Direct Support Worker – Warming Centre

TSA The Salvation Army TSA; Prince Albert; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The Salvation Army TSA in Prince Albert operates a warming centre to provide a safe, stable shelter for adults in crisis. The Direct Support Worker will assist clients, follow established policies, and ensure respectful, confidential care while helping to access available supports and resources.

Role emphasizes trauma-informed care, de-escalation skills, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. Training is provided and there is an on-site, overnight shift pattern, with attention to

Qualifications

• High school completion is required.
• Post-secondary college diploma in Social Service Work or Mental Health & Addictions is a strong asset.
• Narcan/Naloxone, trauma-informed care, de-escalation training or willingness to obtain.
• First Aid/CPR and Mental Health First Aid training recommended.
• Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector check.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to clients in the warming centre.
• Follow program policies and procedures.
• Be aware of clients and care for their needs.
• Monitor guest activities and offer personal and morale support.
• Handle admissions, orientation and evaluation of guests.
• Document requirements and report as needed.
• Develop options and recommendations to issues.
• Support stakeholders in understanding implications of decisions.
• Work with Team Lead to share client information for case plans.
• Fill out incident reports as necessary.
• Assist with cleaning the hall, washrooms, and sidewalks.
• May assist with snow removal when needed.
• Assist with meal prep, serving and temperature checks.
• Participate in job-related training.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

De-escalation

Conflict resolution

Education

High School Diploma

Social Service Work Diploma (2 yrs)

Mental Health & Addictions Diploma (2 yrs)

Narcan/Naloxone Training

Trauma-informed care training

First Aid/CPR

Mental Health First Aid

Tools

Microsoft Office

Internet research

Job description

Who We Are

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description: Position Purpose summary:

Motivated by God's love, The Salvation Army is dedicated to nurturing a safe, compassionate, healthy and respectful community. Prince Albert Corps - Warming Centre is dedicated to providing a safe, stable and positive emergency shelter for adult individuals in crisis, respecting cultural and religious diversity. The Direct Support Worker will support individuals struggling with homelessness in Prince Albert.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Provide support to clients.
• Strictly follow program’s policies and procedures.
• Be aware of all clients and their activities and care for their needs.
• Monitor the activities of the guests/clients and maintains availability for personal, practical and morale support; may include providing safe storage.
• Handle the admission (intakes), orientation and evaluation of guests’ understanding of rules; ensures ongoing enforcement of policies, which may include guest discipline.
• Document business requirements, process and report as needed.
• Develop and document options and recommendations to issues and problems.
• Support key stakeholders in understanding the implications of options and decisions.
• Work with Team Lead to provide client information that helps develop case plans, communicate effectively with clients so that they are aware of the supports, resources and rules that are here for them.
• Fill out incident reports as necessary.
• Assist with cleaning the hall/space, washrooms, and sidewalks after clients have left the building.
• May assist with snow removal when snow is impeding access to the building.
• Assist with meal prep, clean-up and serving, including checking food temperatures.
• Participate in scheduled job-related training as required.
• Give input into orientating, training and evaluating staff.
• Provide appropriate assistance to guests when required.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Required to work in co-operation with other staff members in job related areas and treat all clients, community partners, volunteers, and members of the public with respect, dignity and confidentiality.

Governance Boards and Councils:

None

• Internal: Team Lead, Corps Officer, Program Coordinator, clients, other staff
• External: Community Partners, Public

MANAGERIAL/Technical Leadership RESPONSIBILITY:

Reports directly to: Corps Officer/Program Coordinator or designate. No formal managerial responsibility. May show others how to perform certain duties and procedures.

FINANCIAL AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT:

None

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Working in a Warming Centre. Some unscheduled optional overtime may be associated with this position. Please note this is a 10 hour shift pattern 10:00 pm to 8:00 am. May be subject to verbal abuse, discrimination, etc. No travel required. The incumbent will work under the following disagreeable conditions: Dealing with angry and highly emotional clients and their families. May encounter verbal abuse. Dealing with people with different levels of intoxication and difficult behaviours. Noise. May involve responding to first aid incidents including overdoses. May involve bending, stretching, reaching, and climbing. Minimal opportunities for rest breaks may occur during the shift. May involve sitting, standing, walking for long periods of time. Exposure to both hot and cold outdoor environments. Ability to lift up to 20 pounds. The incumbent may be exposed to the risk of moderate injury or illness due to: Physical attacks by others (i.e., being attacked by a client). Exposure to infectious diseases. Sharp objects (i.e., needle sticks). Other dangerous situations.

The above responsibilities must be performed in keeping with The Salvation Army's Mission, Vision and Values, in a professional manner, upholding our code of conduct.

Education, Qualifications and Certifications:

• Preference will be given to candidates with experience working with vulnerable individuals.
• Completion of high school is required.
• Completion of a formal post-secondary/college diploma program of 2 academic years in Social Service Work, and/or Mental Health & Addictions is a strong asset.
• Narcan/Naloxone Training or willingness to obtain.
• Trauma informed care training or willingness to obtain.
• De-escalation training or willingness to obtain.
• First Aid/CPR
• Mental Health First Aid
• Basic knowledge of computers
• Criminal Record/Vulnerable sector check.

Experience and Skilled Knowledge Requirements

• Experience working with marginalized clientele with a focus on mental health support.
• Experience working within the field of Mental Health and Addictions is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Behaviour Based Model, is an asset.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, internet, and keyboarding.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Ability to develop and sustain professional working relationships with clients, members of the public, other agencies and staff, keeping strict confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Ability to deal with difficult people.
• Ability and willingness to respect, promote, and support the mission, vision, and values of TSA and develop an understanding of the purpose of the Salvation Army in Canada and its implication as related to position responsibilities.
• Strong sense of integrity and confidentiality with professional ethics and a balanced sense of fairness and flexibility.
• Strong understanding of professional boundaries when working with a vulnerable population.
• Strong listening, written, and verbal communication skills – clear and simple to understand.
• Able to proactively recognize potential risks, conflicts, and issues, respond with solutions and coaching.
• Attention to detail, problem solving, and analytical skills.
• Patience and ability to deescalate situations.
• Ability to coach and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to make decisions within established framework while understanding the impact decisions will have on programming as well as programs around them.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and motivational skills.
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to deal with internal and external contacts at all levels of the organization in a professional manner.
• Ability to develop and maintain a team environment; work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, be reliable, and operate in an environment of accountability.
• Understands the dynamics of clients’ behaviour with the ability to assess their needs and risks.
• Ability to demonstrate understanding of and empathy toward cultural differences.
• Ability to work in high stress, busy environment.

Compensation:

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role. The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email [e-mail] if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.

Our employees are motivated by the fulfillment and meaning they experience as they serve people in need across Canada and Bermuda. Whether at the front-lines or in a support role, as part of our team you'll work alongside a diverse and skilled group of purpose-driven professionals, empowered to provide exceptional service. We deeply value the relationships we build in the workplace, as well as the opportunities given to us such as the potential to experience flexibility at work, receive health and dental benefits, paid vacation and sick time, RRSPs, as well as to expand our skills and advance our careers as together we build a culture of continuous learning and growth.

If you're looking for a career that allows you to find meaning, make an impact, and one that challenges you to grow and become the best version of yourself, join our dynamic team. There is a place for everyone to belong at The Salvation Army.