Sechelt Shelter - Community Worker (Casual Ongoing)

RainCity Housing operates on the stolen, unceded, ancestral, traditional homelands of the Xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ Nations in so-called Vancouver, the q̓íc̓əy̓, qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, qiqéyt, SEMYOME, Stó꞉lō, and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ Nations in so-called Lower Mainland, and the shíshálh in so-called Sunshine Coast.
 
About Us – A home for every person
RainCity Housing is an organization that makes a difference in people’s lives. Our mission is to advance social equity by building upon the strengths of our community and of each individual. With a goal of providing a home for everyone, RainCity’s programs sustain relationships, strengthen communities, and make change for people experiencing homelessness, mental health, trauma, and substance use issues.

RainCity Housing has been developing emerging and promising practices for over 40 years in social services and healthcare, providing Housing First, harm reduction and supports for community members who access our services. To learn more, check out our innovations page. You can visit our Indeed page and click on the “Follow” button to be notified of new job openings: ca.indeed.com/cmp/Raincity-Housing-and-Support-Society/about.

You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Benefits: 

• 5 days of paid leave for Indigenous Employees for Ceremonial, Cultural, and Spiritual events per year 
• 8 weeks of paid leave for gender affirming care for medical procedures for transgender and gender diverse employees, cumulative total 
• Employee and Family Assistance Program available to ALL employees, including 24-hour helpline, Personal counselling, Life Coaching, Financial Coaching, Legal Referral and Advisory Services, and Health Coaching: https://www.fseap.ca/
• Municipal Pension Plan with guaranteed lifetime monthly pension when you retire: https://mpp.pensionsbc.ca/
  
• Employer-paid benefits for regular Part-time and Full-time employees:
• Unlimited Physiotherapy and $1,000/year coverage for Massage
• Vision Care, Dental Care, Prescription Drugs, Naturopath, Acupuncture, Chiropract, Group Life Benefit $50,000, Long Term Disability, and Unlimited Out-of-Province and Out-of-Country Emergencies

Position Summary
The Community Worker provides emergency shelter and support to homeless members of the community. Many may have mental health issues and/or substance use issues and may or may not be accessing social supports Shelter services include: a bed, food, assistance with basic First Aid and generally supporting residents who are dealing with complex bio-psycho-social issues. The CW is also responsible for the daily operations of the shelter including cleaning of the shelter space, showers, washrooms, and offices; laundry, food service, preparing bedding space and maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and residents. The CW will coordinate shelter intakes and will maintain communication between shifts regarding people’s housing plans. The minimal barrier nature of the shelter requires flexibility and excellent engagement skills. The CW 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. The Community Worker must be available for work during their meal period.

Job Competition # job2024.116    
Closing Date: Midnight, May 8, 2024
Job: Community Worker, Sechelt Shelter, Casual Ongoing, 0.4 FTE
Salary Range: $31.56 – $33.28 (BCGEU, Grid 34)    
Hours: 30 bi-weekly
Schedule: Friday – Saturday, 11:30pm – 7:30am. At present, includes a 30-minute unpaid meal break
Work Site: 5653 Wharf Avenue, Sechelt, BC    
Start Date: As soon as possible.

In addition, you will be paid a shift premium of $2.50 per hour for the entirety of each night shift worked. “Night shift” means any shift in which the major portion occurs between 12:00am and 8:00am.

Program Summary
Sechelt Shelter provides emergency shelter and supports to 20 individuals, 19 and over, who are experiencing homelessness on the Sunshine Coast. The shelter is staffed 24/7 with 2 community support workers. The shelter also provides drop-in services to folks who may be without a home and need supports, these supports include the Sunshine Coast’s only Overdose Prevention Site (OPS). We view the shelter as an opportunity to promote dignity, social justice, and increased citizenship for members of our community who come from a wide variety of backgrounds but who currently do not have a place to call home.

QUALIFICATIONS
Many forms of education and experience are valued, including volunteering, and lived experience of mental illness/addiction/ homelessness. Minimum education and experience include:

• A Diploma in community social services or other relevant training
• Two years of related experience with emphasis on mental health, addictions, homelessness and/or social services.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification.

Key Skills and Abilities – for supporting people receiving our services.

• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships.
• Identify and work to increase people’s strengths.
• Work with people using hope-inducing strategies.
• Informally teach harm reduction, life skills.
• Implement client-centred service plans.
• Respond to problematic behaviour using an understanding of the behaviour's context and function.
• Knowledge of the integrated concurrent disorders recovery model for working with chronically homeless individuals.
• Knowledge of mental health diagnoses, medications, treatment, and support resources 
• Knowledge of the bio-psychosocial addictions model, including stages of change and harm reduction.
• Knowledge of diagnoses, treatment, and support resources in the areas of substance use, physical health, HIV and Hepatitis C.
• Knowledge of the housing continuum, including supported housing systems and program models for special needs populations
• Demonstrates understanding of oppression and marginalization as related to chronically homeless individuals.