Casual/relief Support Worker

**Who we are**

Cornerstone offers emergency shelter and affordable supportive housing in three residential facilities for women experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental illness, addictions, trauma and abuse in Ottawa. Our services are offered in an environment which promotes dignity and a sense of hope. We are committed to public education and advocacy and strive to increase safe affordable housing and to end homelessness. Cornerstone is a Community Ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.

**Join Our Team**

**Please note**: All Relief Support Workers submit their availability each month. The minimum requirements of availability are outlined below.

**All Relief Support Workers are required to be available for at least eight (8) shifts over at least four (4) separate calendar dates bi-weekly. These dates shall include at least two (2) overnight shifts per month.**

**All Relief Support Workers are required to be available at for least six (6) of the following shifts**:
a) December 24th: Evening, Overnight shifts;
b) December 25th: Day, Evening, and Overnight shifts;
c) December 31st: Evening, Overnight shifts; and
d) January 1st: Day, Evening shifts.

In addition to the Christmas and New Year’s availability, all **Relief Support Workers are required to be available for all shifts on at least five (5) additional Paid Holidays throughout the year.**

**The Opportunity**

The Casual Relief Support Worker provides individualized support to Cornerstone residents in the following areas: basic needs; activities of daily living including maintenance of personal and communal space; physical and mental health; housing; financial; social; spiritual; legal; educational and vocational. The service is flexible and resident-centered to meet the unique situation of each woman. The Support Worker follows the individualized plan as developed by the Case Managers and works with other team members to assist residents to meet their goals.

**The role of the Support Worker is to**:

- Collaborate with other Cornerstone staff and volunteers to develop a warm, accepting, non-judgmental and respectful atmosphere in the residence.
- Model a creative, problem-solving approach with the ultimate goal of assisting residents to sustain housing with Cornerstone and to reach their individual goals.
- Implement early intervention plans
- Proactively prevent and intervene in crises and facilitate resolution of conflict.
- Provide guidance, encouragement and information about community resources.
- Collaborate with Case Managers to implement individualized resident plans.
- Participate in move-in/move-out plan.
- Monitor and assist with residents’ medication routines.
- Facilitate resident gatherings.
- Ensure cleanliness, health, safety, and good repair of residence and individual tenants’ units by carrying out basic household chores, emergency health and safety procedures and regular manual tasks as necessary.
- Collaborate with community services to support resident plans.
- Other related duties as required.

**Qualifications**:

- College Diploma or University Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a social service, social work, or an equivalent field of study (such as Criminology, Gender Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Social Justice)
- Demonstrated experience working with women facing social, health, economic, or other barriers to sustainable housing.
- Bilingualism (French and English) would be considered an asset.
- Fluency in other languages is also considered an asset.
- Satisfactory Police Records Check (Level 3 Vulnerable Sector).

**Skills**:

- Proven sensitivity to and understanding of the needs of women experiencing homelessness, poverty, trauma, abuse, mental illness, addictions, discrimination, new arrival, and other personal and systemic challenges to independent living.
- Ability to work with women of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
- Ability to meet the physical and psychological demands of the position.
- Ability to work independently and within a team.
- Effective communication, interpersonal and public relations skills.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Excellent listening skills.
- Proven conflict resolution and crisis intervention abilities.
- Demonstrated good judgment and problem-solving ability
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using database software such as OneNote or HIFIS.

**Diversity & Inclusion**:
Cornerstone Housing for Women is committed to building a team that reflects and embodies the diversity of the communities we serve and where all staff feel valued, respected, and supported. We are striving toward cultivating a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, respectful, and equitable workplace.
qualified individuals with lived experience of homelessness, housing insecurity, or gender-based violence. We invite applicants from Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities and all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, reli