Support Worker, Housing

REPORTS TO: Program Manager

HOURS: Permanent Full-Time, 7:30pm - 7:30am (12-hour shifts), 4 on 4 off rotation

“Despite great challenges we believe unhealthy cycles can be broken, new opportunities created and, through healing, health restored.”

Reporting to the Housing Choice Program Manager, the Housing Support Worker collaborates with other team members at sakihta kikinaw in Stovel Block, a 27-unit flexible housing initiative for female identifying individuals. It is aimed to provide a safe and healthy living space using harm reduction, relationship building, and community development philosophies to support clients in life development skills. The Support Worker will work under the direction of the Team Lead & Program Manager to provide a compassionate approach and active support in skill development and community engagement. This will include coaching, educating, and supporting participants in daily living skills, managing tenancy, and fostering a sense of community.

“We stand with our clients, side by side, patiently and for as long as they want – a constant and consistent caring force”

Position Responsibilities

• Foster a sense of neighborliness and build a sense of community within the building.
• Provide supports to tenants as needed and liaise with external support workers as required.
• Develop schedules & activities, in conjunction with other staff, to provide or facilitate programing to bring people together and build stronger relationships.
• Provide support to residents as needed and liaise with support workers as required.
• Distribute tenant notices if required.
• Support in facilitating cultural activities and ceremonies.
• Review all logs, staff to staff communication, and shift expectations.
• Support in processing referrals, intakes, partnership meetings, case conferencing, goal setting, transition plans, etc.
• Perform daily building checks and communicate interior and exterior repairs and maintenance to the Site Manager as required (both preventative and emergency maintenance).
• Be prepared to respond to overdoses and other related crisis by following the proper processes and protocol.
• Assess residents’ barriers and needs to assist, support, and advocate for them.
• Coordinate referrals to other support services, that may include: mental health supports, addiction treatment, family doctors, income supports, budgeting and/or financial literacy
• Perform resident wellness checks and harm reduction education, supplies and support.
• Maintain a healthy environment by performing housekeeping duties as required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Team Lead, which may include: supervising students, organizing program events outside of regularly scheduled work hours, co-facilitating program meetings and/or resident meetings, etc.
• All other duties as outlined by program manager.
• All staff at BSCS are expected to participate in occasional outreach and emergency response efforts (e.g., winter response) to support and engage with clients.
• BSCS is more than a workplace. It is a community where everyone helps and contributes to the whole, and there is an expectation that all employees will take part in events (during the work week and occasionally during weekends and evenings). This includes fundraising campaigns, running community meals, medicine picking etc.

Qualifications

• Post Secondary Degree in a relevant field is an asset and/or relevant work experience.
• 6 months experience in a support worker or caseworker role.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of poverty related issues, trends, and services particularly within, but not limited to the urban Indigenous population is essential.
• Good working knowledge of Alberta Supports and other resources available within Edmonton.
• Mental resiliency and an aptitude for problem solving will be beneficial when working in a stressful environment with challenges and risks.
• Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills that can be applied to the use of Microsoft office applications.
• Able to communicate with effective written and oral communication skills while also engaging in proper and effective de-escalation techniques.
• Experience with and knowledge of Indigenous culture and ceremonies is considered an asset.
• Valid First Aid certificate or enrolled in a future course
• Police Check with the Vulnerable Sector completed within the past six months and kept up to date (every 3 years)
• Child and Youth Intervention Check completed within the past six months and kept up to date (every 3 years)

Why Work for Boyle?

• All work done positively impacts the community and its members!
• Access to Lumino Health, including Stress & Wellness support
• Employee activities and events throughout the year
• Various training initiatives, and development opportunities

Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team alongside our community members.

Clients, staff, and partners are vital members of the Boyle Street team, so we place emphasis on making sure that we address each other correctly by using preferred pronouns. We invite you to let us know how to properly refer to you and your pronouns as you explore finding a professional home with us.

Boyle Street Community Services aims to foster a work environment that is rich with Indigenous culture, teachings, ceremonies, and activities- as a reflection of the communities we serve and the land we reside upon.

Boyle Street Community Services is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of the communities we serve and are committed to engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. Boyle Street Community Services welcomes applications from First Nations, Métis, & Inuit peoples as well as New Canadian, differently abled, and LGBTQ2S communities.