EMPLOYMENT FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: Is this a “family friendly” environment?
A: Yes. Many of our staff has young children and other family obligations. The agency has a generous time off policy based on the combined leave time model.

Q: I saw a similar position advertised that pays more. Why is the salary less at Catholic Charities?
A: We encourage you to review the total benefits package and compensation summary included in this packet. You will find that once your share of health insurance and other benefits is factored in, you may actually have a greater total compensation with Catholic Charities.

Q: Is the salary negotiable?
A: No. We budget for each position carefully based on available funding. We make every attempt annually to make adjustments to salaries via raises or other monetary rewards.

Q: Will there be opportunities for advancement?
A: We make no guarantees, but the agency is committed to looking internally for qualified candidates before opening an external search. Many of our existing staff members have been promoted from other positions

Q: If I’m hired, do I have to undergo any special screening or background checks?
A: All employees’ driving records will be screened to verify for a clean, valid drivers license at hire and annually thereafter. Each employee will undergo a background check prior to starting employment. If you are aware of any charges about which we may become aware through this screening process, you are advised to inform us in advance. In many cases, the results may not affect your employability with our agency.

Q: What are the hours?
A: Our office sites are open from 8:30-4:30. Staff are provided an hour lunch period daily.

Q: Will I be expected to work overtime or on weekends?
A: No, you will not work overtime or on weekends. You may need to meet a client for an appointment early in the morning or stay later occasionally but we flex your hours as a result of these occasional occurrences.

Q: Will I need to carry a beeper?
A: No, you will not have to carry a beeper. The agency works with clients to develop a crisis plan so that they can receive the help they need when our offices are not open.

Q: Do I need to have a cell phone and will I use it for work?
A: Yes, most of our positions require you to have a cell phone. We do not share the number with clients. The cell phone requirement is to insure that you have a way to get hold of a supervisor for safety or case specific assistance. We provide a monthly stipend towards your cell phone bill.

Q: What is the dress code?
A: We expect staff to dress in business casual attire, unless there is an important meeting in the community for which the expectation might be a little higher.

Q: How much will I use my car for work?
A: Depending on the position, you may use your car quite a bit to go on home visits or accompany clients to their appointments. If you are in a case management position, you will be transporting clients in your vehicle. We do reimburse for mileage of work related travel.

Q: Will I make home visits and do I go on them with other staff?
A: Case management staff regularly makes home visits to those we serve. Typically, home visits are done alone. Supervisors train staff in what to be aware of to be safe during the orientation period.

Q: Does the agency complete documentation electronically or in hard copy?
A: Every staff person has a computer on their desk. However, there is a good portion of work tasks that are recorded on hard copy, but this differs from job to job.

Q: Does the agency raise salaries at all?
A: The agency is committed to reviewing staff compensation annually as we prepare our new budget. While we do not promise that raises will occur every year, the agency has been fortunate to provide a 2-4% salary increase for four of the last five years.

Q: What type of training is offered?
A: Each position has an orientation that involves meetings, trainings and shadowing of other staff to learn all aspects of the new job. At bi-monthly staff meetings when the whole agency gathers, usually a training topic is offered. In the months in between staff meetings, site teams meet for additional training.

Q: What would my office space be like?
A: We provide each staff person their own space, with phone and computer. Depending on the office site, the office may be a cubby in a large room with other staff who are sitting in cubbies.

Q: How much will I be talking to clients about personal issues?
A: People contract HIV or are at risk of contracting HIV through drug using or sexual behavior, often private matters. You will likely have many conversations with clients about their behaviors and decision making.

Q: Who does the agency serve?
A: The agency serves a broad diversity of clients. Nearly all the clients we serve are poor or have low incomes. They are often vulnerable to homelessness, and struggle with literacy, cognitive challenges, mental illness, substance use and recovery, family trauma, in addition to understanding the complexity of the service system and how to access services. Our clients come from every background, race, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation. You will need to be comfortable serving everyone and treating everyone with dignity and respect.
 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT OF US AS AN EMPLOYER

Catholic Charities AIDS Services strives to create a culture that supports each staff person in doing their very best in their job and the feeling of being part of a team effort to provide high quality services to those individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families.
You can count on us to:
• Make decisions and create policies that are grounded in the mission and values of Catholic Charities
• Treat all employees equitably, playing no favorites, with respect to agency policies and practices
• Provide support through personal issues that you share with us and offer flexibility in balancing work and home life
• Have clear expectations of you and communicate them to you
• Provide you with a planned orientation in order to learn your job tasks
• Support and train every staff person to learn their job and balance job responsibilities
• Develop your professional and job skills over the course of your employment
• Provide the resources needed to do your job well – equipment, supplies etc
• Maintain a culture of accountability through careful documentation and data keeping of our services
• Provide quality services to those we serve
• Be good stewards of the funding we have been awarded
• Communicate regularly and fully to you about issues and information of the agency and HIV/AIDS field
• Make decisions and the reasons why they are made transparent to staff to the extent possible
• Provide regular access to your supervisor through individual and team supervision
• Provide access to the Executive Director or Associate Executive Director for questions or discussion
 

WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT OF YOU IF YOU WERE OUR EMPLOYEE

We consider every employee to be part of our team and your role is important, no matter the job you are hired to do.
Expectations are mutual and we would want you to:
• Be professional in how you interact with clients, other providers and each other
• Maintain boundaries with clients consistent with Catholic Charities Code of Conduct
• Maintain confidentiality at all times
• Remain aware of the agency’s mission and values and how it guides your work activities and interactions with others
• Treat everyone with dignity and respect, willingly embracing differences
• Remain focused on the needs of our clients
• Be familiar with the agency and programs’ elevator speeches so that you may be a good representative of the agency in the community
• Be a team member by sharing information, doing your part of the whole organization and assisting others
• Be a good communicator
• Let us know when you are experiencing challenges in the workplace, so that we can address them together
• Keep your supervisor informed of your work activities