345 Indigenous Cultural Liaison Support Worker, The

**POSITION TITLE**:Indigenous Cultural Liaison Support Worker
**PROGRAM**: The Vivian
**UNION**: BCGEU
**SALARY**: $26.42/hour (BCGEU grid 34) + $2.50/hour as a premium for night shifts.
**TYPE**:Permanent Full-Time, 0.8 FTE
**START DATE**: As soon as possible

Indigenous ancestry/identity is a bona fide occupational requirement for this position: Indigenous (First Nations, Native American, Metis, Inuit) applicants only please.

Gender is a bona fide occupational requirement of this position: women (cis, trans), gender diverse and Two Spirit applicants only please.

**ABOUT US**

RainCity Housing is an organization that makes a difference in people’s lives. With a goal of providing a home for everyone, RainCity’s programs sustain relationships, strengthen communities and make change for people experiencing homelessness and mental health, trauma and substance use issues. We invite you to be a part of the change.

**DIVERSITY**

RainCity Housing serves a diverse group of people and we need a staff group that reflects the diversity. People of diverse backgrounds and cultures are encouraged to apply.

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The Indigenous Cultural Liaison Support Worker (ICL) provides the Indigenous lens and consults with Indigenous clients to provide/connect them with a range of Indigenous specific supports in the community, while advocating for access and rights as needed. These can include but are not limited to: liaising with and/or supporting cultural activities/programming; Indigenous-led and informed case planning for Indigenous clients; connecting clients with outside organizational supports/connecting to agencies that assist; and accompanying clients in navigating the health and/or court systems. In addition to these Indigenous specific supports, the ICL provides daily supports to all program participants, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, including: medication administration, building security, crisis intervention, building maintenance, and front line overdose response.

Using a culturally informed model that is rooted in harm reduction, the ICL walks alongside clients in their self-identified and self-determined goals for culture, connection/reconnection, and community integration; while advocating for access, rights, and Cultural Safety as needed.

**PROGRAM SUMMARY**

The Vivian is a mínimal barrier housing program in Vancouver specifically designed for women living with concurrent mental illness, addiction and other challenges. The facility was developed in response to the unique needs of women and is women-only, including both residents and staff. It offers a mínimal barrier, high tolerance environment and follows a harm-reduction/health promotion philosophy. The Vivian screens women in (not out) of the program based on the complexities of their needs, histories and behaviours. The program is flexible, non-judgmental and responsive to the unique challenges faced by homeless women.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

Many forms of education and experience are valued, including volunteering and lived experience of mental illness / addiction/ homelessness; Minimum education and experience includes:

- A Diploma in community social services
- Two years of recent, related work experience with an emphasis on mental health, addictions, homelessness and/or social services
- Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
- Current First Aid and CPR certification; Naloxone Certification

Support Worker Key Skills and Abilities - for supporting people receiving our services
- Establish a dignifying and purposeful relationship with the client, contacting and getting to know the client as a unique individual, and clarifying the role of the PSS and client in the service planning process
- Ability to identify and work to increase client strengths, including the use of hope inducing strategies and assisting the client in self-managing their illness and other aspects of their life
- Informally teach harm reduction, life skills
- Respond to problematic behaviour using an understanding of the behaviour's context and function
- Knowledge of the integrated concurrent disorders recovery model for working with chronically homeless individuals
- Knowledge of mental health diagnoses, medications, treatment and support resources
- Knowledge of the bio-psychosocial addictions model, including stages of change and harm reduction
- Knowledge of diagnoses, treatment and support resources in the areas of substance use, physical health, HIV and Hepatitis C
- Knowledge of the housing continuum, including supported housing systems and program models for special needs populations
- Demonstrates understanding of oppression and marginalization as related to chronically homeless individuals
- Ability to effectively and safely resolve crisis situations
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
- Ability to establish workload priorities, adjust to new or unexpected events, problem solve, and deal effectively