Lale House – Housing Support Worker

Housing Support Worker (Temporary Full Time)

Aunt Leah’s Place is a non-profit organization that helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless and mothers in need from losing custody of their children. To support youth on their journey to self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job training, and coaching on essential life skills.

Job Summary: As part of the Aunt Leah’s Society team, the Housing Program Support Worker is to ensure the safety and well-being of Participants, transitioning out of foster care, or at risk of homelessness on their journey to growth and self–sufficiency with one of the many goals being that of preventing homelessness. This program offers shared and independent living in stable and affordable housing at the Lale House and two Supportive suites within the community. The Housing Support Worker will offer residents direct one-to-one, personalized training on life skills, offer educational guidance, employment training or referrals to other Aunt Leah’s programs. The Housing Support Worker will work from a strengths-based approach and intervention; will also work to identify strengths, issues, and areas of risks, and will assist, coach, and motivate residents in establishing and maintaining their short–term and long-term goals and strategies within program guidelines.

Qualifications:
• 1-2 years of post-secondary education in Child & Youth Care or equivalent with experience or a relevant combination of education and experience and general suitability

Skills and Knowledge:

Communication (Verbal & Written)
Ability to follow and implement program policies and procedures
Interpersonal Abilities & Team Work Skills
Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness
Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity
Crisis Management/Conflict resolution skills
Ability to work independently
Solid time management skills and ability to have a solid self-care plan
Person-Centered Approach
Flexibility/Adaptability in managing multiple priorities
Ability to work in a stressful environment
Planning/Organizing & Budgeting Skills
Report Writing & Documentation
Ability to teach and mentor life-skills
Computer/Technical Literacy
Trauma Informed practice
Motivational Interviewing

Requirements:

Undergo and maintain satisfactory Criminal Record check
Follow Aunt Leah’s Code of Ethics
Follow Aunt Leah’s Policies and Procedures
Valid Class 5 Driver’s License with business insurance and $5 million liability coverage
Access to own vehicle and produce clear driving abstract • First Aid Level C with CPR
Food Safe
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
Mental Health First Aid
Addictions & Substance Use Training
Overdose Rapid Response Training

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Direct Care (Including One to One Support): Supports, encourages and motivates participants, through developing a trusting relationship. Key areas of support are as follows:
• Parenting Skills: (how to support a family in a healthy manner, ages, and stages of child development, etc.)
• Job searching/maintaining skills (job search, resume preparation, job interview preparation, completing employment applications, support maintaining employment)
• Household maintenance (basic cooking skills, menu planning, house cleaning, laundry, personal hygiene, grocery shopping, etc.)
• Financial management (opening bank accounts, Child Tax benefits, daycare subsidies, filing income tax, paying bills, budgeting, saving, obtaining social insurance numbers, setting up direct deposit, etc.)
• Interpersonal skills (developing and maintaining healthy relationships, conflict resolution, seeking assistance and support from friends and professionals as necessary, etc.)
• Health and personal habits (training and education in basic health care, development of responsible sexual practices, accessing additional services such as Mental Health/A&D Counseling)
• Leisure activities (learning how to locate, use, develop and maintain healthy ways to utilize recreational time)
• Education/vocational upgrading (assistance and support in obtaining appropriate training, supporting participants in making contact with appropriate educational resources, Aunt Leah’s Place Supporting Education for Foster Youth, and school registration)
• Cultural Connectivity (assistance and support around connecting with their Heritage and participating in the cultural practices of their home (or identified home) communities

2. Direct Care (other):

• Ensures Aunt Leah’s Lale House rules and policies are followed and implemented in a consistent manner
• Responsible for storage of food, meal planning and preparation according to the Aunt Leah’s Lale House policy and procedure manual
• Oversees and assists with young adults in meal preparation according to Canada Food Guide
• Completes additional cleaning duties as directed by Supervisor
• Diffuses any crisis situations
• Involved with tracking outcomes measurement (e.g. health and safety, changes in demographics, changes in employment and education status)
• Transportation of young adults to appointments via own vehicle or public transportation
• Problem solves, coaches and motivates participants with their personalized service plan and goals

3. Financial Responsibilities:
• Ensures that expenses follow budget guidelines as outlined in the Aunt Leah’s Lale House Manual (petty cash, monetary incentives for participants, etc.)

4. Health and Safety:
• Housing Support Workers ensure that Aunt Leah’s Lale House is maintained to Society standards, according to the Aunt Leah’s policies and procedures manual; conduct regular emergency drills; check safety devices weekly; ensure that each participant is knowledgeable of fire exit routes and emergency drills
• Participates in the annual review of Aunt Leah’s Health and Safety Policy and Procedures
• Understands and follows work-alone policy and procedure

5. Communication:

Internal:
• Communicates accurately and in writing that ensures seamless delivery of care between staff and professionals
• Completes report writing at professional standards (monthly reports, daily logs, critical & reportable incident reports within policy guidelines)
• Ensures all written records are to court standards
• Regularly updates and informs supervisor of Aunt Leah’s Lale House activities
• Liaises and seeks direction from Aunt Leah’s on-call supervisor after hours
• Follows procedures and protocols for reporting Critical and Reportable Incidents and contacts the appropriate authorities (on-call supervisor, MCFD After Hours, Police, Ambulance, Fire Department, etc.)
• Attend all team meetings and society meetings as directed by Supervisor

External:
• Communicates with other professionals and tenants approved family members as required
• Researches community resources and makes information available to tenants and other staff members as appropriate
• Comply with the Good Neighbor Agreement from City of New Westminster and re-enforce agreement with participants.

6. Confidentiality:
• All information about participants in the program is strictly confidential both internally and externally
• Ensures all written material is locked in the office and all phone calls regarding participants take place in the office
• Support Workers will follow Aunt Leah’s Society Policies and Procedures and Aunt Leah’s Code of
Ethics (includes Child and Youth Care Association of BC Code of Ethics, Aunt Leah’s Privacy Policy, BC Rights of Youth in Care and United Nations Rights of the Child)

7. Physical Demands: This position requires some lifting of heavier objects

8. Work Environment:
• Aunt Leah’s Lale House is a supportive residential housing program for former youth in care; staff works alone
• An average shift is 7.5 hour work day, 37.5 hours a week–flexibility in working weekends and evenings and on-call; scheduled at the discretion of the Supervisor

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy: As of January 4, 2022, Aunt Leah’s Place has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination policy. Aunt Leah’s Place strongly encourages all employees to be fully vaccinated (2 doses) for COVID-19. Rather than a mandatory vaccine policy, we are implementing a voluntary disclosure of vaccination. Employees will fill out a “voluntary disclosure” form indicating their vaccination status. Employees that do not wish to voluntarily disclose their vaccination status will be considered unvaccinated for operational planning purposes. The voluntary disclosure form will be included in the hiring process.

Living Wage Employer: As a certified living wage employer, we are committed to compensating our employees a living wage that allows working families to support the healthy development of their children and participate in the social, civic and cultural lives of their communities. Embracing a living wage policy aligns with our Strategic Goals and provides our staff a great place to work!

We Offer: A comprehensive benefits package that includes: dental, extended health care including vision care and prescription, RRSP matching, generous vacation, and personal time package, and an employee discount at our Thrift Store.

Salary: Starting at $23.00 per hour

To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter with salary expectation, quoting Temporary Housing Support Worker in the subject line, to [email protected] . Short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Thank you for your interest in joining Aunt Leah’s Independent Life Skills Society!

We encourage qualified people of all gender expressions and identities, sexual orientations, visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities to apply if you are interested in supporting our mission and mandate and like what we have to offer.