Community Housing Support Worker

Position Title: Community Housing Support Worker

Competition: 24-48

Reports to: Assistant Manager of Community Services

Union: BCGEU

Compensation: $26.60-$28.82/hour

Schedule: 8:30am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday (70 hours bi-weekly)

Posting Closing Date: May 28, 2024 at 4pm

Organizational Focus:

Pacifica Housing has been providing safe and affordable homes for almost 35 years. We are a rapidly growing organization dedicated to meeting the housing and support needs of our community. As such, we are committed to building our fast-growing team with a culture that supports our people and reinforces our core values of authenticity, leadership, respect, and social justice.

Pacifica is proud to be a Certified Living Wage Employer by The Living Wage for Families Campaign.

Position’s Primary Objectives:

This position provides housing related case management services for outreach clients who require ongoing support by:

• developing and managing client case plans to promote long-term housing stability;

• in an integrated team approach, collaborating with partner agencies and a variety of other community organizations to support the clients’ long-term housing stability;

• responding quickly and effectively to address issues, such as damages to a unit, conflict with a landlord or other issues that might potentially impact a tenant’s housing status;

• maintaining successful relationships with landlords including coordinating move-outs, storage, clean-up, damage repairs.

Key Responsibilities

1.     Using a strength-based client centered approach, provide comprehensive ongoing case development and management services to promote long-term housing stability, including:

·      initiating a therapeutic relationship with new clients and assisting them in securing permanent private market housing;

·      identifying participant strengths and barriers to stability and assisting participants in setting goals;

·      working with participants to become familiar with each client’s situation and developing an individualized case/service plan including advocating for medical, financial and employment benefits, as needed;

·      facilitating weekly support meetings with clients and providing ongoing support based on need;

·      providing or facilitating the provision of training and education for Activities of Daily Living (ADL), life skills, financial literacy etc.;

·      transporting and assisting clients to and from appointments, shopping and leisure activities, as needed;

·      providing on-going updates in both oral and written form to the Manager on client case management issues.

2.     In an integrated and coordinated team approach, engage with partner agencies and a variety of other community organizations to advocate for clients, share information, access resources, provide emergency referrals, and collaborate in joint initiatives, including:

·      participating in Community Intake Meetings to assess new referrals from the CAA, collaborate on initiatives, and share information;

·      providing referrals to appropriate community resources, agencies or government ministries as dictated by needs assessment;

·      developing viable options for accommodation;

·      providing emergency referrals to appropriate services (e.g. detox, EMHS, Hospital, police) and following up on referrals made on behalf of clients;

·      liaising with private landlords to promote and secure housing for individuals living with mental health and/or addictions etc.;

·      independently leading team initiatives, in collaboration with partner agencies, to case coordinate and problem solve.

3.     Establish and manage successful relationships with Landlords to advocate on behalf of clients’ and support long-term housing stability, including:

·      assessing clients’ stability in housing placements through regular and on-going contact with landlords;

·      mediating complex issues between the landlords, other community service providers, stakeholders and clients;

·      responding quickly and effectively to tenancy issues such as damages to the unit, problems with hygiene, bed bugs, hoarding etc.;

·      coordinating and participating in client move out activities; and

·      coordinating repairs and remediation of units with landlords within guidelines and approved budgets. 

4.     Maintain case files and perform a variety of other functions to support the successful delivery of the Outreach team, including:

·      collecting and maintaining complete records and program statistics as required by partners, funders, and intensive case management best practices;

·      maintaining concise and accurate client files including current case notes and information about each client’s progress with their respective case plans;

·      assisting in problem solving and case co-ordination in collaboration with operations staff;

·      representing Pacifica Housing in meetings and professional settings;

·      attending and participating in case conferences, staff meetings, training sessions and workshops;

·      assisting in the development and implementation of policies and procedures;

·      contributing to ongoing learning and evaluation processes as part of the pilot for program improvements;

·      assisting with fundraising and special events as required;

·      reviewing, training and overseeing work assignments for practicum students or volunteer placements.

Qualifications (minimum Education and Experience requirements):

Note: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Education:

• Diploma in Social Work or Psychology, OR Counselling, Mental Health or Addictions Worker qualifications or other related social services field from college or university

• Conflict resolution/crisis prevention training and experience required

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) years recent related experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the impacts of addiction, mental health, homelessness and poverty

• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals who have multiple barriers to stable housing

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and be part of an integrated community team

• Knowledge of local community resources

• Knowledge of the psychosocial rehabilitation model

• Awareness of harm reduction and ‘Housing First’ theory and practice

• Demonstrated conflict management/crisis prevention skills

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with clients, staff and community professionals

• Proficient in MS Office programs including Word, Outlook and Excel

Additional Criteria for Role:

• First Aid Certification is required.

• Naloxone administration training is required.

• Must have valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle with a minimum of $2 million liability ‘business class’ insurance.

As Pacifica Housing works with vulnerable populations, We require all staff to successfully clear a Vulnerable Sectors Criminal Record Check run by the Ministry of Justice and to be double vaccinated for COVID 19. Any offer of employment is contingent on the applicant providing proof of criminal record check and vaccination status prior to commencing employment.

Please note: While this position is posted externally concurrently, members within the collective bargaining unit will receive first consideration in this appointment.

• A mission driven and meaningful working environment.
• Competitive salary from a Certified Living Wage Employer.
• Minimum six (6) percent vacation accrual rate for all regular employees
• Excellent benefits package for regular employees (includes extended health and dental, life insurance, and more).
• Competitive BCGEU Pension Plan.
• Employee assistance program.
• Wellness time.
• Career development and internal advancement opportunities.
• Organization and individual training opportunities.
• Robust team building and staff social events.
• Dog friendly offices.

Pacifica Housing advises all employees, contractors and volunteers of the risk of violence, injury and harm that is present in the execution of their duties. Pacifica Housing is committed to providing a safe and risk-free work place, however, we acknowledge the inherent risk in social housing and direct support work while in homes and in other support relationships.

Pacifica celebrates diversity and what makes you uniquely you. We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your culture, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, and diversability.