JOB TITLE: Community Support Worker
PROGRAM: Winter Shelter
TERM DATES: Anticipated Start: November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, contingent upon final funding approval

DESCRIPTION

The Progressive Housing Shelter Support Worker provides a range of supports, serving homeless/at risk individuals. Services include a bed, food, and general support of clients who may be facing complex bio-psycho-social issues. The Shelter Support Worker is also responsible for the daily operations of the facility including: intaking new participants into the program; food service; updating client records; communicating effectively with clients and other staff; and maintaining a clean safe and secure environment for staff and clients by participating in regular and timely needle sweeps. The Shelter Support Worker will coordinate with the Outreach Team and maintain communication between shifts about participant’s housing plans. The minimal barrier approach of the site will require excellent and flexible engagement skills. The Shelter Support Worker actively participates in building a skilled, cohesive, collaborative staff team, including demonstrating commitment to program principles; resolving conflict and negativity as they arise; assisting in orienting, training and mentoring of all staff, including casuals and peer supports. Flexibility may be required to meet the needs of the clients & mandate of the program.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Diploma/Certificate in Social services or health care or any other related discipline with:
• 2 years related experience with emphasis on mental health, substance use, homelessness and/or social services
• Naloxone Training
• Provincial Violence Prevention Training is considered an asset.
• Knowledgeable about various mental health conditions, including Bi-Polar Disorder, Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, De-colonized harm reduction, Mental health first aid, Trauma informed care and suicide prevention training is an asset.
• Successful clearance of a criminal record check.
  An equivalent combination of education and experience, including lived experience, may be considered.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Extensive knowledge and experience of working with marginalized groups of people living with mental health and substance use.
• Extensive knowledge in harm reduction and overdose response (Naloxone) as well as Knowledgeable about current trends in illicit substances.
• Strong communication, conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Active listening and ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English.
• Outstanding patience, tolerance, and anger control.
• Ability to identify effective methods of behaviour control and compensatory strategies.
• Ability to follow direction and instruction.
• Emotional resilience and compassionate.
• Positive and friendly attitude.

• Providing Services for clients, including a bed, food, and general support of guests who may be facing complex bio-psycho-social issues.
• Responsible for the daily operations of the facility including pick up and drop off clients at the designated locations, intaking new participants into the program; updating client records; communicating effectively with clients and other staff and serving clients with a dignified trauma informed lens.
• Coordinating with the outreach team and maintaining communication between shifts about participant’s housing plans, connecting them to resources such as the ministry, CRA, medical services, ID retrieval, iHart.
• Reading daily team communication book at the start of each shift and writing notes if needed by the end of each shift.
• Re-stocking supplies, carrying and sorting donations and orders.
• Assisting in de-escalation of clients who are in crisis, contacting emergency services (RCMP, Fire, Ambulance) immediately in life threatening situations such as major illness or injury and following emergency team direction`` for action.
• Observing and monitoring the clients and their environment each shift and reporting physical, cognitive, or behavioural changes to supervisors.
• Distributing harm reduction and hygiene supplies.
• Encouraging & motivating the clients through trust building, sharing and companionship.
• Recording and reporting all accident/incidents to the shift supervisor, which include injury and near injury.
• Identifying and reporting all potential safety hazards such as faulty equipment, wet floor, light bulb replacement etc.
• Cleaning and maintaining working area by means of sweeping, washing, vacuuming and emptying garbage/recycling bin, assisting in cleaning up bodily fluids, including blood, urine, feces & vomit by upholding the health and safety protocols.
• Monitoring own level of transfer trauma from working with clients as well as working with team members to support each other during times of crisis and help promote self-care to prevent burn out.
• Assisting in all organizational changes (ex. building moves, program relocations, etc.), including moving client items and program supplies.
• Attending and participating staff meeting, training and other related duties as assigned.