Awake Overnight Shelter Support Worker (5 Positions Available) (YWCA Toronto)

YWCA Toronto is an association of diverse and caring women dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through dynamic leadership, advocacy and a range of unique and essential services that promote personal growth and economic independence.
 
Internal and External Job Posting
 
Awake Overnight Shelter Support Worker (5 Positions Available)
Women’s Homeless Shelter
 
JOB ID: WHS0152
 
The Women’s Homeless Shelter will provide up to 80 emergency shelter beds to young women (16 – 24 years of age) and adult women (25 and older). The shelter will be staffed 24 hours a day and the Shelter Support Workers will work a fixed schedule that may include weekday and/or weekend work and will be responsible for case planning of all shelter residents. This pet friendly shelter is funded by the City of Toronto and adheres to Toronto Shelter Standards.
 
The Awake Overnight Shelter Support Worker, works within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a theoretical feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression. She acts as a resource to staff and clients and is responsible for providing a full range of services which includes crisis counselling, case management and the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops. The position shares in the responsibility of the overall health and safety of the building and will work in an open shelter/work environment without a dedicated office space.

 
Reporting to the Manager of Women’s Homeless Shelter, the Awake Overnight Shelter Support Worker’s responsibilities include:

  • applies knowledge of the issues of trauma and the dynamics of woman abuse and homelessness to develop and implement effective support strategies;
  • provides daily support services to residents (e.g. tokens, providing personal hygiene items and toiletries, first aid, long-distance calls and assists with completion of forms and statements);
  • exercises precautions to ensure the safety of residents and completes risk assessments and safety plans;
  • provides case management support services to residents;
  • uses mediation and counselling skills to maintain a co-operative, supportive and productive shelter environment
  • responds appropriately to needs presented by ex-residents;
  • provides information and referrals and advocates for clients facing issues of homelessness and trauma;
  • negotiates supportive and flexible strategies to assist residents with mental health issues to access the support within the shelter and in the community;
  • negotiates treatment plans with residents that focus on harm reduction;
  • engages in crisis de-escalation work should incidents occur;
  • provides supportive counselling to clients regarding their housing options; assesses clients’ housing needs through group sessions or in one to one interviews;
  • assists clients in applying for priority, RGI, rent supplement, supportive housing, group homes and any other relevant housing programs and advocates on their behalf;
  • assists clients to search the classified ads and housing registries; coaches clients on how to contact and negotiate with prospective landlords;
  • develops, implements and evaluates workshops and groups that address clients’ mental health issues  and experience of trauma using interactive techniques (i.e. expressive art techniques) and collaborates with other YWCA programs;
  • provides specialist support and assessment in the development, implementation, facilitation  and evaluation of therapeutic groups to shelter staff and residents;
  • maintains, records, compiles program statistics and prepares reports and correspondence.

      You will have:

  • in-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of a supervised undergraduate degree (e.g. BSW);
  • an analytical framework that identifies clients' relation to social systems and the demonstrated practical application of this framework.;
  • completion of workshops and courses pertaining to mental illness, trauma, harm reduction, crisis de-escalation and anti-oppressive practice;
  • 1 to 3 years’ experience in counselling and group work focused on clients at risk and/or homeless women;
  • completion of Toronto Hostel’s Training Certificate (T.H.T.C.) or equivalent;
  • demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice;
  • demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports focused on mental health and group support;
  • in-depth knowledge of the dynamics of woman abuse and trauma within an anti-oppression framework;
  • demonstrated experience in the development, delivery and evaluation of workshops and groups ;
  • experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment;
  • excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
  • proficiency in Microsoft Word, e-mail and the Internet;
  • knowledge and understanding of mental health, substance use/addictions, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues and homelessness;
  • Life Skills Certificate an asset;
  • a certificate in trauma counselling would be an asset;
  • knowledge of a second language and/or culture would be an asset. 

Core Competencies: The employee is expected to:

  • Engage in a self-reflective and collaborative practice that is non-judgmental and compassionate and reflects the mission of YWCA Toronto;
  • incorporate principles of anti-oppression and equity in responding to the service needs of women and children and work toward removing systemic barriers to independence and wellbeing;
  • demonstrate respect, consideration and acceptance of the opinions of others while expressing her own expertise and effectively utilizing relevant resources and specialists;
  • consistently collaborate with team members, sharing ideas and differences openly;
  • be receptive to new ideas and adapt to change as necessary;
  • take action to avoid or solve problems and create opportunities for positive change;
  • demonstrate commitment to ongoing personal and professional development. 
The hours of work for this position are 35 hours per week (includes overnight shifts on weekdays and weekends; may be required to work outside of regularly scheduled hours; shares on-call responsibilities). The salary for this position is $49,533 per annum (Level 6 pending job classification), plus comprehensive benefits.
 
Please note: A police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit.  Please indicate on your cover letter if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is not secondable.
 
Submit your cover letter and résumé to: Nina Gorka, Director of Shelter and Girls’ and Family Programs.  YWCA Toronto, 87 Elm Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A8          EMAIL:  shelterjobs1@ywcatoronto.org
 
Internal Deadline: Wednesday, December 19, 2018                         
External Deadline: Friday, December 21, 2018
 
Please quote JOB ID number WHS0152 and your name in the subject line.
 
YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women of all races, colours, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations. YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation.
While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone enquiries please. 
 
YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive environment
 
Posting Date:  December 10, 2018