Community Support Worker

**Title**: Community Support Worker
- Drop In**Hours**: Relief**Location**: 962 Bloor St West and Occasional accompaniments in the community**Supervisor**: Drop in Supervisors**Sistering **is a multi-service agency for at-risk, socially isolated women and trans people in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed.** **Our harm reduction philosophy is a core element of all the work we do. We operate on a trauma-informed and relationship-based model.

Our programs include a low-barrier 24/7 Drop In, Housing and Case Support, Harm Reduction, Peer Outreach, on-site Medical Clinic, On the Path to Employment and Spun Studio social enterprise. During COVID our 24/7 Drop In runs as one of the City Respite Centres, providing essential services.

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**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Program:_
- Work productively and collaboratively within a team to ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the 24/7 Women’s Drop In
- Provide programming and supports within a low-barrier, harm reduction, trauma informed framework
- Provide practical support to women such as assisting with meal preparation and service, distribution of donations and facilitating the use of shower and laundry facilities
- Provide individual support to women using case support, informal counselling and trauma-informed interventions
- Deliver harm reduction programming and participate in the distribution of kits and information related to safer drug use
- Provide support to women who are withdrawing from alcohol and other substances
- With team members, develop, and deliver programming that is responsive to the needs of participants
- Facilitate small and large group work
- Identify, intervene and effectively deal with emergency, crisis and conflict situations
- Ensure that the Drop In space is clean, well maintained and organized
- Supervise placement students and volunteers
- Provide direction and support to participant cleaners and kitchen assistants
- Assist with early morning drop off and unloading food orders and supplies where necessary
- Administration:_
- Facilitate and ensure consistent and clear communication across all 3 shifts of the 24/7 Drop In and across the organization
- Maintain petty cash
- Assist in the implementation of appropriate program evaluation tools
- Complete program evaluations and participate in priority setting for Sistering
- Write reports, maintain up to date files, and prepare daily and monthly statistics
- Participate in staff meetings, daily log meetings and agency committees
- Occasionally assist with the purchase and maintenance of program equipment and supplies
- Participate in regular supervision meetings with the Drop In Supervisor
- Advocacy and Community Building:_
- Advocate on behalf of women within Sistering and with other agencies
- Collaborate with service users to identify directions and methods for social change

**Other duties as assigned**

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Educational background in social work/social services/human services work or equivalent education and lived experience
- Thorough knowledge of and experience with community-based resources and services including shelter support, housing, legal, income support, health, mental health and settlement
- Thorough understanding of and experience working in programs serving women with complex intersecting needs including homelessness, mental health issues, addictions and histories of trauma
- Experience working in a low barrier drop-in or similar environment
- Skilled in crisis intervention, de-escalation, conflict resolution and group facilitation
- Strong understanding of client-centered, trauma-informed, low barrier and anti-oppression practices
- Demonstrated commitment to principles of harm reduction and knowledge of substance use
- Understanding of peer led model of engagement and interest in working with peer workers
- Proven ability to provide case support and advocacy to women from a feminist and anti-oppressive perspective
- An understanding of systems that cause and support homelessness, poverty and marginalization
- Strong communication skills, both written and oral
- Highly developed interpersonal skills and ability to build effective relationships with participants, team members and community partners
- Strong problem-solving, team building and priority setting skills
- Ability to work in a fast paced and demanding work environment
- Additional languages besides English an asset
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using Pirouette, SMIS or similar database an asset

**WORKING CONDITIONS**:
This position works in the office and community. Sistering is a 24/7 operation, fast paced, intense environment. There may be the risk of exposure to potentially unpredictable behaviours and situations. Sistering is a pet friendly facility and as such, employees can expect to be in the proximity of animals.