Job Summary
A shelter Support Worker is an experienced professional with a background in dealing with women in crisis and with the ability to interpret and understand regulations and program eligibility proficiently.
Provide care and support to unsheltered women who have found themselves homeless, determine their eligibility and assess their sheltering needs. The Shelter Support Worker provides support to women who are facing challenges including poverty, poor mental health, addiction, abuse, and social isolation.
Role Specific Competencies:
Trauma Informed Practice, Conflict Resolution, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Planning and Coordination
Knowledge and Experience:
- Degree or Diploma in a related human /social service field plus a minimum of three years' related experience or equivalent combination of education, training and experience working with vulnerable people. In particular those living without homes.
- Knowledge and experience in understanding the needs and perspectives of vulnerable people. An ability to apply appropriate professional understanding, assessment, and interventions in response to the emotional, behavioural, and physical needs of service users
- Trauma informed practice, signs of safety, motivational interviewing techniques, and relapse prevention etc.
- Ability to apply appropriate professional understanding, assessment, and interventions in response to the emotional, behavioural, and physical needs of service users
- Ability to communicate effectively with service user including listening skills, patience, good boundaries, and a willingness to be helpful
- An ability to understand and comply with required health and safety standards, regulations, policies and procedures
- Good written and oral communication skills, proven report writing and documentation skills. Excellent organizational, time management, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to work under pressure and respond appropriately to crisis situations
- Ability to build trusting relationships with individuals while exercising good judgement and discretion in dealing with confidential information
- Ability to work collaboratively and constructively with other team members
- Demonstrate the ability to work independently
- Possess strong computer skills: Office 365, MS Office Suites, WISH, HIFIS
- Criminal record check, Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Required Standard First Aid with CPR/AED Level C
Key Responsibilities:
- Implement day-to-day activities of the shelter Program while meeting health and safety requirements and following Shelter Program and Dawn House policies and procedures
- Answer the phone. log crisis calls, document interactions, detailed notes in WISH and HIFIS, ability to design and implement a program, intakes and departures
- Maintain shelter by performing and recording regularly scheduled security, safety and wellness checks
- Evaluate service user needs and develop short term plans to meet such needs with the active participation of the service user
- Support daily life skills, social skills and or behaviour management. Assist service user with activities such as hygiene, money management, housing searches and obtaining income
- Facilitate physical, recreational, educational and social and vocational activities
- Recognize, analyze and respond to potential emergency situations utilizing de-escalation skills to minimize potential harm to service users needs; make referrals to such services as appropriate
- Liaise and maintain positive communication with other agencies, professionals, government officials and the community
- Perform house keeping, turning over beds/rooms, laundry, cleaning duties including garbage and recycling, dishes
- Complete bed bug protocol with shelter users upon intake
- May prepare meals, and organize and maintain food and water stations for residents, including assisting with mealtimes to ensure the process runs smoothly
- Participate in staff meetings, share information in a respectful, non-judgmental, and timely manner
- Perform other duties as assigned
The position requires the team member to be able to learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, pay attention to detail, handle frequent interruption's, resolve conflict between service users, prioritize tasks, and handle conflict situations.
Physical Activity
- Lifting and carrying up to 45 lbs
- Positional demands - standing, sitting, bending and walking during shift - including stairs
- Upper body Movements - reaching, handling, repetative hand movements
- Visual attention - reading instructions, computer work, completing forms
- Audio Attention - Telephone and meetings, recording accurate information
Working Conditions
Dawn House Walnut View Shelter is a 24 hour shelter. The temperature of the shelter may vary based on weather conditions and seasons. There is the potential to be exposed to second hand smoke, substance fumes, communicable diseases, and conflict between shelter users including verbal / physical threats of violence.
Pay: $23.98-$27.38 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
