JOB SUMMARY
Responsible to the Executive Director and supervised by the Willow Place Clinical Supervisor, the Community Housing Specialist is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating programs designed to provide holistic, wrap around support services for individuals experiencing family violence/abuse. The community counselor works alongside individuals to build trusting, therapeutic relationships that are centered on providing individualized, person driven, asset based, trauma informed support and the principles of harm reduction. The counselor develops and maintains a current and broad network of community-based and public sector services and stays current with best and emerging practices in the field. The counselor provides long term support to assist clients obtain and maintain stable housing, economic stability, positive community connections and healthy relationships.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Minimum Undergraduate Degree, preferably in mental health nursing, counselling, psychology or social work
· Certification in mental health and/or addiction would be considered as an asset.
· Minimum one (1) year supervised clinical counseling experience.
· Demonstrated experience working from Trauma Informed/Harm Reduction lens is essential.
· Demonstrated knowledge and experience of working with individuals with complex needs including mental health issues and substance use is essentials.
· Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of social determinants of health and its impact on women, men and children experiencing family violence.
· Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity is required to work effectively with the diversity of Willow Pace clients. Must be willing to work in a pro-choice, LGBTTQ positive environment.
· Must have the proven ability to de-escalate potentially volatile situations and work with vulnerable and marginalized individuals from a strength-based focus.
· Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Housing First principles and S.M.A.R.T goal setting
· Must be flexible and able to work in an evolving environment.
· Demonstrated experience with the planning, implementation and evaluation of a new program model.
· Must be able to form and maintain positive and trusting relationships with participants, property managers, and other providers within health and social services sectors.
· Ability to incorporate current best practices in the field including harm reduction, strength based client-centered approaches and working with trauma from a decolonized perspective.
· Minimum one year supervised counseling experience, including individual and group counseling.
· Excellent self-awareness, personal coping and self-care skills.
· Excellent inter-personal communication, written communication and conflict resolution skills.
· Excellent communication, negotiation, problem solving, decision-making and analytical skills.
· Must have flexible availability and able to work in an evolving environment that can include some evenings and weekends.
· Ability to work remotely with little supervision and under pressure in a stakeholder team environment and balance competing demands for time.
· Good time management and organizational skills.
· Knowledge of community resources and ability to develop connections.
· Current Emergency First Aid and CPR Certificate.
· Must have a class 5 license and access to a vehicle with All Purpose Passenger Vehicle Insurance
· Current Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certificate.
· Satisfactory Abuse Registry and Criminal Record Check.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
COUNSELLING:
· Develops a supportive relationship with each participant and maintains regular contact.
· Completes a structured comprehensive case plan with each participant.
· Empowers participants to make informed choices by providing information, resources and opportunities to understand family and gender-based violence and by supporting them in developing and implementing a client-centered plan. Provides a progressive goal-oriented, holistic and multi-modality process for accomplishing this. Reinforces or expands the problem-solving capacity of the participant.
· Conducts ongoing assessment of program participants.
· Ensures each participant has an up to date protection plan. The protection plan should include, but not limited to, internet safety.
ADVOCACY:
· Support landlords as necessary, including provision of information, and building
relationships and rapport.
· Acts as a referral agent for transitional housing units.
· Provides ongoing support for participants living on their own or in transitional housing units that includes but not limited to: access income supports to sustain tenancies; apply for Identification etc.
· Assist with housing searches, applications and the viewing units as well as follow up.
· Provides information regarding community supports and opportunities.
· Acts as a liaison, advocate, and referral agent and a case manager with outside agencies to provide coordination of services for participants.
· May be required to act as a mediator between participants and landlords
· Provides education and information on abuse to outside agencies to improve services to participants.
· Maintains a broad and current network of community agencies, services and represents Willow Place in a professional manner
CLIENT RELATIONS:
· Proactively creates a space of unconditional positive regard that allows clients a safe space to focus on their own mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
· Forms and maintains positive and trusting relationships with participants that are relationship-based and person centered.
· Models healthy relationship behaviors in all interactions.
· Competently, respectfully and appropriately deals with aggressive or inappropriate behaviors without personalizing the same.
PROGRAMMING:
· Develops and maintains the content, process and materials for facilitating groups that relate to family/domestic violence; tenancy responsibilities and activities of daily living in a rental unit.
· In conjunction with the Supervisor(s) and the Director, ensures program goals for each service area are current and measureable.
· Participates in reviewing, revising and developing program components to enhance client service with the Supervisor(s) and the Director.
· Works collaboratively with the stakeholders to ensure that programming meets the needs of the community the stakeholder provides services to.
· Offers input into formal and informal evaluation of programs.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
· Provides accurate professional file documentation and statistical entries for all clients on the WISH database. Completes required documentation before the end of each shift.
· Document goals and objectives along with related participant outcomes
· Maintains and updates resource materials i.e. pamphlets, resource books, handouts and internet resources as time permits.
· Organizes workload and demonstrates effective time management.
· Maintains appropriate email files and email management.
TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES/STAFF DEVELOPMENT:
· Adheres to the values, guiding principles, policies and procedures of Willow Place and supports the strategic direction of the organization.
· Maintain well established self-awareness, personal coping and self-care skills and seek support from Supervisor(s) as needed.
· Acts as an ambassador for Willow Place in the community.
· Participates in staff meetings and training offerings.
· Acts as a responsible team member by demonstrating initiative, completing work duties, and by maintaining clear, direct and respectful communication with all people in the work environment.
· Proactively stays current with best and emerging practices in the field. Participates regularly in staff development activities according to a learning and development plan identified through supervision and the on-going performance review process.
· Participates as a responsible team member by providing support to various teams and back-up coverage to Willow Place as required in response to the needs and priorities of a 24-hours care facility.
· Attends regular staff meetings and be able to work with team members to build positive relationships in collaborative and respective environment to enhance overall organizational effectiveness.
· Incorporates volunteers and students as valued team members providing support and direction as required.
ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Maintains agency confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
· Engages in regular supervision with the Willow Place Supervisor(s).
· Represents Willow Place in a professional manner.
· Uses appropriate mechanisms for resolving inter-agency problems.
· Maintains ongoing positive public relations with outside agencies, groups, and individuals.
· Maintains a strictly confidential/professional relationship with clients.
** Any other duty(ies) as and when assigned by the management**
Job Types: Permanent, Full-time
Pay: $25.67-$33.89 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Winnipeg, MB R3C 2Z9: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Work Location: In person
