Food Program Facilitator

Come Build Hope and Homes with Us

Food Program Facilitator - Full Time
Kitchener, ON- St. Mark’s Place
**Salary**: $45,900-$54,600

**Position Description**: As the Food Program Facilitator, you will be responsible for all food-related activities within the program, including the coordination and/or preparation of daily, nutritious, hot meals. Supporting individuals in developing and working through their personal service plans striving towards health, wellness and belonging; promoting and demonstrating the vision, mission and values of Indwell within the workplace and community. Working within the context of a collaborative interdisciplinary team reflecting the principles of person-centered and evidence-based care by assisting with coordinating and delivering mental health and addiction services to residents with a particular focus on food security and nutrition. This program serves individuals who have experienced long term housing instability and/or long stay hospitalizations. The scope of the work may vary from time to time based on individual and program needs. This position will require a high level of resilience and willingness to work in close proximity to challenging situations.

**About Indwell**: Founded in 1974, our Christian charity continues to thrive and grow exponentially as we serve people impacted by poverty and homelessness through our vision of HOPE and HOMES for All. We are the fastest growing developer in Ontario creating affordable high quality efficient housing communities coupled with supportive programs to over 1200 tenants to meet their needs of health, wellness, and belonging. To learn more, go to: indwell.ca/our-model

**Hours of Work**: 40 hours per week, 7 days a week, including evenings and public holidays. Hours will be scheduled based on the support needs of individuals living in supported apartments. Participation in the on-call schedule rotation is required. The Food Program Facilitator will work with the scheduler to ensure that there is adequate staff support during the meal program, which is a dinner meal.

**What you will be doing**:
Direct Support to Residents
- Skilled in building therapeutic relationships with residents with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, promoting hope and trust and engagement in food programming and food-related activities.
- Develop, contribute to, and carry out individual resident support plans, including any relevant assessment tools.
- Assist residents in developing and practicing the skills defined in their service plans in consultation with resident and interdisciplinary team.
- Understanding of food security barriers within resident population and nutritional impacts.
- Coordination of a daily hot meal for 44 residents along with skills and knowledge to prepare daily hot meal, if required.
- Demonstrate understanding and ability to assess the food security and nutrition needs of program population related to cultural significance and general health.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of the relationship between food and community building.
- Collaborate and consult with hospital and community supports around nutrition needs.
- Coordinate, lead and/or participate in case conferences with outside supports.
- Knowledge and understanding of psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery models, including harm reduction strategies around substance use.
- Proven advocacy skills to ensure residents receive the support and referrals they need to carry out their individual support plans and access appropriate resources.
- Confident in utilizing crisis management and intervention skills.
- As a representative of a faith-based organization, recognize and promote the role of spirituality in personal development, and provide support and guidance as required.
- Reinforce residents’ life skills, including spiritual, social, and coping skills.
- Ability to engage in skill building activities with residents with dignity.
- Assist with intake and orientation of new residents.
- Develop and facilitate relevant group programming related to food and nutrition.
- Complete required documentation in a thorough and timely manner with a focus on maintaining and protecting health records.
- Demonstrate a nonjudgmental approach to the implementation of pest management protocols and skill building with residents.
- Participate and contribute to relevant organizational cross-regional team and community tables.
- Other duties as required.

Leadership
- Consistently show initiative and engage in creative problem solving.
- Demonstrate ongoing commitment to learning and supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice).
- Experience leading and/or guiding internal teams to accomplish shared goals.
- Reinforce a positive workplace culture and tone through your skilled verbal and written communication.
- Keep interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends related to b