Women's Support Worker

**Position**:Women’s Support Worker

**Description**:The Women’s Home & Supported Living Program are units designed to support women, their children and families, including 2SLGBTQ+ who are experiencing partner violence, other forms of harm and aggression within relationships.

**Position Profile**: The Women’s Support Worker will provide critical assistance, support services and will play a critical role in helping to support with trauma and develop strategies to rebuild their lives. The philosophy of building on strengths and supporting challenges.

The Women’s Support Worker must possess excellent communication skills and must be able to work collaboratively with other professionals to provide holistic and cultural care to clients.

**Position Reporting**: This position reports to the Director, Women’s Home & Supported Living Program.

**Major Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Provide emotional support and guidance to clients with care, compassion and with a non-judgement manner.
- Conduct a comprehensive risk and needs assessment to determine the level of danger to clients and develop safety plans accordingly.
- Develop and implement treatment plans for clients, including crisis intervention, individual and group counselling, and referral to other resources.
- Knowledge of trauma informed care and therapeutic practices.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as social workers and law enforcement, to ensure clients receive comprehensive support.
- Advocate for rights of the clients and liaise with relevant agencies.
- Keep accurate and up-to-date records of client contact, support and action plans, and progress using case management techniques.
- Provide court testimony and documentation as needed for legal proceedings related to partner violence cases.
- Foster a team approach with other staff and community agencies.
- Provide one-on-one support to clients and their families to access services and resources, including income security, health care, money management, bill paying, assistance with childcare, education and training, nutrition and meal preparation.
- Support to clients in setting healthy goals, boundaries and life skills through identifying strengths and interests.
- Assisting in decision making that aligns with the client short-long term action plans.
- Provide travel when required for programming and doctor appointments.
- Oversee and support medication administration.
- Other duties as assigned by Director.

**CORE COMPETENCIES**:

- **Program Awareness and Focus**: Must have knowledge and understanding of Metis and First Nation cultures. Works respectfully within a diverse environment and respects confidentiality.
- **Team-Orientation**: Must be committed to being a team player, encouraging the efforts of others and working to meet team goals. Must possess effective conflict resolution skills. Committed to fostering effective teamwork, both within the organization and between the organization and its stakeholders.
- **Communication**: Must be able to convey information and opinions to diverse audiences in both verbal and written contexts with clarity and conciseness. Expresses with honesty, with clarity, and constructively. Maintains open and positive communications with others, exhibiting effective listening skills.
- **Leadership**: Must be willing to share areas of competence with others. Must show personal leadership within the position through setting priorities, meeting timelines, and continuously improving the function.
- **Strategic Thinking/Problem Solving**: Must be a strategic thinker/problem-solver with the ability to anticipate challenges, determine required outcomes and use innovative approaches to develop supportive systems with clients and supports. Must be willing to participate in the ongoing change process required of a member-driven organization that values the community.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field of study and/or a suitable combination of education and extensive lived experience in working with individuals who have experienced partner violence.
- Valid Trauma Informed Care, Applied Suicide Interventions Skills (ASIST), First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Medication Administration, Food Safe, and WHMIS Certificates.
- Ability to speak Metis or First Nations language is an asset.
- Knowledge and understanding of the history of Aboriginal peoples and their socio-economic backgrounds.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect the privacy of clients and their families.
- Emotional resilience to handle the challenging nature of the work and maintain a self-care plan.
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written to effectively communicate with clients of partner violence and their families.
- Strong understanding of the dynamics of partner violence and its impact on individuals and their families.
- Knowledge of relevant legal and social services available to survivo