Transitional and Housing Support Worker

**REPORTS TO**:Manager of Programs and Client Services
**COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT POSITION CUPE 3877: Yes**
**DIRECT REPORTS**: None

**AGENCY SUMMARY**

Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke (WHE) is a feminist, multi-service, community-based organization in South Etobicoke, serving diverse women* and their dependents experiencing violence and poverty since 1978. In 2006, WHE opened an outreach centre to respond to the increasing needs for services for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

WHE offers transformational services and programs in two distinct locations to address the impact of violence and poverty on women and their dependents which includes, safety audits, safety planning, trauma-informed crisis and ongoing counseling services, housing support services, advocacy and referrals to settlement and community resources, as well as skills and capacity building for promoting healthy relationships and prevention of gender-based violence.

*self-identified individuals

**JOB SUMMARY**

The Transitional Support Worker provides women who have experienced abuse including women transitioning out of Women’s Habitat’s emergency shelter, women who are currently in abusive relationships and women who are at risk of experiencing abuse, the development of a safety and a transitional plan to access community supports that are needed to achieve independence and stability in their lives. They liaise and coordinate with other community support. Responsibilities include supportive counselling, outreach, and advocacy on behalf of individual women

Working hours are 9am-5pm - 4 weekdays per week and 1 shift a week is 12pm-8pm.

**Responsibilities**:

- Direct Service_
- Assess the needs of client, review her options in the community, and assist the client in identifying risks, needs, developing safety and transitional plans.
- Assist client to access services to such as: counselling, parenting support, education upgrading, job training, income support resources, legal aid, health services, and any other service required to achieve the woman’s goals.
- Assist women to obtain and maintain housing (including eviction prevention work).
- Accompany client to appropriate meetings or appointments.
- Accept referrals from other VAW agencies when possible.
- Complete 6- and 12-month evaluation check-ins with clients.
- Maintains and protects confidentiality of client information.
- Administration and Planning _
- Maintains accurate, up-to -date files on all clients.
- Completes all statistical requirements in a timely fashion.
- Works in co-operation with Outreach team in assisting clients.
- Sets program goals, objectives and evaluation processes in conjunction with the Manager of Programs and Client Services and Executive Director
- Maintains up-to-date selection of resource materials for client use.
- Participates in one-on-one supervision, staff meetings and case management meetings as scheduled.
- Participates in community meetings and events.
- Responsible for specific area, assigned by the Manager of Programs and Client Services or designate, that is integral to the delivery of a comprehensive service at WHE.
- Responsible for other duties as assigned.
- Community Service and Public Education _
- Provide workshops and public education to community groups as requested. Acts as a resource to community agencies on the issue of woman abuse and its effects on children.
- Represents WHE in the community (e.g. Committee work, speaking engagements).

**Core Competencies**:
Each employee will adhere to, and reflect in all areas of her work, the policies, procedures, mission and values of Women’s Habitat. Therefore, each employee will have the following competencies:

- Ensure that the Health and Safety guidelines are followed in accordance with the policies and procedures of the agency.
- Ensure appropriate notification of child abuse as required by the Child and Family Services Act.
- Adhere to and abide by Women’s Habitat’s harm reduction philosophy.
- Ability to conduct trauma-informed work when dealing with agency clients.
- Understand and adhere to the Ontario Human Rights Code at all times and in all aspects of your work.
- Understand and implement anti-oppression and equity principles in all aspects of your work.
- Ability to respond to a crisis in ways appropriate to your role at Women’s Habitat.
- Demonstrate willingness and the necessary skills to attend to conflict and tension with colleagues and non-client stakeholders.
- Engage in constructive communication with peers, staff, clients, volunteers and other stakeholders, share information in an appropriate and timely manner and adhere to the agency’s confidentiality agreement.
- Ability to critically examine how you carry out your role and takes responsibility for the impact of your behaviour on others.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning in order to ensure the delivery of high quality service.
- Has the ability to work collaboratively as