Residential Support Worker

**DATE**:October 31, 2024
**LOCATION**:Toronto, ON - McEwan Housing and Support Services
**COMPENSATION**: $23.52/hr

LOFT Community Services is a unique and dynamic charitable organization that supports people living with complicated issues such as mental and physical health challenges, substance use challenges, poverty and homelessness. Serving approximately 19,633 annually and providing 1,861 units of supportive housing last year, LOFT is one of Ontario’s largest mental health service providers of its kind. LOFT is also recognized as a Nonprofit Employer of Choice Award (NEOC) recipient.

To help fulfill its mission, LOFT is hiring a Relief -** **Residential Support Worker**.**

**Job Summary**
The Residential Support Worker provides a range of assistance and supports to clients living with mental illnesses in a Program residence or independently in the community.

**McEwan Housing and Support Services** provides Case Management for adults 16 or older living with HIV or AIDS, who experience mental health challenges and/or substance use issues in the Toronto core, who experience homelessness/marginally housed, supporting health care and system navigation, and ensuring inclusiveness of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, with the goal of community re-integration and personal empowerment.

**What You Will Do**

Through a team oriented professional approach, the position provides support to the client to increase their independence, dignity and self-respect, in a safe and secure environment by:

- Building a rapport with each individual and providing coaching or mentoring to enable each in meeting the daily requirements of their housing environment and a healthy lifestyle; directly assisting with their daily living activities, particularly in the acquisition of life skills in such areas as hygiene, medication management, cooking, meal planning, cleaning, shopping and budgeting; developing strategies or establishing plans for maintaining these daily activities and other aspects of their recovery plan, for increasing their awareness of safety issues and for ensuring that residents receive adequate support in various aspects of their life; orientation of new clients; participating in intake for the program.
- Supporting and participating in house meetings, resident association activities or other group activities which promote the wellbeing of the residents and the smooth operation of the house; conducting and facilitating resident group meetings, assisting client-run initiatives, preparing schedules of house activities; maintaining a general awareness of the activities or whereabouts of residents in the house, identifying issues, communicating or noting incidents for director as required; maintaining petty cash, collecting rents and intervening in issues pertaining to maintenance or property; providing cleaning or minor house maintenance as required; teaching residents the appropriate fire safety protocols and conducting regular health and safety checks;
- Maintaining a strong support network of social, family, medical and psychiatric community links and resources; providing reminders and occasionally accompanying clients on their medical, psychiatric or other appointments; assisting the client in navigating the social services and health care systems and liaising with community agencies, hospitals or significant others; providing 24 hour crisis support on a rotational basis through a pager or similar system;
- Promote the psycho-social rehabilitation/ recovery approach, assist in harm reduction strategies, teaching conflict resolution, crisis management and problem solving on activities related to shared living; mediating issues or conflicts between residents, or between residents and neighbours, following-up on issues to ensure satisfactory resolution;Participating in the administration of the program by completing and maintaining the required records or statistics such as resident files, activity sheets, reports, etc. In accordance with established procedures; participating actively as a team member in program delivery by providing support and consultation to colleagues, identifying gaps in service and recommending solutions, participating in meetings, planning and evaluation initiatives, committees, events and activities, orienting new staff, determining staff schedules; providing other related assistance as required.

**What You Bring**
- An understanding of harm reduction, and psychosocial rehabilitation principles
- A relevant degree/diploma in human services,
- At least two years of experience working with the client population
- Knowledge of the issues faced by adults with special needs and a marginalized client group which can include addictions, cognitive impairments, HIV/AIDS.
- An understanding of the therapeutic relationship with an ability to negotiate with clients on goals and priorities.
- Experience in working as part of a team of professionals, and in conducting meetings or facilitating groups.