Shelter Support Worker ( Evening), DAV1362

YWCA Toronto•Toronto, ON

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Join YWCA Toronto, where intersectional feminism, community voices, and social justice drive lasting change. We welcome women and gender diverse people of all identities into a workplace rooted in equity, collaboration, and inclusion. As a Shelter Support Worker at 348 Davenport, this position will work within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a theoretical feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression. She acts as a resource to staff and clients and is responsible for providing a full range of services which includes crisis counselling, case management and the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops. This position shares in the responsibility of the overall health and safety of the building. YWCA Davenport provides up to 80 emergency shelter beds to young women and gender diverse people (16 – 24 years of age) and adult women and gender diverse people (25 and older) and is staffed 24 hours a day. This pet friendly shelter is funded by the City of Toronto and adheres to Toronto Shelter Standards.

Requirements

In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of a supervised undergraduate degree (e.g. BSW); An analytical framework that identifies clients' relation to social systems and the demonstrated practical application of this framework; (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
Completion of workshops and courses pertaining to mental illness, trauma, harm reduction, crisis de-escalation and anti-oppressive practice;
3-5 years’ experience in counselling and group work focused on clients at risk and/or homeless women;
Completion of Toronto Hostel’s Training Certificate (T.H.T.C.) or equivalent;
Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice;
Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports focused on mental health and group support;
In-depth knowledge of the dynamics of woman abuse and trauma within an anti-oppression framework;
Demonstrated experience in the development, delivery and evaluation of workshops and groups;
Experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment;
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
Knowledge and understanding of mental health, substance use/addictions, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues and homelessness;

Nice To Haves

Life Skills Certificate an asset
A certificate in trauma counselling would be an asset
Knowledge of a second language and/or culture would be an asset

Responsibilities

Applies knowledge of the issues of trauma and the dynamics of woman and gender diverse people abuse and homelessness to develop and implement effective support strategies
Provides daily support services to residents (e.g. tokens, providing personal hygiene items and toiletries, first aid, long-distance calls and assists with completion of forms and statements);
Exercises precautions to ensure the safety of residents and completes risk assessments and safety plans;
Uses mediation and counselling skills to maintain a co-operative, supportive and productive shelter environment;
Provides information and referrals and advocates for clients facing issues of homelessness and trauma;
Negotiates supportive and flexible strategies to assist residents with mental health issues to access the support within the shelter and in the community;
Negotiates treatment plans with residents that focus on harm reduction;
Assists clients in applying for priority, RGI, rent supplement, supportive housing, group homes and any other relevant housing programs and advocates on their behalf;
Develops, implements and evaluates workshops and groups that address clients’ mental health issues and experience of trauma using interactive techniques (i.e. expressive art techniques) and collaborates with other YWCA programs;
Maintains, records, compiles program statistics and prepares reports and correspondence.