Team Lead Warming Center– Direct Support Worker

Who We Are

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description:

Position Purpose summary:

The Team Lead provides operational direction and support to Direct Support Workers during their shift at the warming center. They provide supervision of residents and maintains the safety and security of the facility and everyone living in it. They direct the shift to ensure operations are in line with the program policies. The Team Lead shall ensure residents safety while interacting in a positive, supportive manner. They will be involved with residents in the establishment and maintenance of a therapeutic relationship.

Accountabilities:

• Resident Care and Support:

• Develops and maintains a strong therapeutic relationship with clients that access St. Mary’s Warming Center to ensure effective intervention.

• Utilizes the environment in assessing, teaching, and supporting residents around issues such as problem-solving and conflict resolution.

• Reports to program coordinator any support accommodations or plans developed with guests
• Coordinates shift exchange with the oncoming / outgoing shift to ensure proper information and communication is shared and understood.
• Completes duties, reports, and logs as per shift description.
• Maintains the safety and security needs of the residents through engagement, supervision and monitoring.
• Ensures all documentation regarding client safety, incident reports, fire safety and other serious incidents are filled out.

Health & Safety:

• Maintains the safety and security needs of the residents through engagement, supervision, and monitoring.

• Deals with serious incidents and crisis in a safe and therapeutic manner. Communicate and enforce facility rules while maintaining discipline and safety.
• Reports serious incidents to the Coordinator
• Provides recommendations to the coordinator for health and safety improvements

Communication and Reporting:

• Completes all documentation in regard to client safety, incident reports, fire safety and other serious incidents.

• Documents daily events, progress towards goals, and any significant occurrences.

• Maintains strictest confidentiality regarding the residents, their issues, and their concerns.

Team Lead:

• Provide workflow coordination and directions during the shift in order to support the direct support workers during the shift.
• Assist direct support workers with decision making regarding difficult client behaviors, conflict resolution and unique cases that come up.
• support the Coordinator in training new staff – including providing oversight during the shift.
• Contribute to consistency of quality of services

• Initiate and complete thorough shift exchange with other leads

Other Responsibilities:

• Participates in all team lead meetings.

• Presents concerns, questions, and issues in prescribed forums.

• Other related duties as assigned.

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CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Governance Boards and Councils: None

Internal:

• Warming Center Coordinator
• Guests
• Staff including other Team Leads and Direct Support Workers

External:

• Community Partners
  • Health Professionals
• Security company

MANAGERIAL/Technical Leadership RESPONSIBILITY:

• Reports directly to: Corps Officer

• Direct reports for this position: none.

• Acts as a Team Lead for Direct Support Workers

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FINANCIAL AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT:

• Responsible for the safekeeping of materials and equipment for own use.

• Does not process any financial transactions.

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WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work setting is at Warming Center.
• Some unscheduled overtime maybe associated with this position.
• Works scheduled shifts with the possibility of being asked to work rotational shifts.
• The incumbent will/may work under the following disagreeable conditions:
• Dealing with angry and highly emotional residents and their families. May encounter verbal abuse.
• o May involve responding to first aid incidents including overdoses.
• o May be required to perform emergency physical restraints on residents who present a risk of harm to themselves or others.
• o May involve bending, stretching, reaching, and climbing
• o Minimal opportunities for rest breaks may occur during the shift.
• o May involve sitting, standing, walking for long periods of time.
• o Exposure to cold outdoor environments
• o Ability to lift to 20 pounds.

The above responsibilities must be performed in keeping with The Salvation Army’s Mission, Vision and Values, in a professional manner, upholding our code of conduct.

Education, Qualifications and Certifications:

• Completion of a formal post-secondary/college diploma program of 2 academic years in Social Service Work, and/or Childcare is preferred
• CPR First Aid (C)Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certicate (or similar) or willingness to obtain
• ASIST is preferred
• Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Experience and Skilled Knowledge Requirements

• More than 1 year of prior related experience in a residential setting working with marginalized clientele.
• Experience working within the field of Mental Health and Addictions is preferred
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office, internet, and keyboarding.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Behaviour Based Model.
• Develop an understanding and support for the mission and purpose of The Salvation Army in Canada and its implications as related to position responsibilities.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Strong sense of integrity and confidentiality with professional ethics and a balanced sense of fairness and flexibility.
• Strong understanding of professional boundaries when working with a vulnerable population.
• Strong listening, written and verbal communication skills – clear and simple to understand.
• Able to proactively recognize potential risks, conflicts, and issues, respond with solutions and coaching.
• Attention to detail, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Patience and ability to deescalate situations.
• Ability to support and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to make decisions within established framework while understanding the impact decisions will have on programming as well as programs around them.
• Ability and willingness to respect, promote, and support the mission, vision, and values of TSA and develop an understanding of the purpose of the Salvation Army in Canada and its implication as related to position responsibilities.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and motivational skills.
• Attentive listening skills for the purpose of supervision, coaching, and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to deal with internal and external contacts at all levels of the organization in a professional manner.
• Ability to develop and maintain a team environment; work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, be reliable and operate in an environment of accountability.
• Understands the dynamics of resident’s behaviour with the ability to assess their needs and risks.
• Ability to demonstrate understanding of and empathy toward cultural differences.

Compensation:

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email [email protected]if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.