Complex Care Housing, Vernon is located within the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Syilx Nation.
Position: Life Skills Worker (LSW)
Program: Complex Care Housing (CCH) – Aboriginal Housing Management Association
Location: Vernon, BC
Reports to: Complex Care Housing Manager
Position Type: Full-Time - Awake Nights
Pay Scale: $27.00 – $29.00 (Non-union)
This is a 24/7 residential program. Weekend and statutory holiday availability may be required based on position type. Applicants are asked to indicate their availability and preferred shift(s) in their cover letter.
Complex Care Housing Mandate:
Aboriginal Housing Management Association operates a 24/7 staffed 10-bed Complex Care home for Indigenous women with complex mental health, substance use, and health needs.
The program is delivered by a multidisciplinary team and integrates culturally grounded practice, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction within a residential housing model.
Our approach prioritizes safety, dignity, cultural connection, and long-term stability.
We are committed to creating a culturally safe and supportive environment for both residents and staff.
Job Summary:
The Life Skills Worker (LSW) provides direct support to residents in a 24/7 residential program.
The LSW works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and receives clinical guidance from qualified clinicians while maintaining operational accountability to the CCH Manager.
The LSW supports implementation of individualized care plans within a culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction framework. Responsibilities include assisting with daily routines, responding to crises, supporting medication routines, maintaining accurate documentation, and contributing to a safe, structured, and respectful living environment.
The role also includes maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the home, supporting meal preparation and kitchen routines, and modeling consistency and stability within the residence.
This position requires active engagement, emotional regulation, reliability, strong professional boundaries, and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. Cultural humility and respect for Indigenous ways of knowing are essential.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
1. Resident Support & Daily Living
· Provide direct, day-to-day support to residents within a 24/7 residential setting.
· Assist with meal preparation, household tasks, and maintaining a clean, safe, and organized home environment.
· Support residents in developing skills related to personal care, nutrition, money management, communication, and independent living.
· Plan, facilitate, and participate in structured in-house programming and group activities that support psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR), life skills development, and recovery-oriented goals.
· Support medication routines and program participation in accordance with established policies and scope of practice.
· Promote safety, structure, and consistency within the home.
2. Crisis Response & Safety
· Respond to crisis situations in a calm and timely manner, prioritizing safety and stabilization.
· Conduct risk assessments and apply crisis intervention strategies within scope of practice.
· Identify and respond to medical or mental health emergencies, including overdose response and first aid, in accordance with established procedures.
· Report significant changes in resident status to appropriate team members.
· Complete required documentation, including incident reports, in accordance with program policy.
3. Care Planning & Team Collaboration
· Participate in the development, implementation, and review of individualized support and care plans.
· Contribute to case reviews, team meetings, and case conferences.
· Collaborate with nursing, clinical, cultural, and community partners to support resident goals.
4. Community Access & Advocacy
· Support residents in attending appointments, accessing community services, and developing natural supports, consistent with staffing levels and safety considerations.
· Provide practical assistance with transportation and community integration as operationally feasible.
· Advocate for residents within community systems within scope of the role.
5. Documentation & Professional Practice
- Maintain accurate, timely, and objective documentation in accordance with program standards.
- Maintain confidentiality and protect resident privacy in accordance with organizational and legislative requirements.
- Maintain professional boundaries and adhere to organizational policies and procedures.
- Participate in required meetings, training, and education sessions.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Experience
We encourage applications from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals. Cultural knowledge and lived experience are valued in this role. We welcome applicants with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use recovery. Relevant lived experience may be considered in place of formal education.
Preferred Qualifications:
· Certificate, diploma, or relevant experience in mental health, social services, community support, or a related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.
· Current certification in, or willingness to obtain:
o First Aid/CPR
o Food Safe Level 1
o Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI)
o WHMIS
o Naloxone Training
· A valid Class 5 B.C. Driver’s License is required. Some positions may require resident transportation.
Skills & Abilities
· Ability to build respectful, trusting relationships with residents.
· Strong emotional regulation and ability to remain calm in crisis situations.
· Ability to work within a harm reduction–based residential setting.
· Ability to respond to overdose and other medical or mental health emergencies in accordance with established procedures.
· Non-judgmental approach to substance use, recovery pathways, and diverse lived experiences.
· Strong team-based skills, including active listening, openness to feedback, collaborative problem-solving, and respectful conflict resolution.
· Ability to maintain professional boundaries and contribute positively within a multidisciplinary team.
· Clear verbal and written communication skills, including accurate and objective documentation.
· Reliability, accountability, and ability to remain alert and engaged throughout assigned shifts.
· Ability to learn and use electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Basic knowledge of, or ability to develop skills in, Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel).
· Ability to meet the physical and emotional demands of a 24/7 residential environment.
Preference may be given to qualified Indigenous applicants in accordance with Section 41 of the Human Rights Code.
Successful applicants will be required to provide a Criminal Record Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening and three supervisory references.
Pay: $27.00-$29.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- Please answer these questions in your own words and based on your own experience. We are interested in hearing your authentic perspective, communication style, and critical thinking. Responses generated primarily by artificial intelligence (AI) may not accurately reflect your experience and may disadvantage your application.
- What are your preferred pronouns?
- Do you have experience supporting or administering medications? If yes, briefly describe your responsibilities (e.g., MARs, medication assistance/administration, documentation, witnessing ingestion, PRNs, medication counts, etc.).
- Have you ever responded to a suspected overdose? If yes, briefly describe your role and level of involvement (e.g., monitoring, naloxone administration, emergency response, documentation, etc.).
- Have you worked in a residential, supportive housing, shelter, or similar setting where active substance use was present? If yes, briefly describe your experience. If not, please indicate whether you would feel comfortable working within a harm-reduction environment where substance use may occur.
- This role involves supporting residents with complex mental health, substance use, behavioural, and medical needs, including individuals experiencing psychosis, in a 24/7 residential setting. What interests you about this type of work?
Work Location: In person
