Housing Support Worker

Housing Support Worker- Part-Time

St. Thomas, ON (The Station- Queen Street)

Closing Date for Applications: June 2nd, 2023.

Position Description:  Reporting to the Housing Support Team Lead, the Housing Support Worker, works alongside residents who have experience with mental health and/or substance use to maintain housing stability. They will support individuals in developing and working through their personal service plans striving towards health, wellness and belonging. They will promote and demonstrate the vision, mission and values of Indwell within the workplace and community. Also, working within the context of a collaborative interdisciplinary team reflecting the principles of person-centered and evidence-based care by assisting with coordinating and delivering mental health and addiction services to residents. This is program serves individuals who have experienced long term housing instability and/or long stay hospitalizations. This position will require a high level of resilience and willingness to work in close proximity to challenging situations. 

About Indwell:  We are a Christian not-for-profit charity that creates affordable housing communities and supportive programs to people seeking health, wellness, and belonging.  Founded in 1974, we continue to grow and thrive to build high quality energy efficient housing and inclusive living, uplifting our society.  Our belief is that every employee is a leader contributing to transform lives through HOPE and HOMES.  Being a part of our amazing team, you will be fulfilled working together with others who are genuinely invested in Indwell's mission to serve people impacted by poverty and homelessness.  To learn more, go to: indwell.ca/our-model

Hours of Work: Part-time hours expected to fall between 8am-11pm. Flexibility is required to meet program demands.  The program operates 7 days a week, including public holidays.

Direct Support to Residents:

• Skilled in building therapeutic relationships with residents with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, promoting hope and trust.
• Comfort and familiarity with a harm reduction approach. 
• Develop, contribute to, and carry out individual resident support plans, including any relevant assessment tools.
• Work individually with residents to identify and achieve goals as it relates to their individual support needs and recovery.
• Connect residents with supportive community resources, including both clinical and informal supports, facilitating case coordination and case management.
• Strong familiarity with local resources.
• Confident in utilizing crisis management and intervention skills.
• Respond to resident complaints/concerns with care, compassion, and efficiency.  
• Reinforcing residents’ life skills, including spiritual, social, and coping skills.
• Assist with intake and orientation of new residents.
• Develop and facilitate relevant group programming.
• Complete required documentation in a thorough and timely manner with a focus on maintaining and protecting tenant health records. 

• Ensure effective integration of Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care residents within the greater supportive housing program.

• Liaise with Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care on resident wellness on routine basis.  

Leadership   

• Consistently show initiative and engage in creative problem solving.
• Experience leading and/or guiding internal teams to accomplish shared goals.
• Ability to take the lead on internal program development and projects.
• Established relationships with community partners within the local social service sector
• Reinforce a positive workplace culture and tone through your skilled verbal and written communication.
• Keep interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends related to best practices in housing stability.
• Play a coordinating role on the team around duties such as apartment checks and pest management.
• Comfort and familiarity with landlord responsibilities such as pest management, rent collection, Landlord and Tenant Board processes.

Support, Direction, and Commitment to Interdisciplinary Team

• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide direct and indirect support to residents, encouraging housing stability. These supports may include: medication administration, apartment checks, oversight of pest management protocols, community events, meal delivery, and other supports as necessary.
• Support unit vacancies and turnover.
• Support and collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator to integrate program volunteers into housing support activities. Complete volunteer logs as required.
• Assist in the orientation and support of staff, students and volunteers.
• Keep apprised of new research and developments relevant to your role, through workshops, journals, websites, and literature. Transfer knowledge back to the team and residents in the most effective manner available.
• Follow applicable regulations, policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with Facilities, supporting and reporting maintenance needs to ensure upkeep of buildings and tenant units.

Health, Welfare and Safety Practices

• Use appropriate procedures and follow-up documentation when responding to emergency situations.
• Ensure your own health & safety, that of tenants and co-workers by adhering to health & safety standards.
• Complete required safety checks and inspections as assigned.
• Attend and participate in all required training to maintain and develop new skills. 

Skills:  Experience working within a case management framework with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use, or other special needs. Demonstrating a warm, sensitive, and caring approach.  Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships and have a genuine interest in supporting people living with mental illness.  The ability to work independently, have strong problem-solving skills, be flexible, organized, responsible, and take initiative.

Education/Experience:  Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and related experience.

Renumeration: $20.43- $24.56/ hourly based on education and experience. 

To Apply: Please apply with cover letter and resume to our website: www.indwell.ca/careers. We thank all applicants; however, only applicants that are being considered will be contacted.  
 

Personal information submitted will be used only for employment opportunities within Indwell in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.  

Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under Indwell’s Employment Accommodation policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. 

Indwell exists to provide hope and homes for all. Our supports, services, and employment are open to people from every creed, race, ethnicity, sex, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Indwell’s leadership are motivated by the example of Jesus Christ as reflected in Indwell’s statement of faith. Indwell engages with diverse communities; we actively identify and remove barriers that prevent people from accessing and participating in our services and organization.