Women's Support Worker, Victoria (Permanent, Part-Time)

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those who need it most?

We're seeking a compassionate individual to join our team in Victoria as a Women’s Support Worker. In this role, you'll be a key part of our dedicated team, providing support and care for program participants on their journey towards recovery. Your responsibilities will include offering referrals, accompanying appointments, advocating for material needs, organizing program activities, and addressing emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs. You'll also play a crucial role in providing mediation facilitation and conducting searches and screenings. This position demands flexibility, as it involves shift work, including weekends, evenings, overnights, and statutory holidays. If you’re inspired to positively impact the lives of others through compassion, dignity, and service, we’d love to hear from you.

You will frequently deal with clients in crisis situations, brought about by diverse problems. There will be other staff nearby to assist as required.

The starting range for this position is $26.26 to $28.70 per hour.

Due to the nature of the participants we serve, only female candidates will be considered for this position

Demonstrating the love of Christ, UGM feeds hope and changes lives through a faith-based continuum of care. We are a proud member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities and have earned the Best Christian Workplace award again in 2021. We provide competitive salaries, generous vacation and sick leave, an RRSP matching program, as well as the potential for educational assistance and flexible work arrangements. In addition, our extensive benefits plan is fully employer-paid and includes extended dental and medical, as well as $4,500 per year in pooled paramedical expenses. A focus on employee resilience, support for professional development, engagement in meaningful work, and a fun and caring environment are all part of being a member of the UGM team. If you are someone who desires to learn and grow, has a passion to serve and make a difference, and connects with others with both humility and humour, then you will be a great fit at UGM.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

· Demonstrates Christian values by acting with compassion, integrity, justice, respect and in service in support of the community.

· Build positive, uplifting rapport with participants by fostering a climate of grace, forgiveness and accountability.

· Develop positive supervisory relationships with those in early recovery stages who are participating in the UGM Victoria program.

· Maintain confidentiality and professionalism while possessing the capacity for compassion, empathy, active listening and patience with staff and participants.

· Debrief staff once on shift and keep them updated on the latest communications with staff regarding any duties or actions that need to be carried out.

· Complete duty roster for each shift, including light cleaning, general sanitization, organizing, cooking, dishes, room checks, medication distribution, data recording, etc.

· Actively support the participants in the UGM Victoria program by:

o Advocating and helping to acquire material needs and services within the community.

o Assisting with problem-solving and life skills within the context of their daily routines.

o Encouraging participants to fully cooperate in the UGM Victoria program. Kindy but firmly enforce rules and policies of UGM Victoria.

o Connecting participants with members of the community to expand their support network

· Attend to the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs of all participants.

· Ensure healthy and nutritional options for meals. Practice Food Safe procedures in all food handling, including preparation.

· Provide medication facilitation, including locking meds, completing MARS sheets, connecting program participants with pharmacies and receiving medication from delivery services, etc.

· Transport participants to and from appointments, shopping trips, field trips, etc. as needed.

· Conduct scheduled and random room searches, bag searches, and urine screenings with both sensitivity and determination. Deal appropriately with participants’ feelings of resentment and frustration that may occur.

· Organize and participate in program activities, offering ideas and resources when appropriate.

· Follow intake procedures with proficiency. Thoroughly search belongings, urine screen, record medications into MARS sheet and client emergency binder, provide orientation, get sign-off on rules, and remove, label and appropriately store any restricted items.

· Take an active role in proactively and re-actively defusing and deescalating aggressive situations.

· Be knowledgeable of all the material documented in the Arrow Home handbook, as well as related documentation, and apply it consistently.

· Monitor sobriety and overall well-being of participants and visitors, and report to the supervisor when necessary.

· Maintain a clean and presentable homefront, monitoring the areas in and around UGM, ensuring that equipment is functioning properly, and preparing rooms for new residents.

· Participate in staff meetings, training and spiritual development opportunities, and perform other duties as required by your supervisor.

· Adhere to all UGM published policies, practices and procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Mature individual, committed to UGM’s Mission Statement, Core Values, and Statement of Faith.

· A vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, our Creator, as Saviour and Lord.

· Maintain a high level of confidentiality within the organization and its clientele.

· Related post-secondary education is required (e.g. Psychology, Social Work, Human Services).

· 2 years of related work or volunteer experience is required.

· Consideration may be given to alternate combinations of lived experience and education.

· A valid Class 5 driver’s license is required.

· Food Safe Certificate is preferred. Willingness to get it is required.

· At least 20 hours of training in one or more of these subjects: counselling; crisis and conflict resolution; psychosocial intervention for substance use disorders; and trauma-informed practice.

· Good interpersonal skills.

· Basic computer skills (Outlook, Word, Excel).

· Ability to work as part of a team under the direction of a supervisor.

· Ability to set and maintain healthy boundaries.

· Willing to complete UGM’s Non-Violent Crisis Intervention course and all other mandatory training, including First Aid training/certification and Naloxone training/certification.

· Knowledge of motivational interviewing and stages of change is preferred.

· Technical Competency—Trauma-Informed Care (Level 1): Help identify negative events that have impacted the client’s functioning, and develop interventions that emphasize safety, choice, and personal control.

Working Conditions:

· Work Location

Work is generally performed indoors, with up to 65% of the time spent outdoors in all types of weather.

· Physical Requirements

Work fluctuates between sedentary and active, but may require standing, walking or reaching for up to 90% of the time. Employee is required to look at a computer screen and use a keyboard for up to 30% of the time. Must be able to lift up to 35lbs occasionally.

· Work Conditions

Working environment is generally favorable. Lighting and temperature are adequate. Work is performed amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises. Frequent environmental exposures to cold, heat, and water. This position is required to work in an environment often dealing with clients in crisis situations brought about by diverse problems. The ability to function independently and frequently under pressure, while managing multiple concurrent tasks including emergency situations is an ongoing expectation of this position.

· Hours of Work

This position will be a part of a team within a 24-hour facility, covering day, afternoon/evening, and overnight shifts. Weekend work and statutory holiday work will be required. Some work on scheduled days off may be required. Moderate overtime may be required.

· Hazards

Job requires frequent interaction with the public some of whom may be upset, abusive, and/or violent. Job requires working frequently with people in unhealthy conditions and may include exposure to bodily fluids, lice

and bedbugs. Employee is required to hear information about clients’ lives which may be troubling or upsetting, and may cause emotional issues including vicarious trauma.

· Other

Due to the nature of the job, and our commitment to a safe environment, the candidate is subject to a criminal record check and must submit a current Driver’s Abstract.