Support Worker

**VISION**:
Everyone has a home in a community that supports them to live with dignity and hope.

**MISSION**:
Cornerstone provides a continuum of housing support for women and gender-diverse people that is inclusive and reduces barriers.

**COMMITMENTS**:
Social Justice - A leader in ending homelessness. Collaboration - Strong partnerships to meet diverse needs. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - A culturally competent and inclusive organization. Respect - Sharing, caring communities that support physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Organizational Excellence - A strong foundation for our work.

**EQUITY, DIVERSITY, and INCLUSION STATEMENT**:
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 towards cultivating a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, respectful, and equitable workplace.

Cornerstone is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We thank all applicants for your interest in joining Cornerstone. **No phone calls please**. We appreciate your understanding.

**JOB DESCRIPTION**:
The Support Worker provides individualized support to Cornerstone residents. Client needs are assessed, a service plan is developed and the resident is referred to appropriate community resources. The service is flexible and resident-centered to meet the unique situation of each woman. The Support Worker aids in the following life domains: 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 Support Worker follows the individualized plan as developed by the Case Manager and works with other team members to assist residents to meet their goals.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Works with other Cornerstone staff, students, and volunteers to develop a warm, accepting, non-judgmental and respectful atmosphere in the residence
- Models a creative, problem-solving approach with the ultimate goal of assisting residents to sustain housing with Cornerstone and to reach their individual goals.

**Assessment and Planning**
- Takes part in orientation of new residents
- Develops supportive, respectful, and collaborative relationships with residents
- identifies potential risks to maintaining their housing

**Resident Support Services**
- Actively uses effective listening skills
- Implements early intervention plans
- Proactively prevents and intervenes in crises
- Provides guidance, encouragement, and information about community resources
- Coaches and models independent living skills in individual and group activities
- Collaborates with Case Manager to implement individualized resident plans
- Participates in move-in/move-out plans
- Accompanies residents to appointments
- Facilitates resolution of conflict and complaints
- Monitors and assists with residents’ medication routines
- Facilitates resident’ gatherings
- Ensures 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
- Assists residents to create a natural support network of friends, family, and significant others
- Advocates for and assists residents to access community services
- Other related duties as required

**Community Relations**
- Collaborates with community services to support resident plans
- Assists in the orientation and guidance of students and volunteers
- Carries out a collaborative and welcoming relationship with agency partners, volunteers, donors, and the community at large
- Liaises with police, ambulance, fire, and emergency services when necessary
- Facilitates and participates in the development of activities for all Cornerstone residents

**Administration**
- Maintains up-to-date resident files
- Books shifts as required
- Completes any reports/documentation as requested by Manager
- Carries out approved fire and health and safety plans
- Participates in staff meetings and training sessions as required

**Other**
- Performs other related duties from time to time as assigned
- Carries out approved fire and health and safety plans

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- College or University education in a social services field or equivalent
- Minimum one-year related employment experience
- Demonstrated experience with socially disadvantaged women
- Bilingualism (French and English) preferred
- Satisfactory Police Records Check for the 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 psycholo