WHO WE ARE

Are you a Support Worker looking to make an impact in your community? Do you have endless optimism, ready to move and create change in the community? Through the vision to eliminate poverty in our community and guided by a passionate concern for the dignity and well-being of each individual, Bissell Centre's work is based on building relationships, hope and trust. Our community comes from all walks of life and so do we.

Through our programs we work to empower people from meeting their own basic daily needs to having sustainable livelihoods, secure housing, and feeling hope for the future and make plans for a prosperous life. By joining Bissell Centre, you will become part of a fast-paced and dedicated team that works together to realize our vision.

Job Purpose

The Follow-up Support Worker (FSW) provides intensive case management support to the Homeless to Homes Program. The Follow-up Support Worker assists participants to re-connect to their community and become more independent through participant-centred and strength-based goal setting. The efforts of the Follow-Up Support Worker is evidence based and designed to enhance long term housing stability.

This position is based primarily out of the agency's community space, a welcoming, low-barrier environment that serves as a program hub for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Housing Support Worker will engage with clients on-site, providing accessible, in-person support in a dynamic and often fast-paced setting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Delivery

• Maintain an active caseload of up to 17-21 Participants.
• Ongoing support for participants to construct/review/revise and achieve life goals.
• Support participants with life and daily living skill development as well as socio-recreational interactions in their community.
• Provide transitioning levels of supports to participants starting with initial intensive support and moving towards independence and discharge planning.
• Ongoing Bi-weekly Supervisions and Weekly group case review (ICM) of participant's evolving journey toward housing stability and program exiting.
• Assist participants with troubleshooting issues as they arise including rent payments, third party payments and/or utility bills, ensuring taxes are completed and teaching budgeting skills as necessary.
• Assist team members with evictions/re-housing planning, debriefing, and vacation coverage as required.
• Ensuring fiscal prudence for expenses related to evictions, re-housings, and other program related expenditures.
• Provide continual support to landlords and mediate effectively on behalf of the participant as required.
• Coordinate or attend case conferences with participants and/or their service providers and support networks as required.
• Conduct ongoing comprehensive global assessments with participants.
• Monitor and support participants with pest management as needed.
• Working alone is required, as is familiarity with working alone and following safety protocols.

Financial

• Manage and record accurate expenses for all participants
• Fill out Rental Assistance forms and hand over to designated Rental Assistance Program (RAP) administrator; Ensure 3^rd Party Payments (AISH/SFI) are set up for participant.
• Follow internal financial policies for cheque requests
• Maintain accurate mileage and expense logs for reimbursement

General and Administrative

• Maintain accurate electronic case notes, computer records, program information, and critical incident reports in a timely fashion
• Maintain a current and accurate Participant file for each participant.
• Provide latest program information & updated statistics and any other reports as required
• Participate in probationary evaluations and annual performance review.
• Attend scheduled staff and supervision meetings
• Attend trainings as required
• Perform other duties as required

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Social Science or related discipline
• Minimum of one-year related employment experience
• Alberta Class 5 License, satisfactory driver's abstract, and a vehicle

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to effectively manage a caseload and prioritize time sensitive tasks
• Familiarity with issues of poverty, homelessness, mental health, physical health as well as substance use disorders
• Familiarity working with high risk and marginalized populations including awareness of historic and current forces affecting Indigenous peoples
• Ability to de-escalate and dynamically problem-solve in a crisis situation
• Ability to create and maintain healthy boundaries with clients and coworkers
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as general computer literacy; Experience with Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) an asset
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, result oriented, good time management, strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Effective interpersonal and organizational skills
• Experience with community resources, referrals and navigating systems is an asset
• Knowledge of harm reduction approaches and Trauma informed care is beneficial
• Manages self-care: Establishes and practice a self-care on a regular basis as required

Conditions of Work

• Some evening and weekend work required
• Operation of personal vehicle with required insurance
• Working alone with participants in their homes and in the community is required

Personal Characteristics

The Follow-Up Support Worker should demonstrate competence in all of the following:

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices and ensure own behaviour is consistent with these standards and aligns with the mission and core values of Bissell Centre.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen, and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Participant Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of participants and the community to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Foster, sustain and role model productive team management practices, and contribute to a positive team environment. Share expertise and knowledge to support, coach and develop others.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency, and risks, and make clear decisions that are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organizational Skills: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create, and implement action plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Screening Requirements

• Criminal Record Check
• CWIS Check
• Driver's abstract, valid driver's license, and proof of $2 million PLPD insurance

Training Requirements

• Standard First Aid and CPR
• Conflict Into Calm Training
• Suicide Prevention
• Motivational Interviewing Skills

Conflict Into Calm Training must be completed during the three months of employment. Other required training may be identified as required.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter to:

Chelsea Gamarro

Team Lead, Housing Services

Email: cgamarro@bissellcentre.org

Wage: $24.28 per hour

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, Bissell Centre continues to take action to protect person served and staff. Strategies related to Bissell Centre's response to COVID-19 are driven by the guiding principle of taking all reasonable precautions and measures to protect the health and safety of both persons served and staff. In keeping with this intentional purpose, COVID-19 full vaccination is a condition of employment for new hires, except due to legitimate, established exceptions.

Bissell Centre is an equal opportunity employer who is committed to diversity within our community and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, or disability. Bissell Centre is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees, in accordance with provincially and federally legislated protected grounds.