Caseworker

Who We Are

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description:

BASIC FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitors and ensures the safety of clients and the facility by performing duties such as answering telephone calls, screening clients, admission/discharge of clients and securing the building.
• Assist clients through methods such as discussing, isolating and assessing problems and developing, with the client, a flexible plan of action to ensure basic needs are met including housing, meals, physical and mental health, addictions and treatment, employment, and legal and financial issues, while encouraging self-sufficiency as much as possible. Monitors progress towards resolution of problems through methods such as motivating, facilitating improvements and teaching life skills.
• Assist clients to establish and maintain independent, safe and stable housing by performing duties such as establishing appointments and providing transportation to/from destinations including new housing, treatment and office appointments.
• Identify, liaise and network with other community resources to meet the client's needs.
• Monitors individual client plans to ensure they are effective by performing duties such as encouraging appointments to be kept, specifically addictions/treatment appointments, homemaking routines are followed, and financial and medication administration is followed.
• Refers clients to appropriate services as indicated, accompanying at times to initial appointments to facilitate and support good interpersonal relationships as well as professional relationships between the client and the service/care giving agencies.
• Assists clients to access external services in situations such as landlord-tenant disputes and financial problems by performing duties such as communicating with community and government agencies on behalf of the client(s), assisting or advocating where necessary to help clients access the services or resources they require.
• Assists clients with care received outside of Ridge Meadows Ministries to ensure cooperative, coordinated and supportive work relationships between involved workers by performing duties such as liaising with professional or other workers providing treatment services or support to each client.
• Assists other involved agency workers though methods such as coordinated service planning utilizing case-conferencing when/if appropriate.
• Monitors' client progress both against expected outcomes and known previous social history by performing duties such as tracking time in hospital, emergency shelters, length successful time in maintaining housing and number of evictions, if any.
• Observes clients and their environments to ensure the safety of clients and the premises by performing duties such as reporting unsafe conditions, incidents and/or behaviors, interacting with clients including observing client behavior, investigating disturbances, dealing with client emergencies in accordance with guidelines and reporting incidents to appropriate staff or authorities.
• Participates as a team member with other staff to ensure a safe and caring environment by performing duties such as responding to emergency issues and supporting others through methods such as sharing knowledge and information.
• Maintains related manual and computerized documentation by performing duties such as documenting interactions with clients, maintaining statistical data, and individual client care files.
• Attends in-services, staff development programs & meetings as approved and requested.
• Help to maintain the cleanliness of the office space.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The above is a general overview of responsibilities. A complete job description/task list is available upon request.

• Completed a Diploma in social services or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• CPR, First Aid, Naloxone, and Non-Violent Crisis Training or obtain as a condition of employment.
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License.

Required Skills:

• Effective communication skills, attentive listening, and alertness to reactions of clients
• Adaptability to change and frequent interruptions
• Willingness to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Computer and word processing ability
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds
• Able to provide Criminal Background Check screening and Vulnerable Sector Check that is satisfactory to The Salvation Army, in its sole discretion, is required.

NOTE: An alternative level of education and experience may be acceptable.

The following work environment conditions apply to the position of Life Skills Coordinator:

• The work environment is typically in an office in generally agreeable conditions but may involve work-related stress and dealing with angry and abusive people, including verbal abuse.
• The performance of the job requires a moderate amount of computer work, frontline service delivery, while occasionally attending training workshops, etc.
• Travel will be required.
• The job incumbent may be exposed to the risk of moderate injury or illness due to:

• Physical (and verbal) attacks by others (e.g. violent/aggressive client acting out verbally or physically)
• Exposure to infectious diseases
• Exposure to toxic chemicals and sharp objects
• Tendency to become too personally and emotionally involved in client's issues
• Extreme expectations of clients/families

• Must take the following precautionary measures (in addition to health and safety rules):

• Universal Precautions
• Non-violent Crisis intervention training
• Current Certification in First Aid/CPR
• Self-Care/Debriefing

Compensation:

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email Recruitment.Accommodations@salvationarmy.ca if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.