Shelter Support Worker: The Osborn

**Job description**

**PHS Community Services Society (PHS) is looking for Sheltering & Outreach Support Worker to at the Osborn Shelter, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday 8:00PM-8:00AM. **_**Training for this position will be Tuesday, July 9th to Friday, July 12th from 9AM-5PM.**_

**JOB SUMMARY**

Working as a part of a collaborative team, the Sheltering and Outreach Support Worker finds creative ways to support guests/clients to meet their basic needs and access essential life-protecting care. Sheltering and Outreach staff are responsible for emergent response to guest/client needs. Working in a high paced environment, with high guest/client turnover staff must be able to prioritize and triage urgent needs and responses to guest/client care. Using specialized methods to collect and track data throughout our continuum, sheltering and outreach staff will support guests/clients as they move through and among our spaces building a model of care that accommodates the transient nature of how our clients/guests use community supports and services.

**SOCIETY PHILOSOPHY**

PHS Community Services Society provides housing, harm reduction, health promotion and health care to vulnerable communities. Our supportive housing and low barrier programs provide refuge, services and advocacy for those who are homeless or poorly served elsewhere due to their physical health, mental health, behaviour, substance use, or involvement with the criminal justice system. Our work is grounded in honouring self-determination and providing as much choice of therapeutic treatments as possible within a trauma-informed continuum of care. We foster an environment which accepts and looks to the good in each member. PHS is a renowned innovator and a leader in harm reduction and health care for marginalized communities. PHS Housing actively seeks to find an alternative to eviction in every situation.

**WHY WORK HERE?**

PHS is recognized as North American leaders in low barrier housing and harm reduction services. We are innovators, highly regarded across the sector, looking for people to join experienced, supportive multi-disciplinary teams. You will be a valued member of the team, working with colleagues who respect your input.

PHS is located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, in easy walking distance of Downtown, Chinatown, Gastown and the Sea Wall. There are good transit links - we’re a couple of blocks from the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

The job includes, but is not limited to, the following:

- Completes various tasks associated with support in houselessness and underhousing including but not limited to: orientation to shelter spaces, facilitating transfers between shelters/SROs, ensuring basic life saving amenities are provided, and continuing work and advocacy to transition folks into more appropriate housing.
- Listens and responds to guest/client needs, concerns, and questions. Responsible for deescalating situations that arise.
- Liaises with other sites and community partners and assists guests/clients with accessing services related to survival needs like healthcare, housing, food, clothing and social support.
- Contributes to a collaborative working relationship with internal and external stakeholders to develop, manage and evaluate guest/client care plans. Liaises regularly with Overdose Outreach Team, VCH Integrated Housing and Outreach Team, Forensics Outreach Services, Vancouver Intensive Supervision Unit and the Vancouver Integrated Supervision Unit, Intensive Case Management teams, and the Assertive Community Treatment teams to secure care and support for guests/clients.
- Works respectfully and appropriately with the police, probation officers and courts to assist guests/clients with navigating legal systems.
- Assists guests/clients with daily living needs such as storage management, pod cleaning, home support, and linen changes.
- Maintains guest/client administrative records, including health and care plans, financial/banking, daily shift reports, job draw information, and other checklists.
- Collects information from guests/clients and completes specialized sheltering and outreach data collection forms including, HIFIS, the Outreach Tracker, Guest Support Info, External Referral Tracking sheets, and Housing Allocations spreadsheet.
- Uses logs and care plans to document observations, monitoring guest baselines, noting perceived de-compensating behaviours, and coordinating access to appropriate supports.
- Responsible for crisis intervention in the event of overdose and responding to complex emergency situations. Strong knowledge of current street drugs and their presentation in individuals experiencing overdose symptoms is required
- Complies with the Book of Knowledge procedure for medication storage and dispensing over-the-counter treatments. Provides prescription medication reminders, as needed. Coordinates with pharmacies for guest/client access to medications.
- Maintains accura