Community Support Worker

Are you developing your social work career and looking for more experience in the violence against women (VAW) sector to expand your portfolio? Are you passionate about diverse, intersectional feminism?

Interval House of Hamilton (IHOH) is committed to delivering feminist (diverse intersectional)-based compassionate and innovative supports, counselling and therapeutic/activity-based group programing for women and their children who we support through our various services. Our Victoria and Friends shelter has the capacity to house 35 or more residents on any given day. We offer crisis intervention counselling, emergency shelter, a transitional housing program, and multiple outreach programs for our residents. IHOH is committed to responsible, equitable, accountable and progressive services. As a women’s organization we strive to meet the increasing needs of women and children and recognize the key role we play in advocating for the rights and safety of women. We are guided by our mandate, “violence-free lives for all women, children and communities.”

We are looking for talented, resilient, team-oriented, and dedicated staff to fill a contract Woman’s Education and Rural Support Community Worker (WEARS) position to improve our reach to the rural Hamilton community.

All outreach workers encourage a caring, healthy, safe and positive environment for the women we support. Staff promote weekly groups and activities to provide productive outlets for personal growth and healing. This work may involve preventing, managing, and defusing any behavioral issues that arise and helping clients manage the personal and emotional issues that may contribute to their actions.

**Job Type**: Full-time, Permanent
**Pay**: starting at $26.38 per hour.

**Application deadline**: 2025-01-18
- Note: IHOH is a SEIU unionized workplace and this role would be covered under the current collective agreement._

**SUMMARY**

Reporting to the Manager of Community Programs, the WEARS role is designed to provide generalized and violence against women (VAW) support and services to women experiencing intimate partner or domestic violence living in the rural areas of Hamilton. Through an intersectional, feminist lens, the WEARS Worker will engage in community development, raise awareness, and create pathways for rural women to receive supports such as safety planning, education, individual and group counseling, and advocacy for safe and affordable housing. Using their experience within the community, this team will continuously develop the WEARS program to make it an innovative outreach tool for Interval House of Hamilton (IHOH).

This position performs their duties in accordance with the vision, values, and strategic goals of the organization. All IHOH staff are required to work within and comply with any and all applicable legislation, internal policies, procedures and work practices. This role is vital to drive the expansion of services in the VAW sector for the broader Hamilton community.

**Location**:This role is expected to be an in-person position, travelling in the rural Hamilton area and checking in at the Women's Resource Centre office located in downtown Hamilton.

**Hours of Work**:The role’s hours are mostly from 9:00am - 4:30pm and the days worked shift each week from a Monday - Friday to Tuesday - Saturday schedule, with some evening shifts, and the understanding that there may need to be flexibility to attend evening and weekend events within the community as part of the role. Total weekly hours are not to exceed 37.5 hours.

**Job Duties**

The main responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Engage rural communities and build interagency collaboration to provide public and professional education on the VAW sector and implement an outreach program.
- Provide general and VAW specific counseling to women, focusing on safety.
- Use risk assessment tools to assess risk of harm and lethality and safety plan accordingly.
- Case management and case planning including crisis prevention/intervention, safety planning, housing, supportive counseling, parenting support, educational upgrading, job training, income support, health, and wellness services.
- Support the physical, emotional and safety needs of children to ensure that they are receiving the necessary intervention, protection, and support.
- Develop and coordinate good working relationships with referral agencies and other outside professionals, specifically including regional housing authorities, women’s and children’s counseling services, educational programs, job training programs, income support workers, and health and welfare services.
- Working knowledge of various housing options including non-profit, private, co-op and housing benefit programs.
- Refer, advocate and network within the various systems.
- Attend and participate in staff meetings, community meeting, committees, and related activities.
- Coordinate and perform various o