Community Service Worker

The Mustard Seed helps improve the lives of those experiencing poverty by building community, growing hope, and supporting change. Through enhanced visibility, relationship building, and community engagement, the Street Level Team strives to make the Community Impact Centre a safe and welcoming environment for guests, donors, and volunteers. The Community Service Worker will work with our Street Level Team and provide an identifiable and visible presence within the Red Deer Community Impact Centre, that optimizes safety, builds relationships, and values people. The Community Service Worker is the primary point of contact for clients, volunteers, donors, and all other visitors as they enter the premises.

**Location**: Red Deer# 020582847
**Position Type**: Seasonal Employment Full time (8 weeks)
**Hourly Rate**: $22.00 hourly
**Schedule**: 35 hours per week
**Reporting to**: Street Level Supervisor
**Number of Positions to Fil**l: 1
**RFR#**: 1430

**MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Partake in the very important work of building trusted relationships with the most vulnerable citizens in Central Alberta who access the programs and services at The Mustard Seed Red Deer
- Supervise building access, security of the property both internal and external, the receiving and receipt of donations
- Ensure the team maintain an enhanced visible presence across the property, perceiving and responding to opportunities that will optimize safety, and build community through positive interactions
- Support shelter guests through intake, support and help build a safe and respectful environment in the shelter
- Liaise information between the day Street Level team and the evening Shelter team as this role will support both areas in Basic Services
- Build trusted relationships with guests accessing the Community Impact Centre
- Greet and ensure volunteers and donors are treated with excellence and appreciation
- Partake in exterior yard maintenance and supporting overall property cleanliness
- Assess any given situation, greeting the guests at front line and be the first point of contact to resolve confrontational situations with the guest population
- Utilize crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to manage and resolve conflicts effectively
- Keep all client information confidential
- Participate in all staff training (e.g. First Aid, SafeTALK or ASSIST, Nonviolence Crisis Intervention, etc.) and attend meetings as required

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS**
- Post-secondary Degree or Diploma preferred
- Front line experience in Ministry or Social Services considered an asset
- Customer service experience considered an asset
- Strong desire to work with a marginalized population and ending homelessness in Alberta
- Strong relationship-building, communication (written and verbal), and conflict resolution skills
- Knowledge of mental illness and addictions is an asset
- Experience working in a volunteer-based organization is considered an asset
- A self-starter with the ability to work in a cross-functional team
- Crisis intervention and de-escalation resolution
- Current Emergency First Aid certification is strongly desired

**ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CANADA SUMMER JOBS**
- Be between 18 and 30 years of age
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
- Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
- Not a member of the Immediate Family of the Employer or a member of the Immediate Family of an officer or director of the Employer
- International students are not eligible participants

**WORKING CONDITIONS**
- This position will require working inside and outside in various climates, and will involve moderate levels of physical effort, including but not limited to, standing for long periods, walking, climbing stairs, bending, lifting, and pushing donation carts
- This position is often fast-paced and requires moderate amount of mental effort to analyze information and problem solve, operate a computer, use two-way radio communications, and perceive and quickly respond to crises within and around the Community Impact Centre.
- Navigating interactions with challenging clients who may exhibit unpredictable behavior, including swearing, anger, and the possibility of becoming aggressive.
- 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 behavior 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 client