Housing Follow Up Support Worker

Contract • Homeless 2 Homes

WHO WE ARE

Are you a Follow Up Support Worker Professional 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.

Currently, Bissell Centre is looking for an individual wanting to join the Homeless to Homes (H2H) team. Are you ready to be our Follow Up Support Worker and make an impact in our community?

ABOUT THE ROLE

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

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Delivery

Maintain an active caseload of up to 20 Homeless to Homes 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 participant start-up costs
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 aboriginal 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 $1 million PLPD insurance

Training Requirements

Standard First Aid and CPR
Conflict Into Calm Training
Suicide Prevention
Motivational Interviewing Skills
Other trainings are required

The above-noted training must be completed during the first six months of employment or as agreed upon by the supervisor.

HOW TO APPLY

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

Katrina John-West

Manager, Homelessness Prevention and Housing Supports

[email protected]

Application Deadline: May 3rd, 2024

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.

Application Deadline: May 3rd, 2024

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