Indigenous Cultural Support Worker – Supportive Housing

Connective; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living Wage Employer

Awards from NEOC

Health and pension benefits

Career and personal development

Staff mental health supports

On-Demand Pay

Portability of service hours

Job summary

Connective in Vancouver seeks a Cultural Support Worker to bridge Indigenous residents with culturally specific supports and advocate for rights within the community. The role develops short-term intervention plans for residents in the Supportive Housing program, providing 24/7 wraparound services tailored to each person.

The position emphasizes harm reduction, crisis response, and collaboration with social workers and providers to foster Indigenous-led planning and cultural safety.

Qualifications

• Diploma in a social service or human services field and 1 year of related experience.
• Experience with First Nation communities.
• Indigenous identity with relevant experience is an asset.
• Knowledge of Harm reduction principles and willingness to implement them.
• Experience with clients facing homelessness and mental health challenges.
• Ability to respond well in crisis situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Navigate paths to person-centered Indigenous work with residents using culturally informed strategies.
• Assist with connecting Indigenous residents to community supports and service providers.
• Engage in collaborative partnerships to promote traditional healing and cultural teaching.
• Promote understanding and respect for Indigenous culture and identity.
• Support families and community members in cultural activities and healing circles.
• Accompany residents to activities and navigate social, economic, and educational services.
• Maintain confidential records and contribute to program reports.

Skills

Crisis intervention

English communication

Harm reduction

Education

Diploma in social service or human services field

Job description

Job Description

Connective is a dynamic non-profit organization that provides innovative programming in the social services sector. We strive to create safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all.

This Cultural Support Worker will provide a proactive approach to bridging Indigenous residents and their culture by consulting with Indigenous residents to provide/connect them with a range of culturally specific supports in the community and advocating for access and rights as needed. This position will also develop and implement short-term, issue-specific intervention plans within program guidelines to all facility residents.

Our Supportive Housing program provides safe and secure housing and wraparound support to people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. This program offers 24/7 support services that are tailored to the self-identified needs and goals of each resident.

STATUS AND CLASSIFICATION

• Unionized. This position is open to applicants of all genders.
• This is a temporary position for 6 months or until the incumbent returns, whichever comes first.

HOURS(40 hours per week)

• Tuesday to Saturday, 1000 to 1800

WHAT WE OFFER?

• Committed Living Wage Employer
• 2022, 2023 and 2025 Canadian Nonprofit Employer of Choice Award from NEOC
• 2023 High-Performance Culture Award from Supporting Lines
• Competitive benefits package, including health, wellness, and pension plan
• Career and personal development, with the ability to grow in a diverse range of programs and departments
• Access to a range of staff mental health supports, including an in-house counsellor, Employee Family Assistance Program, and Critical Incidents Stress Management
• Access to On-Demand Pay to withdraw earned wages before payday
• Connective is part of a portability program where employees moving from a CSSEA-member employer to Connective will port their service hours for vacation and wage purposes (within last 12 months)

REPORTING AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports and is accountable to the Program Manager or their designate
• Participates as a member of the Connective services team to ensure quality and continuity of services to clients
• Liaises with staff and volunteers of community and government agencies as required
• Liaises with Connective staff as necessary
• Participates as a member of the Connective staff team

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Navigate paths to person-centered Indigenous work with residents using culturally informed strategies.
• Assist with creating an effective and supportive connection between the Indigenous/non-Indigenous service providers and community supports and residents.
• Engage in collaborative community partnerships to promote traditional healing, cultural teachings, and practice.
• Promote understanding and respect for Indigenous culture, experience, and identity.
• Guiding and engaging families, children, youth, and community members in culture activities such as healing circles, talking circles, and smudges to promote spiritual healing in a supportive and ethical manner.
• Liaise with and/or support cultural activities/programming.
• Accompany service users in navigating social, economic, recreational, physical, vocational, and educational services.
• Contribute to model of cultural safety for emotional vulnerability.
• Ensure Indigenous service user’s case planning is Indigenous-led and informed.
• Foster awareness and understanding of the cultural context of trauma related addiction/mental health among Indigenous community members.
• Maintain an appropriate record and information system. Prepare annual program reports and provide accurate data when needed. Ensure that accurate program and service user records are maintained, and that confidentiality is a priority. Ensure that all pertinent registration requirements and documentation is complete.
• Works directly with additional staff (i.e., Social Workers and Outreach Workers), community service and support providers, government and non-government organizations, and First Nations service providers to inform the development and implementation of individual support plans consistent with harm reduction and Connective’s philosophies and practices.
• Assists residents to function more independently in their own homes and in the community. Assists residents with daily life skills, social skills, and/or behaviour management. Nurtures opportunities and assists residents with activities such as grooming, basic cooking, money management, shopping, household safety, and pet care. Facilitates physical, recreational, educational, social, and vocational activities.
• Recognizes, analyzes, and deals with potential emergency situations such as aggressive behaviour(s) to minimize potential harm to others and/or the public.
• Reviews and evaluates residents’ progress and adjusts programs as required. Provides feedback and support to residents and/or their families.
• Accompanies and/or transports clients to activities such as appointments, shopping, or leisure activities.
• Provide guidance to staff to assist in dealing with events or topics in the context of cultural practices.
• Participates in team meetings as instructed by the Program Manager.
• Other duties as subsequently negotiated.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduated with a Diploma in a social service or human services field and 1 year of related experience
• Experience working with First Nation communities
• Individuals who identify as Indigenous and have relevant experience will be given
• Knowledge of Harm reduction principles and willingness to implement them in a practical environment
• Experience with clients with a history of conflict with the law, developmental disabilities and/or spectrum disorders, experiencing homelessness, interaction with social agencies and experiencing mental health challenges
• A demonstrated and clear ability to respond well in crisis situations
• An understanding of providing service to people with different learning abilities
• Demonstrates an ability to deal with potential violence
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

REQUIREMENTS

• BC Class 5 driver’s license
• Personal transportation that is in good repair, insured for business up to $1,000,000 for liability, and which can be used to transport residents
• Ability to successfully complete a Criminal Records Check
• Current Emergency First Aid Certificate

COMPENSATION

As Connective is a unionized environment, the starting wage is $29.22 per hour. The wage will increase with every 2,000 hours worked up to a maximum of $33.54 per hour.

Important: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada, observe their weekly hours limit if under a temporary or study visa, and provide proof of eligibility if selected for the role.

WHAT WE OFFER?

• Committed Living Wage Employer
• 2022, 2023 and 2025 Canadian Nonprofit Employer of Choice Award from NEOC
• 2023 High-Performance Culture Award from Supporting Lines
• Competitive benefits package, including health, wellness, and pension plan
• Career and personal development, with the ability to grow in a diverse range of programs and departments
• Access to a range of staff mental health supports, including an in-house counsellor, Employee Family Assistance Program, and Critical Incidents Stress Management
• Access to On-Demand Pay to withdraw earned wages before payday
• Connective is part of a portability program where employees moving from a CSSEA-member employer to Connective will port their service hours for vacation and wage purposes (within last 12 months)

INCLUSION

At Connective, we value and accommodate unique differences to ensure that our staff have the opportunity and are supported to thrive. To build a strong and representative workforce, we strongly encourage applications from BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+ people, immigrants, and people with disabilities or other marginalized communities.
For more information on Connective’s services and locations, visit our website at https://connective.ca/