Clinical Services Specialist

Cornerstone offers emergency shelter and affordable supportive housing in four residential facilities for women experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental illness, addictions, trauma, and abuse in Ottawa. Our services are offered in an environment that promotes dignity and a sense of hope. We are committed to public education and advocacy and strive to increase safe affordable housing and to end homelessness. Cornerstone is a Community Ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.

**Join Our Team**

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Clinical Services Specialist is responsible for supporting social support work, case management and other clinical staff while overseeing the development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of employee wellness programs at Cornerstone Housing for Women.

While the Clinical Services Specialist does not have direct management responsibility for staff, they provide clinical support and leadership as needed, particularly in high-stakes situations. They work closely with the Integration & Education Manager and Clinical Chaplain to ensure a holistic and collaborative approach to service delivery.

The Clinical Services Specialist applies analytical and problem-solving skills to assess and refine policies, ensuring continuous improvement in service delivery. They also contribute to the annual budget for Clinical Services and maintain structured planning for both short
- and long-term objectives.

Additionally, the Clinical Services Specialist plays an integral role in enhancing staff and service-user well-being by acting as the President of the Wellness Committee. They help design and implement wellness programs and strategies, establish measurable goals, and develop tracking systems to assess progress and impact. This role requires adaptability, strategic decision-making, and a commitment to delivering high-quality care in alignment with organizational priorities. They act as the main service-user relations personnel and support service-users through complaint and concerns resolutions as directed by internal policies.

**What You’ll Be Doing**

**Clinical Management & Service-user Support**
- Provide clinical direction and support to Cornerstone Housing for Women staff on service-user cases through individualized clinical supervision, case consultations, and team meetings.
- Ensure the quality, integrity, and effectiveness of clinical services across all Cornerstone residences and outreach programs.
- Support staff in navigating complex service-user cases, including those involving mental health, trauma, addiction, and crisis intervention.
- Contribute to organizational planning and case management strategies to enhance service-user outcomes and promote a trauma-informed care approach.

**Training & Education**
- Act as a key clinical resource for staff working in supportive housing, emergency shelter services, and outreach programs.
- Provide clinical insight at a management level to guide decision-making and service delivery improvements.
- Lead training initiatives to enhance staff competencies in mental health support, harm reduction, crisis response, and trauma-informed care, and other areas deemed necessary through research.
- Facilitate case reviews and learning sessions to strengthen team capacity in handling complex service-user needs.
- Collaborate with community partners to develop learning opportunities for employees.

**Incident Support & Debriefing**
- Provide clinical support and guidance during critical incident debriefings to ensure staff well-being and service continuity.
- Support both staff and service-users during crisis situations, in collaboration with front-line services, senior management and the Clinical Chaplain.
- Assist in developing trauma-informed policies and procedures that align with best practices in clinical care and social work.
- Lead burnout prevention program and support employees returning to the workplace following a critical incident.
- Lead and develop proactive debriefing and burnout prevention strategies.
- Support in the case of a critical incident as operationally and situationally required by providing remote or onsite support; and acting as the back-up to or working with the Clinical Chaplain.

**Organizational Support & Program Development**
- Regularly assess service delivery models and provide recommendations for program/service improvements.
- Work closely with staff to ensure accurate data collection and reporting for program evaluation and funding requirements.
- Conduct service-user surveys as required to inform strategic planning and quality improvement strategies.
- Collaborate with internal teams to integrate clinical expertise into policies, procedures, and operational strategies.
- Lead the Wellness Committee and implement employee wellness strategy.
- Actively contribute to Cornerstone’s strategic planning, wellness initiatives, and partnerships with community stakeholders.
- Develop a written work