Housing Support Worker

Part-Time Progress Place Housing Support Worker

The Housing Support Worker is responsible for support and service delivery for individuals living in apartments of the Progress Place Back to Home and Housing Initiative consistent with psychosocial rehabilitation principles and the Clubhouse model of mental health recovery.

The Housing Support Worker will:
Engage homeless and/or hard to house men and women with severe mental illness who may also have substance use issues, using enthusiasm and energy by establishing relationships, working side-by-side and by encouraging clients to expand their responsibility. Shifts are required on weekends and holidays including 9-5 or noon to 8pm.

Assess the level of support and type of intervention that may be required to assist the tenants to maintain their housing by supporting individuals (case management) in their housing on a regular basis to promote their ability to live independently through direct, assertive and empathetic communication and good listening skills during regular visits and meetings, and on the telephone.

Develop service plans and/or Coordinated Care Plan and/or Ontario Common Assessment of Need, (Ocan) and Ontario Perception of Care, (Opoc) for each client on an individualized basis.

Coordinate the relocation of assigned individuals to apartments. This would include assisting in the set-up of the apartments.

Provide living skills support according to individual needs such as cleaning, shopping, budgeting etc. by establishing an effective working relationship and working side-by-side to teach the required skills.

Monitor individual’s level of functioning and their service plan to determine their ability to cope with their living situation and to ensure adequacy of support avoiding hospitalization if possible.

Liaise with superintendents and/or tenant managers, case manager, doctors, psychiatrist, trustee, Home and Community Care team etc. to help ensure that individuals are better able to maintain their assigned housing.

Maintain communication with other community resources as required to facilitate individual’s recovery and help maintain housing.

Promote, encourage and facilitate connections to the Progress Place clubhouse and other community programs.

Provide crisis intervention as required.

Be on-call on a cell phone during shift hours.

Ensure that written records (progress notes, client self-reports and call reports) are maintained.

Participate in the evaluation of the program and its goals and objectives.

Work as part of a multidisciplinary team and in partnership with various hospitals such as CAMH, St. Michael’s Hospital, High Support Housing Programs and Homecare and Community Supports.

Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Team Lead and or Manager of Support Services and or Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of how to work effectively with people with severe mental illness who have substance abuse problems, have been homeless, have been unable to maintain housing, and who have had difficulty in accessing community resources.

One year experience as a shelter or housing worker.

Minimum of six months working experience with persons with severe mental illness and/or addictions.

A degree or college certificate in a related field or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.

The Housing Support Worker must exhibit sound judgement, tact and diplomacy; be consistent in all interaction with other staff and members; demonstrate cooperation with team members; show an understanding of how to work effectively with psychiatrically disabled adults; and at all times respect the confidentiality of both program and member information.

This is not a PSW position.

HOURS

Daytime/early evening shifts primarily during weekends and holidays. There are no overnight shifts. The program is provided daily from 9am to 8pm, 7 days per week.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Duties require flexible scheduling and involve activities which are done on a routine basis: use PC screens, walk up and down flights of stairs, bend, stretch, lift, carry, stoop, push, reach above shoulder, and reach below shoulder.

Working with members in difficult personal circumstances.

Working with members with complex mental health and/or substance use issues.

**Job Type**: Part-time

Expected hours: 15 - 30 per week

Flexible language requirement:

- French not required

Schedule:

- Every Weekend
- Holidays

**Education**:

- DCS / DEC (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-03-07
Expected start date: 2025-04-01