POSITION SUMMARY:

The Client Advocate will provide feminist, trauma-informed, compassionate, low barrier and innovative supports. Client Advocates will assist women, transgender and non-binary individuals whom predominantly have high acuity mental health and addictions, with meeting their basic needs. This includes access to food, showers, laundry facilities and a safe place to rest. The Client Advocate will support individual goals and plans including making referrals to appropriate community agencies/supports. The Client Advocate will assess the safety of the individuals they support and work with them to create personal safety plans as required. The Client Advocate will also provide support with developing coping strategies and education on harm reductions strategies and any other self-identified goals. The Client Advocate will prevent, manage and defuse any behavioural issues that may arise in the space, and encourage a caring, healthy, safe and positive work environment for both peers and service users.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree or Diploma in human services, social work/social services or equivalent work experience and education
• Experience and education in Concurrent Disorders an asset
• Experience working in programs serving women with complex and intersecting needs including poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, addictions and trauma
• Skilled in crisis intervention, de-escalation, conflict resolution and group facilitation
• Comfortable working with women in crisis; there may be risk of exposure to unpredictable behaviours and situations
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of harm reduction
• Capable of adapting to a flexible and sometimes chaotic work environment
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational and time management skills
• Strong problem-solving, team building, decision-making and priority setting skills
• Second language is an asset

REQUIREMENTS:

• Police Vulnerable Sector Check
• Two-Step Tuberculosis Skin Test

· Ensure the overall safety of the space by ensuring that basic expectations of behaviour are met. Utilizing CPI techniques as well as other de-escalation strategies to minimize conflict, aggression and resulting service
· Health and safety issues are addressed/reported immediately; complete regular spot checks in washrooms, showers and other client areas; clean up and dispose of paraphernalia according to Mission Services Policies
· Demonstrated ability to provide person-centered, trauma and anti-racist anti-oppressive informed services and supports to women, transgender and non-binary individuals with diverse experiences and identities; engage through structured activities, meal time, and 1:1 opportunities
· Provide therapeutic groups for women, transgender and non-binary individuals
· Provide strategic engagement for women, transgender and non-binary individuals who are precariously housed; provide support and resources to prevent homelessness
· Provide strategic engagement for women, transgender and non-binary individuals who are chronically or episodically homeless; provide support and resources to find appropriate housing including a referral or our in-house systems navigators
· Distribute harm reductions supplies; as well as reviewing their use and purpose; overdose education and complete naloxone training reviews
· Create overdose prevention plans for substance users who are considered high risk
· Respond to overdose events in coordination with fellow coworkers, connecting with EMS, and follow-up post over-dose
· Make appropriate referrals to services based on service user identified needs and priorities; maintain updated community resources
· Monitor, maintain and distribute health, hygiene and laundry supplies
· Connect and work effectively with community agencies re: partnerships/initiatives; promote the space through outreach efforts
· Support other members of the team (i.e. volunteers and students), ensuring that each individual is familiar with the day to day operations and philosophies of the space
· Track daily, weekly and monthly statistical information that will help guide the future developments of the space
· Adhere to a strict policy of confidentiality
· Ensure Mission Service’s workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures are followed at all times
· Other duties as required to ensure the continuation of service to participants in the space