Part Time Shelter Relief Counsellor- Union

Are you early in your social work career and looking for more experience in the violence against women (VAW) sector to expand your portfolio? Are you passionate about diverse, intersectional feminism?

Interval House of Hamilton (IHOH) is committed to delivering feminist (diverse intersectional) - based compassionate and innovative supports, counselling and therapeutic/activity-based group programing for women and their children who we support through our various programming. Our Victoria and Friends shelter has 11 funded rooms and the capacity to house up to 35 residents on any given day. We offer crisis intervention counselling, emergency shelter, a transitional housing program, and multiple outreach programs for our residents. We are looking for talented, resilient, team-oriented, and dedicated staff to fill positions at our shelter.
- Note: IHOH is a SEIU unionized workplace and this role would be covered under the current collective agreement._

**POSITION DETAILS**:
All front-line counsellors encourage a caring, healthy, safe and positive residential setting for women in the shelter. Staff promote weekly support groups and activities to help women through this difficult time in their lives and provide productive outlets for them to promote personal growth and healing. This work may involve preventing, managing and defusing any behavioral issues that arise within the shelter and helping residents manage the personal and emotional issues that may contribute to their actions.

As part of maintaining a healthy and safe environment, **all front-line employees** are expected to contribute to meal prep, cooking, cleaning and maintenance of workplace during their shifts.

**POSITION DETAILS**:
Front-line relief staff provide support to, and contribute to, the case management goals, safety planning, and strategies for women and their children seeking a safe haven at our shelter.

Major responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Provision of case management and planning for women who are fleeing abuse and residing in the shelter;
- Asses and plan for women’s personal safety, coping (harm reduction if necessary), counselling and legal support needs/requirements,
- Assuming responsibility for client’s caseloads, including the administrative functions associated with this work;
- Responding to crisis calls;
- Providing short-term, strength-based counseling; and
- Promoting/implementing a safe, healthy, clean, secure and comfortable shelter environment for residents.

**Key Activities**:

- Adhere to IHOH values, policies, procedures, and work practices.
- Provide support and services to women/children accessing emergency shelter.
- Provide general and VAW-specific counseling and groups to women, with a focus on safety.
- Use risk assessment tools to assess risk of harm, lethality, and safety plan accordingly.
- Case management and planning including crisis prevention/intervention, safety planning, housing, supportive counseling, parenting support, educational upgrading, job training, income support, health, and wellness services.
- Support the physical, emotional, and safety needs of children to ensure that they are receiving the necessary intervention, protection, and support they require.
- Develop and coordinate good working relationships with referral agencies and other outside professionals, specifically including regional housing authorities, women’s and children’s counseling services, educational programs, job training programs, income support worker and health and welfare services.
- Working knowledge of various housing options including non-profit, private, co-op and housing benefit programs.
- Refer, advocate and network within the various systems.
- Attend and participate in staff meetings, community meeting, committees, and related activities.
- Coordinate and perform various operational and administrative responsibilities such as preparation of comprehensive statistical reports, data collection and providing research to support special projects including the preparation of the program reports as required by funders.
- Assist with the preparation of meals, kitchen duties, housekeeping, and general operational tasks.
- Other related duties as assigned.
- that are 8 hours each
- per schedule under the terms provided upon employment. Note that in August, our current Part-Time Relief employees worked an average of 9 shifts per month.

**QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED**

**Education**: Undergraduate degree in Social Work, or related discipline, from a recognized University/College. Bachelor Degrees are preferred.

**Experience**:

- 2+ years of experience working in Women’s Services, with preference given to experience with residential settings. Women’s service experience includes but is not limited to group facilitation, program planning, and working with high risk women.
- 2+ years of experience working with women who have experienced abuse/violence; preferably work experience in shelter/com