Men's Shelter Support Worker

The Salvation Army; Yellowknife; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Salvation Army is seeking a Men’s Emergency Shelter Caseworker to provide support and guidance to adults facing homelessness in Yellowknife. The role involves developing life skills programs, overseeing shelter operations, and collaborating with community agencies to reduce homelessness. Ideal candidates will have relevant education and experience in social services, ensuring clients receive effective and compassionate support in a high-pressure environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Valid Driver's License is required.
• Certification in First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, and Verbal Judo is desired.

Responsibilities

• Create life skills and wellness programming for clients.
• Oversee evening shelter services and coordinate client referrals.
• Implement case plans and monitor progress.

Skills

Effective interpersonal communication

Crisis intervention skills

Time management

Teamwork

Conflict Resolution

Education

Post-Secondary education in social work or related field

Tools

MS Office

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 Title: Men’s Emergency Shelter Caseworker

Division: Prairies and Northern Territories

Ministry Unit/Dept: NWT Resource Centre

Location: Yellowknife

Reporting To: Community Services and Shelter Supervisor

Job Family: TBD

Generic Job Title: Shelter Caseworker

Pay Band: TBD

Date Approved: TBD

The Salvation Army is an international Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible; its ministry is motivated by love for God and the needs of humanity.

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.

Core Values:

The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory has four core values:

Hope: We give hope through the power of the gospel ofJesus Christ.

Service: We reach out to support others withoutdiscrimination.

Dignity: We respect and value each other, recognizingeveryone’s worth.

Stewardship: We responsibly manage the resourcesentrusted to us.

Position Purpose summary: The Shelter Caseworker provides afternoon/evening support and guidance to adults experiencing homelessness. They are responsible to create life skills and wellness programming, oversee evening shelter services and create community collaboration with the goal of reducing and eliminating homelessness in our community.

Accountabilities:

Program Operations:

• Develops and organizes a daily schedule of evening client based programs. (recreational, educational, spiritual, health and well-being)
• Makes general and specific recommendations for improvement of program equipment.
• Orients clients to facility as needed
• Implements emergency/incidental behavioral interventions, including utilizing Verbal Judo training.
• Provides incidental problem solving and emotional support to clients
• Implements formal sessions for clients or refers them to external agencies that offer formal sessions on a variety of topics including: anger management; grief and loss; sexuality; self-esteem; abuse; violence; addictions and personal safety, education, BP, Diabetes, seizures.
• Keeps abreast of the day-to-day operation and client issues.
• Implements case plans and monitors progress.
• Provides advocacy services or teaches self-advocacy for clients.
• Ensures clients understand and adhere to shelter rules and responsibilities
• Coordinates client referrals to services with other agencies (income support, employment, counselors, HF, YWCA, ICM, Adult Services & Mental Health)
• Supports clients by attending scheduled meetings or appointments. Helps clients set up medical appointments or attend emergency medical assistance. Follows up with clients that have been transported from the SA to the hospital by EMS.
• Support and advocate for clients who are being discharged from a hospital stay into homelessness.
• Supervises clients in Productive Choice and meets with them to set goals and work towards transitioning into housing.
• Creates housing plan by identifying housing resources and barriers.
• Assists clients with job searches and job retention.
• Conducts screening for prevention from entering shelter or into a homeless circumstance. When needed, uses client assessment tools pertaining to homelessness (VAT/SPDAT).

Program Administration:

• Prepares incident reports and client specific information in client files.
• Completes daily standard documentation: client intake and assessment forms, client records (progress notes), communication book, and other relevant client reports. Maintains record keeping systems (HIFIS).
• Communicates accurate information in meetings.
• Informs Program Supervisor of supplies, program materials and equipment needing to be purchased.
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the Program Supervisor
• Complies with The Salvation Army policies and procedure

Health, Safety & Security:

• Follows safety measures and provides appropriate responses to emergencies and confrontations using non-violent crisis intervention training.
• Reports all incidents of suspected client abuse to Program Supervisor and follows organizational protocols.
• Ensures the program safety policies are followed at all times.
• Ensures that the safety, cleanliness and tidiness of the program site is maintained.
• Reports all accidents, injuries and illnesses to the department Supervisor and completes incident reports.
• Responds to injury, using first aid and CPR training and agency policy.
• Implements or participates in fire drills as determined by Program Supervisor.

Facility Management:

• Ensures needed repairs and maintenance are reported to the Maintenance department.
• Ensures that shared work site is neat and tidy at all times.

Ensures program site is in good repair, clean and hygienic.

Critical Relationship Management:

Internal / External relationships:

• Directly reports to the Community Services and Shelter Supervisor

• Works cooperatively as part of the Shelter team to serve the Resource Centre

• There is constant contact with clients to provide for their needs and assess their situations.
• There is daily contact with employee’s from other departments to pass on relevant information and radio checks.
• There is daily contact with the Community Services Supervisor
• There is constant contact with other agencies for referral or support services
• There is regular contact with volunteers
• Emergency Services may occasionally need to be called

Working Conditions:

The work environment entails frequent association with individuals who have addictions and or chronic mental health issues and related behaviours. This can be a high stress environment.

education and experience Qualifications:

• Post-Secondary education with focus on social work, personal support work, nursing, or social services studies and/or at least one (1) year experience working with homeless individuals.
• Valid Driver’s License
• Life skills and recreational programming for high need clients
• Ability to work within a team environment
• Computer literacy
• First Aid
• Verbal Judo and/or NVCI
• Suicide Intervention
• Mental Health First Aid
• WHIMIS
• Food Safe
• Clear Criminal Record Check

Note: Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Ability to work within the mandate of and embrace the mission of The Salvation Army

• Provides trauma informed service delivery
• Provides person centred service delivery
• The ability to respond appropriately, decisively, and effectively in crisis situations and in a stressful environment.
• Effective interpersonal communication and interactive skills with individuals experiencing chronic mental health issues, effects of intoxication and other behavioural issues.
• Effective assessment, observation, and recording skills.
• Ability to work within a teamwork structure though will be required to work alone.
• Effective interviewing skills.
• Conducts service delivery with cultural competence practices and philosophies
• Personable and friendly with high needs clients
• Conflict Resolution and de-escalation techniques
• Effective time management and organizational skills
• Effective communication in English both written and oral
• Ability to write comprehensive case notes
• Knowledge of community supports
• Vision for integration between social and spiritual ministries of The Salvation Army
• Computers skills are essential – MS Office and ability to learn other software applications
• Ability to uphold and enforce policies and procedures

The successful incumbent will be required to complete/provide:

• Valid Vulnerable Sector Screening
• Valid First Aid certificate
• WHMIS
• The Salvation Army on-line certification for abuse prevention
• Clear internal abuse registry check
• Participate in mandatory yearly training

AUTHORITY

What decisions and recommendations are required to be made in the job?

• Case Management Decisions
• The Caseworker will be required to assess potentially difficult situations to determine the need for additional assistance.
• The Caseworker will be required to develop and/or implement programming and individual case plans.
• The Caseworker may be required to create reports to be submitted to funder.

To whom (by Job Title) are recommendations made?

• Community Services Supervisor, or other on-duty staff or on-call person or, if situation warrants, the RCMP.

What is the impact or effect of the decision or recommendation?

• Impact on both individual resident progress and overall program success.

How is the work assigned?

• Work is assigned primarily through agreed upon responsibility lists, but also through verbal or e-mail communication

What latitude does the incumbent have to achieve objectives?

• There is moderately latitude exercised in achieving objectives. Adherence to the established policies and procedures is imperative.

What constraints are placed on the incumbent in terms of regulations, procedures, policy, past practices, etc.?

• Code of conduct & code of ethics are paramount, as well as accepted standards as recommended by government funding bodies.
• Adhere to the established policies and procedures.

Equipment: What equipment used and what is done with it?

• Security System: Monitoring facility and residents

• Computer, MS Office (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook): Record keeping, case notes, identification kits, incident reports, e-mail, general clerical tasks

• Printers (Various), Telephone, Photocopier and Fax machine: Printing forms, applications, intakes, PDPs, program information, identification documents, resumes, letters etc.

• Radios: Radio checks with other departments

• Laundry machines: Launder linens (occasional or rare)
• Program Vehicle: Transportation of program participants

Sign-off by Incumbent:

I have read, understood, and accept the position description outlined above.

______________________________ ___________________________________

Employee Name (please print) Employee Signature

______________________________ ___________________________________

Supervisor/Manager Date

Please Note: Signing of this document endorses the fact that I have read, and agree to act in a manner that is consistent with: The Salvation Army Mission and Values, Job Description, Code of Conduct, Policy and Procedures, and other objectives of The Salvation Army, including confidentiality with regard to all client, staff and program information.

Compensation:

The target hiring range for this position is $24.70 to $25.66 with a maximum of $26.61.

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.