Housing Support Worker

**Employment Type**: Casual
**Schedule**:Called as needed
**Reporting to**:Housing Manager
**City**:Edmonton
**Number of Positions to Fill**:3
**RFR #**:1755

The Mustard Seed is committed to helping people who are homeless transition toward and maintain sustainable and healthy lifestyles. The Housing Support Worker is a member of a team that provides housing and facilitates support services for eighty-four mid-to-law acuity persons experiencing multiple barriers, who require the support of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). The main role of the Housing Support Worker will be to provide case management services, assist clients with daily living skills, connecting clients to community resources and other day-to-day tasks as needed. The Housing Support worker will work with the Housing team to provide ongoing addiction and mental health support. The Housing Support Worker will work onsite at the residence.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Meet with clients housed in The Mustard Seed apartment units on an on-going weekly basis
- Provide ongoing client support with daily living skills, administering medication and managing tenancy
- Document client interactions, service plans and client progress in the designated software
- Provide addiction support using harm reduction philosophy and strategies
- Function as an advocate to assist clients with accessing community resources and external supports
- Submit referrals to external support providers, as needed
- Monitor guest management and oversee the safety and security of the building on an hourly basis
- Provide crisis intervention, as necessary
- Provide input into program development and community resources
- Attend scheduled team meetings and training sessions
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships within The Mustard Seed and with external agencies
- Participate actively in community programs and in-house activities
- Attend weekly team meetings and other training, as required
- Participate in all staff training (e.g. First Aid, SafeTALK, Nonviolence, harm reduction, Indigenous Awareness) and attend monthly general meetings and support meetings with manager
- Other duties as assigned

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS**

- Degree/Diploma in a Human Services field and two years of related work experience
- Minimum one year experience working with those experiencing homelessness; direct experience with Housing First initiatives considered a strong asset
- Experience in case management is considered a strong asset
- A passion to be part of ending homelessness in Alberta
- Demonstrated competency to practice crisis intervention
- Experience working with mental health and/or addictions considered is considered a strong and preferred asset
- Ability to de-escalate and problem solve with individuals under the influence and/or struggling with a mental health crisis
- Ability to establish and maintain rapport with culturally diverse clients, including a familiarity with the Indigenous culture
- Knowledge of Edmonton’s community resources
- Excellent organizational, written, oral and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate with clients, members of a team, and community agencies
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Ability to be a self-starter able to work in a cross-functional team
- Ability to accomplish goals with mínimal supervision
- Proficient computer skills (Microsoft Office Programs); experience with Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) an asset; Knowledge of FOIP and ability to observe confidentiality standards

**WORKING CONDITIONS**

- Physical effort: mínimal to significant physical effort required while working directly with risk population in life recovery. Role also involves some organizational tasks.
- Mental effort: varied mental and emotional effort required to provide ongoing compassionate care and resolve conflicts. Must be able to respond appropriately to intense situations
- Employees are to be aware that many of our clients may experience difficulties or impairment at times, which could result in them uttering threats, discriminatory statements, and other insults at your person. This may in a raised voice, or in seeing unpredictable behaviour up to and including the possibility of them becoming aggressive
- Training on how to respond is provided, but this is to be considered typical working conditions. Many of our clients are unaware of the impact of these comments

**ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS**

- An Employment Background Check is required for all positions at The Mustard Seed
- As The Mustard Seed is a Christian ministry, we require our employees to agree to respect and not detract from The Mustard Seed’s Employment Values during their employment at The Mustard Seed.
- Must have legal authorization to work in Canada on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer

**NOTE**

- Your privacy is important to us. The information we collect is used solely for consideration for employment