Job Description
About Gateway Residential & Community Support Services
We at Gateway believe in a community where all are offered respect, dignity, and hope for recovery. We believe in enabling people with mental illness to achieve the highest quality of life possible.
The philosophy of Gateway Residential and Community Support Services of Niagara Inc. is rooted in a desire to serve others. We support and encourage the individual's right to independence, personal decision-making, and involvement in all aspects of planning, implementation, governance and evaluation.
Home for Good and Housing First - Housing Support Worker
Reports to: Team Lead / Program Manager
Work Hours: 35 hours per week
Rate: $24.60
Maternity Leave Contract – 12 months with potential to extend
Job Summary:
The Home for Good Worker is responsible for engaging individuals dealing with chronic homelessness and providing support services to assist in finding and maintaining appropriate, safe and affordable housing placements. Work is done in a multidisciplinary team including an Addiction Counsellor, Occupational Therapist and Landlord Engagement Coordinator.
Responsibilities:
· Ensuring the client is informed of Home for Good philosophy
· Serve individuals in accordance with Coordinated Access and By-Name List policy and procedure, who are experiencing chronic homelessness with high acuity of need, and who may be prioritized in accordance with one or more of the following criteria: youth, indigenous population, and individuals transitioning from provincially funded institutions into homelessness
· Work closely with Team Lead / Program Manager to facilitate access to available program supports, including addiction support such as ACTT, Occupational Therapist (OT), and rent supplements
· Work with Team Lead / Landlord Specialist to provide rent supplements or housing allowances, as necessary
· Offer client engagement, intake and identification of goals
· Support clients to rapidly access permanent housing
· Support clients to apply for financial assistance (OW/ODSP) as appropriate to fulfill client needs and goals
· Support clients to apply for Niagara Regional Housing as appropriate to fulfill client needs and goals
· Provide additional housing support, including neighbourhood orientation, property management services, utility setup, assistance with rent payment, and co-signing or subletting of leases as necessary to support successful tenancy
· Support client to maintain tenancy and develop/maintain relationships with landlords to mitigate risk of housing loss, including following up with landlords each month within 5 days of the rent due date to ensure rent has been paid
· Support a "No Wrong Door" approach to service access by developing and maintaining partnerships with other community partners that contribute to an array of services related to secondary needs; making referrals as required
· Broker services to support achievement of client goals and self-sufficiency
· Provide strong advocacy for participants' self-determination and independence in day-to day activities
· Support successful exit from program (as appropriate)
· Work closely with Niagara Region to ensure an effective system-wide approach, policy development and implementation, attendance at training and regular Home for Good working group meetings
· Utilize HIFIS reporting tool for accurate and timely records
· Adapt and utilize the Home for Good / Housing First Approach
This position description reflects the general duties of the position, but it is not intended to be a detailed description of all duties that may be inherent in the position. Home for Good and Housing First Support Worker may also be asked to perform other duties as required or assigned.
Requirements:
· Community College Diploma or a University Degree in social services or other closely related field or a combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities as determined by the employer
· One-year experience in the community focusing on homelessness programing
· Demonstrated knowledge of Housing First principles, guidelines and related housing
· Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery principles and harm reduction philosophy;
· An understanding of case management; including assessment, service planning, skills reaching, monitoring and evaluation, concepts, acts and regulations;
· Demonstrated knowledge of human/legal rights and relevant legislation
· Ability to work independently and as part of a team
· Excellent interpersonal skills
· Good oral and written skills
· A valid drivers’ license with permission to carry rider attached
· CPR Certificate/First Aid and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training
· A well-defined sense of diplomacy, including solid negotiation, conflict resolution, and people management skills
· Computer literacy, including effective working skills of HIFIS, MS Word, Excel and e-mail required
· Good organizational, time management and prioritizing skills
· Strong morals and ethics, along with a commitment to staff and client privacy
· Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional education
· Ability to monitor financial accountabilities
· Physically able to perform all assigned tasks
Work Conditions:
- May be exposed to infectious waste, communicable diseases and other conditions.
- Interacts with residents, family members, staff, visitors, government agencies/personnel under all circumstances,
- Exposure to traumatic situations.
- Travel is required.
- Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals.
- Intermittent physical activity including walking, standing, sitting
Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Gateway is committed to supporting a culture of diversity and inclusiveness across the organization. We believe in equal opportunity, and it is our priority to ensure a barrier-free recruitment and selection process. If you are contacted for an interview, please notify Human Resources of any accommodation needs you may have during the selection process. Information received regarding the accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially. We thank all respondents for their applications but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months
Salary: From $24.60 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
Flexible Language Requirement:
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Welland, ON L3B 3J5: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- AEC / DEP or Skilled Trade Certificate (preferred)
Experience:
- working with homelessness: 1 year (required)
- case management: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 2023-08-01
Expected start date: 2023-08-08
Apply
Go Back