Overnight Counselor

**About the Job**:
Reporting to the Community Shelter Supervisor, a Community Shelter Overnight Counsellor is responsible for providing front line support to families (youth, family, single adjust or couple).

The individual’s main responsibilities is to provide and support clients through housing strategies. Provide shelter support, provide shelter services and create housing search opportunities and engage in housing focused conversations through motivational interviewing.

**General Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Curating all of the online listings on rental housing and find within a certain radius every single evening.
- Provide daily housing support to shelter guests to ensure all housing listings are available by print and available at the shelter
- Update housing bulletin boards throughout the facility. Ensure materials that will posted throughout the facility, with the exception of fire safety and rules/expectations are related to the housing acquisition process
- Responsible for identifying guests that the daytime staff need to be engaged for an intentional housing conversations
- Other assessments as required (i.e. mental health status exams, wellness checks, etc.)
- Perform additional duties as required/delegated

**Additional Duties for Overnight Staff**:

- Initiate brief conversations following up on the housing search process that occurred during the day, especially those that have been in shelter less than two weeks and those with tasks in an Individualized Housing Plan
- Afternoon/evening staff are will be well positioned to undertake the VI-SPDAT that have stayed for more than two weeks, and the full SPDAT as time allows
- The evening staff will also start the creation of the Individualized Housing Plan for any guest that has stayed beyond the two-week threshold

**Qualifications**:

- Post-secondary education in Social Work, Social Services, Health Services, or equivalent
- 1+ years Supporting the homeless population
- Knowledge of tenant population, diversity issues, anti-discrimination practices, and systemic reasons for homelessness
- Strong knowledge of Housing First Principles
- Experience working with families experiencing or at risk of homelessness
- Strong communication skills, assessment, risk management and crisis de-escalation
- Proficient in MS Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook)
- A vehicle, valid driver’s license, and adequate insurance coverage
- Valid Certification in First Aid & CPR
- Training in ASIST and CPI
- Vulnerable Screening Level 3

**Reporting Function**:
The Community Shelter Overnight Counsellor will report to the Community Shelter Supervisor. They will not have any management/supervisory responsibility. They will work with clients and internal staff at all levels within the organization.

**Working Conditions and Physical Requirements**:

- Overnight shifts (Friday and Saturday) with the ability to work excess/overtime hours where required
- Able to work well with internal and external clients
- Able to sit for prolonged periods of time
- Able to answer and communicate telephone calls and general computer use
- Computer screen use (multiple screens if applicable) for prolonged periods of time
- Able to lift up to 20lbs (product, documents, etc.)
- Travel by vehicle to community sites for client support as required

**Ship Values**:

- Compassion, Hope, Inclusive, Respect, Professional

**About Us**

Services and Housing In the Province (**SHIP**) is a Provincial leader in the broader public sector that builds strategic partnerships and programs that support the fundamental rights for Housing and Health Services throughout the Peel Region, Dufferin County, Region of Waterloo and surrounding areas.

Our commitment to increase quality of life through health services and housing supports that promote mental and physical health and wellness is at the forefront of every employee we hire. We value compassion, hope, inclusiveness, respect, and professionalism.

Our organization has supported the region for over 35 years and employs over 300 passionately engaged employees ranging from office administration, nurses, and service health specialists to housing specialists all dedicated to the community, clients, and families.

**Accessibility**

SHIP commits to ensuring that our organization is an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace that reflects our values as an organization and the diversity of those we serve. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to everyone and accept applicants from all backgrounds.

As an Organization, we strive to be equitable and inclusive in all that we do. Equity is a core value and we are committed to providing an inclusive selection process. We encourage applicants from equity-deserving communities including women, Black, Indigenous, other racialized groups, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, individuals with disabilities, and others who will contribute to and enrich the organization and its values. We are committed to inclu