Hoarding and Pest Management Specialist

at  Dixon Hall

Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Housing Services
Union: Included (CUPE Local 2497)
Salary: Level 1 - $26.42/hr
File #: 24-HS-35
Posting Date: September 20, 2024
Posting Close: October 04, 2024
The Hoarding and Pest Management Specialist will be required to work Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to Manager, Health and Wellbeing, the Hoarding and Pest Management Specialist works proactively and responsively with tenants and the Housing Team to prepare homes for pest management interventions, to maintain pest free environments, to find home care solutions and support tenants to reduce hoarding related activities. This position provides personal hands-on assistance to address issues related to the residents’ units and living space.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a college or university degree in Community Development, Social Services, Social Work or equivalent
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with people who have experiences with homelessness and who are living with mental health challenges.
• Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act.
• Demonstrable ability to deal with complicated hoarding and bed bug issues is an asset.
• Comfortable with and have appropriate skills or certificates related to pest control and hoarding. Must be comfortable working in environments with bugs and hygiene challenges.
• Knowledge of mental health challenges and several years of experience working with people with mental health challenges.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbally.
• Able to work effectively and collaboratively in an inter-professional team.
• A team player who is informed, motivated and proactive in two challenging areas
• of practice (pest control and hoarding).
• Able to act as an educator and resource to clients and colleagues.
• Training and experience in trauma-informed care.
• Community based research experience especially with diverse ethno-cultural groups.
• Self-directed and independent, and proven experience working effectively as an
• inter-disciplinary team member in collaboration with other community professionals.
• Knowledgeable of tenant populations, diversity issues, anti-discrimination practices and systemic reasons for homelessness.
• Able to work evenings.
• Must be qualified to work in Canada legally for the employer.
• Able to provide a Vulnerable Sector Screening check with a ‘Clear’ or satisfactory result that meets the operational requirements of the Agency.
• Up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved for use in Canada.
  Dixon Hall is dedicated to fostering an inclusive selection process and work environment, guided by their Race Relations and Employment Equity Policies. If selected for an interview, please inform the hiring manager or the People and Culture team of any accommodations you may require during the interview process.
  To achieve their goal of inclusivity and diversity, Dixon Hall actively seeks exceptional candidates from varied backgrounds and with lived experiences. Individuals who self-identify as being from marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community or who have experienced homelessness, are strongly encouraged to apply.
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• Assist Property Management in the identification of pests, particularly bed bugs.
• Assist tenants with preparation for management and extermination.
• Assist tenants with laundry, sorting, storage and removal of unwanted items, shifting of furniture (as manageable), packing/unpacking of clothing, bedding, dishes, books and other household goods, clearing of floors, closets drawers and cupboards.
• Work one-on-one with clients to identify issues of hoarding, bed bugs, pests and/or excessive clutter in their units that is negatively affecting them and related factors that interfere with day-to-day functioning and quality of life.
• Assist clients to develop new skills, new habits and a new outlook to maintain their unit in a safe state.
• Provide regular guidance and encouragement to clients and assist them with maintaining their unit in a safe and healthy state.
• Generate solutions and use best practices to address hoarding, bed bug and pest issues for clients.
• Reduce the amount of clutter in a client’s home and assist them with organizing their unit in a manner that is both safe and satisfactory to the resident.
• Work with those who are incapable of or are struggling with keeping their units in a safe and healthy state to learn skills to maintain and improve their daily living.
• Work with clients to support and assist them with an intense case management framework around issues of hoarding, bed bugs and general housekeeping with a housing first approach.
• Inform tenants and the Housing Team about fire codes, municipal by-laws, and obligations to neighbours.
• Provide education on pest control and hoarding to tenants and the Housing Team.
• Participate in staff meetings and tenant meetings.
• Work in collaboration with other team members.
• Complete ongoing professional development related to core responsibilities.