Women's Advocate

**1.** **Resident Support**
- applies knowledge of the issues of trauma and the dynamics of woman abuse to develop and implement effective support strategies
- completes intakes, assessments, risk assessments/safety planning, goal planning, weekly counselling, and departure planning, and other case management support as required
- participates in case conferences and acts as an advocate on behalf of residents
- provides daily support services to residents (e.g. weekly allowance, bus tickets/taxi vouchers, first aid, long-distance calls and assists with completion of forms and statements)
- accompanies women to appointments as necessary
- exercises the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all residents
- uses mediation, facilitation and negotiation skills to maintain a co-operative, supportive and productive house environment
- conducts regular scheduled security checks and fire drills and necessary follow up as required
- provides information and referrals to residents
- prepares and provides relevant information at shift change
- liaises with professionals and agencies in the community to facilitate access to services by the residents
- researches, creates and obtains material to address the needs of residents
- responds appropriately to needs presented by residents and ex-residents
- communicates any issues relating to building to the Facilities Coordinator

**2.** **Violence Against Women Counselling**
- works with women individually and/or in groups to establish a plan that will facilitate a safe and effective path to independence
- provides crisis intervention, informal counselling, safety planning, and referrals to callers
- provides crisis intervention, informal counselling for women and their children in the shelter
- demonstrates and maintain knowledge of relevant issues

**3.** **Mental Health/Addictions Counselling**
- applies knowledge, stays current and demonstrates skill in the area of mental health and addictions
- conducts assessments and identifies residents’ mental health/addictions issues
- provides information and referrals to detox centers, treatment programs, supportive recovery programs, and other relevant mental health /addictions services
- negotiates treatment plans with residents that focus on harm reduction
- demonstrates and maintains knowledge of relevant legislation regarding addictions/mental health

**4.** **Group Work**
- facilitates weekly resident meetings to determine emerging needs and to encourage a cooperative living environment
- develops, implements and evaluates psycho-educational and mutual-aid groups that address residents’ various issues including the issues of trauma and woman abuse
- collaborates with community partners to ensure holistic and efficient service delivery to residents

**5.** **Team Work**
- engages with the staff team in reflective practice to ensure the development and implementation of quality programs and services
- contributes specialized knowledge and expertise to team members to develop meaningful and relevant services for women and children
- actively participates in creating a collaborative and dynamic team environment

**6.** **Administration**
- adheres to all policies and procedures of Homeward Family Shelter
- completes administrative duties as outlined in Homeward Family Shelter policies and procedures manuals and specific to your job description
- maintains, records and compiles program statistics and prepares reports and correspondence as required, i.e. including updates to client information, crisis calls, nightly bed count, incidents reports, security issues
- mal-functioning alarms, fire alarms, fire drills, initial Serious Occurrences Reports (SORs) to their supervisor immediately
- participates in ongoing program evaluation
- ensures that residents are aware of and understand their rights and responsibilities, house practices and procedures
- ensures that resident, workshop and program notes are recorded and maintain
- attends community coalition meetings and speaking engagements as required
- plans programming expenditure within budget allocation
- supervises students and volunteers as required

**7.** **General**
- assists with orientation/training of relief staff, students and volunteers
- participates in supervisory meetings
- any other duties as required that facilitate the effective service delivery of Homeward Family Shelter

**MINIMUM EDUCATION & GENERAL EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS**:

- 2 or more years’ experience in counselling and mutual-aid group work focused on the issues of clients at risk
- completion of workshops and courses pertaining to addiction e.g. substance use, gambling
- in-depth knowledge of the dynamics of woman abuse and trauma
- experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment
- working knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice
- has working knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act
- knowledge of community resources and supports
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