Life Skills Worker

**Job Title**: Life Skills Worker

**Location**: Downtown Vancouver

Founded in 1987, McLaren was the first HIV/AIDS housing provider in Canada. We work with low-income individuals and families who are living with HIV/AIDS and require stable and supportive housing. Our mission is to provide safe, secure and affordable housing and capacity-building services to widen pathways for improved health, wellness and independent living and foster a sense of community.

**Job Summary**

The Life Skills Worker directly reports to the Manager of Housing and Program Services and performs duties in close collaboration with Residents Support workers. Working in accordance with the policies, procedures, and philosophy of McLaren Housing Society, this position establishes trusting relationships with a diverse resident population from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and holds a current trauma-informed, harm-reduction understanding of systemic barriers and societal stigmatization experienced by individuals historically underserved. The variety of duties and responsibilities of this role centre on supporting residents to maintain their health, wellness and independence.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
**1.** Engage with residents to build trusting relationships.
**2.** Coordinate community kitchen meals, source food donations to enhance food security of residents
**3.** Assist residents with pest infestation, including cleaning the room, laundry, and prepping for Bed Bug remediation, which may include the moving or wrapping of furniture for disposal. Working knowledge of bed bug remediation is fundamental.
**4.** Assist residents with life skills using methods such as providing support and encouragement to residents to maintain personal hygiene. In addition, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, along with help in understanding and working with their financial obligations, etc.
**5.** Assess the cleanliness and tidiness of suites to ensure no fire violations are being breached.
**6.** Provide assistance making Doctor, Dentist and/or other appointments. Accompanying the resident, if needed, to/from their destinations, however, encouraging and supporting residents in getting to their appointments on their own.
**7.** Promote independence to encourage an independent lifestyle.
**8.** Ensure the safety of residents and the premises by performing duties such as de-escalating, reporting unsafe conditions, incidents and behaviours and reporting to the appropriate staff or authorities.
**9.** Maintain and build relationships with community agencies.
**10.** Network with agencies to fundraise for programs.
**11.** Encourage tenant participation and teach good community-building skills.
**12.** Support practicum students. Cover breaks for BA’s when needed.
**13.** Perform other related duties assigned by the Management Team.

**Teamwork**:

- Offer support, respect and feedback to other team members
- Ensure communication is clear, concise and honest
- Take ownership, accountability and responsibility for your role
- Share and contribute ideas, knowledge, questions and perspectives
- Attend staff meetings and check-ins
- Demonstrate and role-model commitment to the broader McLaren staff team.
- Uphold a collaborative working-style to cover front-desk duties if needed.
- Respect the workplace's physical structure, keeping it clean, safe and secure for those we support

**Documentation/Communication**:

- Write accurate and detailed incident reports
- Attend Life Skills Meetings and Staff Meetings
- Work closely with Management, BA’s, janitorial and support staff to maintain effective lines of communication

**Knowledge, Skills & Abilities**
- Grade 12 or Equivalent, Level 1 First Aid Training Certificate, plus two (2) years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Current Criminal Records Check and First Aid, Level 1, FoodSafe & WHMIS training are minimum requirements (willingness to complete these within 2 months is acceptable)
- Experience working in kitchen and meal preparation for large groups are a considerable asset.
- Possess an understanding of the needs of the HIV community.
- Knowledge of the supportive housing structure and BC Housing. Experience working in a supportive housing environment is an asset.
- Demonstrated ability to understand and maintain residents/worker boundaries.
- Knowledge of related resources including: mental health system and related agencies, welfare system, food resources and substance use support services.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally.
- Experience in crisis prevention/intervention and conflict resolution/de-escalation skills
- Knowledge of harm reduction principles.
- Ability to work independently and reprioritize duties in a consistently changing environment,
- Physical capacity to perform duties of the job.
- Valid Driver’s license with access to a reliab