Support Worker

**Job description**

Are you a person who is passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples experiencing homelessness and is interested in providing culturally supportive and safe models of care? The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEH) is seeking Support Workers to work with the Indigenous Street Community and support those who recently transitioned into culturally supportive housing.

**About us**:
We are a non-profit and registered charitable organization whose sole focus is to support Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness with a vision to lead long-term systemic change to better meet the needs of our people living away from home and experiencing homelessness.

Located in downtown Victoria on Hillside and Blanshard, the house was developed to manage safe studio units for Indigenous women experiencing homelessness and fleeing violence. We operate under a dual model housing care (conventional system as well as cultural and spiritual aspect), and this culturally-supportive housing provides 24/7 staff support, connection to local community services, 2 meals per day, social connection, culturally appropriate trauma informed support, referral to health care and mental health services, financial support, opportunities for land-based teachings, and Elder support.

**We have Full-time positions available. **Preference given to individuals with evening, night, and weekend availability. Our full-time opportunities do qualify for benefits

**Required Qualifications and Education**
- 1-year related experience working with vulnerable peoples and or providing care. Preference given to those who have worked with Indigenous peoples and have training/ education in relevant Indigenous post-secondary
- Valid First Aid Certification
- Consent to the Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check for Working with Vulnerable Adults
- Preferred Naloxone Overdose Training and Certification
- Preferred Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification
- Preferred Food Safe Certification
- Experience or personal insights working cooperatively with people with disabilities, lived experience, and addictions considered an asset
- Experience working with non-profit organizations, family support, social services, and Indigenous support services and programs considered an asset

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**About the Role**:

- Provide one-on-one support including regular wellness checks for the Family Members
- Provide group support, advocacy, mentorship, and navigating resources for the Family Members
- Support and encourage the Family Members to participate in cultural programming, assist Family Members in identifying and overcoming barriers to their participation and connect them with the ACEH Outreach team as needed
- Provide de-escalation and conflict resolution between Family Members when required
- Provide access in and out of building for FM's entry and exit of building.
- Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of surfaces and shared spaces following guidelines and protocols in response to COVID-19
- Ongoing janitorial duties
- Assistance for food services and kitchen duties when needed
- Participate in day-to-day home needs and activities
- Actively establish relationship and trust with Family Members
- Spend quality time and engage in day-to-day activities with Family Members
- Always offer support to Family Members

**Skills and Abilities**
- Progressive understanding of persistent mental illness, addictions, and other challenges and how these impact people’s overall health, wellbeing, and quality of life
- Ability to work in a holistic, professional, and non-judgmental manner as you are working with a broad range of personalities, needs, cultures, lived experiences and abilities
- Ability to effectively respond and adjust to unexpected events, assess high risk situations, problem-solve, provide crisis intervention, and manage conflict in a culturally supportive manner
- Ability to work independently and effectively respond to and manage competing demands while adhering to deadlines
- Effective written, electronic, and verbal communication skills to facilitate interprofessional collaborative practice, healthy and culturally safe environments, and a respectful workplace for community members, staff, guests, and volunteers
- Use a harm reduction approach in addressing situations

**Working conditions**
- Ability to use stairs
- Ability to lift 30 pounds
- Ability to complete repetitive tasks (such as mopping, sweeping, sanitizing, walking, and bending)
- Ability to work in a stressful environment
- Ability to work alone when needed

Reference ID: Support Worker
- SPAKEN House, Culturally Supportive House

**Job Types**: Full-time, part-time, and casual

**Salary**: $22.00 per hour