EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

• Full Time, Non-Exempt
• Monday-Friday, occasional evenings, weekends, and on call availability as needed
• Effective Oct. 24 2024
• Location: Shepherd’s Door (Housing Provided)

SHEPHERD’S DOOR

Shepherd’s Door is a community of refuge and restoration that cultivates understanding, healing and purpose in the lives of women and children who have suffered from homelessness, addiction and other life traumas. The one-year, Christ-centered residential program integrates addiction recovery, life skills training, vocational development and spiritual growth in a safe, highly relational environment. The ministry team of staff and volunteers serves to model Christ-like living to support the up to 42 women and 25 children participants in achieving lasting transformation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The Community Life Specialist contributes to Portland Rescue Mission’s ministry outcomes as a social worker providing coverage in the evenings and weekends, maintaining a Christ-centered ministry environment, supporting program participants life skills development, recovery progress and discipleship growth in their journey to overcome addiction and substance abuse.  This social work position will model and act in accordance with Portland Rescue Mission New Life Ministry manual and foundational ministry principles.

ESSENTIAL OUTCOMES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide Shepherd's Door (SD) program participants with a consistent programmatic care and experience in the evenings and weekends by maintaining program purposes, guidelines, and tone resulting in continued growth of all participants
• Maintain necessary structure and provide activities, times of devotion, and other engaging opportunities so program participants stay focused in the evenings and weekends 
• Support SD program participants to develop relationships with individuals and groups from local churches through a variety of volunteer-based activities and events such as Evening Meal Hosting or Bible Studies 
• Support SD program participants to receive growth in recovery and accountability by using the appropriate growth tools and inviting all to participate in the community
• Maintain program and facility operations to PRM standards through supporting a variety of activities such as administering observed Urinary Analysis (UA’s), medicine call, facility lock up and walk-through, evening meal, vocational duties, visitations, and attendance accountability
• Inform daytime program staff of evening participant behaviors through Evening Shift Report, database notes, effective communication, and follow up around significant events
• Maintain a peaceful and calm atmosphere by actively collaborating, viewing challenges as opportunities, and serving as examples for all members of the PRM community

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program participants at Community Program for women and women with children receive consistent and fruitful care in compliance with New Life Ministries manual, foundational ministry principles and strengths-based approach to individual and team growth, resulting in the accomplishment of the PRM Ends Statement
• Program participants experience continued growth leading to self-sufficiency through participation in program activities such as weekly all house meetings, one on one meetings and relational interactions with volunteers and church groups
• Each Community Program participant receives training in establishing and maintaining healthy relationships in each of their primary communities – home, church, recovery and work
• Participants experience continued growth in Christian maturity resulting in active participation in church community, the giving of testimony, a rich and consistent devotional life and grateful service to others, all done from a love of God and an understanding of His Word.
• A peaceful and calm atmosphere is maintained by staff who are actively collaborating through conflict or difficult situations, viewing challenges as opportunities, and serving as examples for all members of the PRM community, especially in regard to promptly resolving personal conflicts

SPECIFIC DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide all care in accordance with accepted best practice standards and department protocols (including supervision)
• Document all client care in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted standards
• Work with other professionals to help clients in advancing their progam treatment plan for addiction recovery
• Help clients find assistance with daily activities
• Research services that are available to clients
• Help coordinate resources and services provided to clients
• Check in with clients to ensure that services are provided appropriately
• Help clients navigate and adjust to changes and challenges in their lives
• Respond to crisis situations such as emergency mental, physical, emotional or behavioral situations. Assess the severity of the situation for threats, such as drugs, alcohol, physical violence, mental health issues, and self harm or suicide risks
• Maintain case notes and records. Role specific documentation for Community Life Specialist includes: guideline violations, drug & alcohol testing results, conflicts, late returns from outings, room check/room search results, parenting observations/child visit info, exits from program and shift reports
• Ensure all documentation regarding client care, treatment and significant interactions is thorough and completed in a clear, concise manner
• Enforce program guidelines to advance client growth in their addiction recovery program
• May act as a liaison between referral sources and clients
• Facilitate safe, efficient client exits from the program according to policy guidelines
• Provide crisis intervention to clients as needed
• Facilitate discipleship group sessions for program clientele
• Observe and document parent/child visitations on site
• Test clients for drug, alcohol or nicotine use through observed UA’s.
• Evaluate client needs and determine if referrals to other programs or facilities are needed
• Facilitate conflict resolution between clients to achieve a peaceful outcome
• Facilitate med-time, during which clients take their prescribed medication
• Utilize and document the use of growth and recovery tools, according to policy
• Perform other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor degree from a Bible college or seminary required
• Must have prior ministry experience (volunteer or paid)
• Education or training in human behavior and the social environment, relationships, counseling, crisis response and treatment
• Alcohol/drug certification (CADC) preferred but must have a good understanding of the emotional, cognitive and relational challenges of people who are in recovery from addictions
• Experience working in a setting that is specific to addiction recovery, homelessness or crisis response
• Experience working within an interdisciplinary treatment team, preferably including peer partners and supervising people
• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective and professional relastionships with clients and members of the care team
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in an interdisciplinary team setting
• Ability to assess and support adults across a wide age range who are recovering from a broad spectrum of co-occurring problems, including those related to trauma, substance use disorders, chronic pain, medical problems, social determinants of health, and eating disorders
• Broad and working knowledge of legal requirements for reporting abuse and maintaining confidentiality
• Broad and working knowledge of best practices for delivering culturally aware services
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to articulate program concepts and outcomes
• Good understanding and experience in relational development, facility operations and community building
• Competency in computer skills, including email and other typical office applications and the ability to access and utilize web-based resources
• Proficient in case-note documentation, organization, scheduling and activity planning

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES & VALUES

• A personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and a testimony of continued growth in faith
• Spiritual maturity as defined by traditional Biblical standards
• Naturally discipleship oriented and can effortlessly share personal testimonies of God’s love
• Able to gracefully maintain boundaries and hold others accountable to community guidelines
• Adheres to Portland Rescue Mission's Statement of Faith and Code of Ethics
• Desire to serve God in ministry to hurting men, women and children
• A pleasant, gentle, gracious manner toward others
• Possesses and demonstrates excellent integrity
• Composed and professional

EQUIPMENT USED

• Telephone, fax and voice mail
• Computer
• Copier and related office equipment

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

In this and any position with Portland Rescue Mission, it is impossible to predict the many requests and assignments that can and will be made on an employee.  Flexibility and a cooperative spirit are crucial characteristics of the person who holds this important position and for the successful operation of Portland Rescue Mission services.

MISSION STATEMENT

We share the Word of God and demonstrate the love of Christ to transform the lives of people suffering from homelessness and addiction.