Personal Disaster Assistance Team Member (PDAT)
Position Title: Personal Disaster Assistance Team Member (PDAT)
Volunteer Role: Service Delivery Volunteer
Department and/or Program: Disaster Management – Personal Disaster Assistance Program
Location: Southern Alberta – Medicine Hat & Area, including Cypress County and County of Forty Mile
Purpose:
This position provides emergency social services, within Canadian Red Cross guidelines, to people affected by personal disasters in their branch area
Reports to:
Branch Disaster Management Coordinator
Reporting Relationship:
Branch Community Services Coordinator, PDA Team Members
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Complete a needs assessment with the people affected by disaster
- Provide comfort to the people affected by the disaster
- Provide services based on the Standard Operating Procedures and the National Disaster Assistance Guidelines
- Complete necessary paperwork (e.g.: Goods & Services Voucher, Needs Assessment Form, Situation Report, etc…)
- Provide referrals to partner agencies & other community based groups
- Participate in preparedness activities at the branch level
- Report to DM coordination council.
Skills & Qualifications:
- Excellent communication skills (verbal & written)
- Excellent listening skills
- Reliable with the ability to remain calm during a crisis.
- Ability to empathise with people affected by disaster
- 18 year of age (minimum)
- Valid Driver’s Licence & ability to respond (vehicle)
- Clean Police Reference check
- Successful completion of mandatory training programs noted below
Time Commitment:
- 2 years
- Ability to respond during non-traditional hours (i.e. late at night)
- Ability to be on-call from time to time
- Attend monthly DM meetings (10 per year)
- Take the on-call cell phone once ever 4-6 weeks
Required Training and Development Opportunities:
- Introduction to Disaster Services – mandatory
- Emergency First Aid - mandatory
- Level 1: providing relief assistance to clients – mandatory
- Mandatory attendance at regular team meetings as set by DM coordinator
- Introduction to the Red Cross & Red Crescent movement
- Self-care course (3-hour online) – mandatory
- Optional Level 2 courses
Probationary Period:
Volunteers will be matched with an experienced volunteer(s) for their first 3 responses to assess suitability
Applicants:
For more information contact:
Linda Trautman,
Community Development Coordinator,
(403) 526-3048
linda.trautman@redcross.ca
