Outreach Worker

at  YWCA Peterborough Haliburton

ABOUT US:

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton provides safe shelter, resources and support to help women escape gender-based violence, build upon their existing strength, and move forward in their lives. With the help of our community, we’re interrupting the cycle of gender-based violence and creating a safer, more equitable future for all.
As a member of YWCA Canada, we are part of a global movement dedicated to ending gender-based violence in all its forms.
We are committed to engaging with all women and children in a manner experienced as allyship. We see women and their children at their most vulnerable moments; thus, we are in a position to offer an experience of trust, respect, and genuine care that has the potential to provide a key step towards healing. We take this responsibility seriously. Our work is rooted in principles of intersectional feminism and anti-oppression/anti-racism, is trauma and violence-informed, person-centred and focused on harm reduction. We intend to be as low-barrier as possible and responsive to women and their families in whatever ways they need us to be. We aim to lift each other, and other women, up.
Our hope, grounded in our shared passion and intentional approaches, makes for a powerful force against gender-based violence.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed relevant post-secondary education and three years of experience in the social service field.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to work with women and their families using agency-approved methodology techniques.
• Demonstrates knowledge, understanding, and ability to respond appropriately to women and their children as they deal with: the short and long-term effects of surviving trauma: surviving in an abusive situation; the impact of leaving an abusive situation from a client-centered perspective.
• Knowledge of, and proven ability to use, crisis prevention and intervention skills in order to diffuse and prevent crisis situations.
• Incorporates knowledge and understanding of the impact of marginalization on women. Women may be marginalized by: living in a rural and/or isolated location; housing/homelessness; poverty; physical and mental health status; use of legal/illegal drugs &/or alcohol; racialization; immigration status; sexual orientation; gender identity; family status; physical & mental health status of their children; differing ability/disability; language; culture; religion; education; employment; source of income; socio-economic status; literacy and numeracy skills; and so forth.
• Demonstrates ability to be self-reflective and self-aware in the role of Outreach Worker to develop effective working relationships with abused women and their children.
• Demonstrates awareness of the personal impact of VAW work, and creates and uses a personal well-being plan in order to deal with the impact of the work.
• Demonstrates ability to adhere to professional standards in all facets of VAW work; with clients, with co-workers, and with the public
• Demonstrates knowledge, commitment and ability to create a healthy workplace environment for clients/residents and co-workers.
• Demonstrates knowledge, commitment and ability to incorporate anti-oppression & anti-racist understanding into daily practice.
• Demonstrates the ability to incorporate training and professional development into day-to-day work.
• Understands and works within the parameters of YWCA VAW program and YWCA Policies.
• Demonstrated skill in facilitating support groups.
• Knowledge of local rural and urban resources and how to access them.
• Proven ability/experience with developing short and long-term individual goals and objectives and program plans.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work alone and in a team.
• Proficient computer skills in WISH, Microsoft Office (reports, stats, letters, etc.) mobile devices and other software an asset.

YWCA PETERBOROUGH HALIBURTON CAREER PORTAL.

Full job description available on the YWCA Website.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides telephone and/or face-to-face crisis telephone and support counselling to women and children, responding to requests for services as needed.
• Assists women to take practical steps to address self-identified priorities by providing information and referrals. Provides services and follow-up support to abused women in agreed-upon locations (i.e. client’s homes, WSN office, court house, etc).
• Conducts Danger Assessment, assesses for immediate danger, and independent living skills and creates a safety plan to access services as appropriate (i.e: counselling, shelter, SafeSpace).
• Provides telephone and one-to-one supportive counselling and referral services for women and their children.
• At intake, complete all required documentation, and ensure a safety plan is created to meet the woman’s changed circumstances.
• Ensures that client confidentiality is maintained and that record keeping/files are documented according to agency procedure.
• Advocates for women by accompanying them to court, police detachments, lawyer and doctor appointments, social service agencies, etc. Promotes awareness of woman abuse issues through advocacy and education initiatives in Peterborough and Haliburton counties. Provides workshops, public education and training to community organizations as requested. Represents the YWCA on community committees or steering groups with approval from the supervisor and Director.
• Designs and implements regular support groups for women, with an evaluation component.
• Performs a variety of related administrative tasks, such as statistical record keeping for organizational planning purposes, report preparation and petty cash.
• Attends staff meetings, training events and YWCA organizational meetings as requested.
• Attends program staff meetings and YWCA organizational meetings as required. Participates in program planning, evaluation and implementation of program review recommendations, according to the YWCA short- and long-term strategic plan.
• Assists in training students or volunteers to ensure that work is carried out within YWCA Policies
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.