–22 who are experiencing homelessness and accessing the Youth Resource Center. Youth Advocates help create a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed environment while supporting youth with basic needs, emergency shelter services, resource connections, and daily program routines.

Youth Advocates are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Youth Resource Center, including direct engagement with youth, maintaining safety and appropriate boundaries, responding to crises, completing required documentation, supporting shelter and drop-in center operations, and maintaining a clean and organized facility.

This is an on-site, direct service position. Youth Advocates are assigned to a primary shift (day, swing, or graveyard) and are expected to perform the responsibilities associated with that shift.

Essential Duties

• Provides direct support, supervision, and engagement to youth and young adults accessing the Youth Resource Center using trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based approaches.
• Assists youth with basic needs, emergency shelter, daily routines, referrals, and connection to YRC and community resources.
• Maintains a safe and supportive environment by actively monitoring the facility, completing assigned rounds, identifying safety concerns, and responding appropriately to emergencies or crises.
• Uses verbal de-escalation and established YRC procedures to respond to conflict, behavioral concerns, and other challenging situations.
• Supports daily drop-in center and emergency shelter operations, including intake and shelter procedures, programming, and other assigned activities.
• Completes required client and program documentation accurately and on time, including shift notes, incident reports, shelter records, HMIS/UHMIS documentation, and other required records.
• Communicates important client, safety, staffing, and operational information during shift change and to supervisory staff as appropriate.
• Maintains professional boundaries, confidentiality, and respectful interactions with youth, coworkers, volunteers, community partners, and visitors.
• Maintains assigned client and staff areas in a clean, safe, sanitary, and organized condition, including completing cleaning, laundry, restocking, and other facility-support duties.
• Works collaboratively with other Youth Advocates, Coordinators, case managers, facilities staff, behavioral health staff, and other YRC team members to provide consistent services and maintain continuity between shifts.
• Participates in required staff meetings, supervision, shift-change meetings, training, and professional development activities.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance; reports to the assigned worksite ready to begin duties at the scheduled start of the shift; and follows established attendance, call-out, PTO, and coverage procedures.
• Performs the responsibilities associated with the employee's assigned day, swing, or graveyard shift and provides support to other shifts when needed based on program and staffing needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support the safe and effective operation of the Youth Resource Center.

Requirements

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. 

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Two years of experience in youth services, homeless services, behavioral health, residential services, social services, or another related direct-service setting preferred. A combination of relevant education, training, volunteer experience, and work experience may be considered.
• Experience working with adolescents, young adults, individuals experiencing homelessness, or other populations experiencing significant barriers or instability.
• Ability to build professional, supportive relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ability to remain calm, use sound judgment, and respond appropriately during conflict, behavioral concerns, emergencies, or crisis situations.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Ability to complete accurate written and electronic documentation and follow program policies, procedures, and supervisory direction.
• Ability and willingness to complete required training, including CPR/First Aid, verbal de-escalation, trauma-informed care, professional boundaries, documentation, and other YRC-required training. 
• Must be at least 21 years of age. Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record required for employees who operate agency vehicles.
• Must be able to pass Utah-DHHS – Office of Licensing background screening and pre-employment drug screen. Must maintain eligible/pass determination through Utah DHHS' continuous FBI Rap Back monitoring.

Physical Demands and Work Location

• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds as needed to support shelter operations, supplies, laundry, meals, and other program needs.
• Ability to move throughout the facility, stand and walk for extended periods, and engage with clients throughout the shift.
• Ability to complete routine cleaning, restocking, laundry, and other facility-support tasks as assigned.
• Work may involve prolonged computer use for documentation, HMIS/UHMIS entry, shift notes, and other required records.
• This position must be performed on-site due to the need to provide direct client services, maintain supervision and safety, respond to emergencies, and support the daily operation of the Youth Resource Center.
• Employees must be able to work the schedule associated with their assigned day, swing, or graveyard shift, including weekends and holidays as required.