Crisis Support Worker

Join our innovative shelter services as a Crisis Support Worker position, where you'll play a crucial role in transforming support for women in crisis. Our holistic model addresses physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being to empower women towards stability and independence. In this role, you'll provide immediate mental health and emotional support, lead trauma-informed individual and group sessions, teach coping strategies, and coordinate access to essential community resources. By fostering a safe and supportive environment, you'll help women build resilience and take the next steps towards stability and independence.

The role involves working in a domestic violence crisis shelter with a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, responding to urgent situations while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. It requires emotional resilience due to frequent exposure to trauma and crisis, demanding adaptability and strong self-care practices.

What You'll Do

• Provide emotional support and guidance to stabilize mental health during shelter entry and stay
• Apply de-escalation techniques and supervise clients at imminent risk
• Complete mental health assessments to determine participant needs, risks and appropriate interventions
• Offer short-term supportive counselling and/or connect with appropriate community agencies
• Provide in-the-moment crisis intervention, including support on the crisis line when needed
• Develop trauma-informed intervention plans to help participants engage in other shelter supports
• Work collaboratively with other shelter support team members to provide holistic client-centered case planning
• Coordinate, make referrals and facilitate connections to YW Calgary and greater community services
• Maintain clear and concise participant file documentation
• Assist with data collection and reporting as requested
• Provide consistent short-term follow up post shelter to ensure engagement with long-term supports
• Lead individual and group sessions on mental health, coping strategies, resilience, self-care and wellness
• Educate and coach shelter staff on crisis intervention best practices
• Promote professional development by encouraging continuous learning and growth opportunities
• Implement evidence-based practices to ensure the highest standard of care and intervention strategies
• Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into one’s role, work, and engagement with others, as aligned with YW Calgary’s values and Practice Framework
• Understand and remain current with YW Calgary Health, Safety and Wellness policies, practices and protocols and ensure work is performed in alignment with YW’s culture.

• Diploma or degree in Social Work or other related discipline required
• Certifications in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and First Aid required, Brain Story, Indigenous Awareness or equivalent
• Knowledge and experience in crisis intervention, domestic violence, suicide risk assessment and mental health preferred
• Experience working with vulnerable populations and familiarity with community resources
• Proficiency in computers, databases and case notes
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong self-regulation and self-awareness in high pressure crisis environments
• Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making capabilities