Relief Residential Client Advocate

Mission Services of Hamilton; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 28,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Services of Hamilton is seeking a relief Residential Client Advocate who will operate from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed framework to support women-identified individuals and their dependents who are experiencing abuse or homelessness. The role centers on client-directed decision-making and safety in the shelter.

You will conduct risk assessments, develop safety plans, facilitate programming, arrange interpreters, and coordinate with community partners.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Social Service Work required; social work degree preferred.
• Experience in gender-based violence, addiction, mental health, or related social services is an asset.
• Ability to provide client-centered, trauma-informed services to women and children.
• Excellent counselling, crisis intervention, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct service to women-identified individuals and dependents, including risk assessment, safety planning, admissions, and crisis intervention.
• Maintain shelter safety and manage records using case management software and log books.
• Coordinate with community partners (police, child services, schools) and referrals as needed.
• Develop and facilitate on-site groups and activities for service users.
• Encourage participation in MCCSS Service User Surveys and other feedback mechanisms.
• Adhere to confidentiality and organization policies; support volunteers and placement students.

Skills

Risk assessment

Safety planning

Crisis intervention

Record keeping

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma in Social Service Work

Job description

(Bargaining Unit Position as per Collective Agreement)

Wage: $23.42 Per Hour

Posting No. MS0681

POSITION SUMMARY: : The relief Residential Client Advocate will work from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma informed, and intersectional feminist framework and uses a client centered approach to support women-identified individuals and their dependents who are experiencing abuse and/or homelessness while offering a safe space for individuals to reside during this process. The Residential Client Advocate will provide service from a client-centered approach, respecting each woman’s self-determination and personal decision-making.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide direct service to women-identified individuals and their dependents including, but not limited to, conducting risk assessment, safety planning, ensuring the safety of the shelter, completing assessments and admissions, facilitating programming, offering house information and completing housing applications, arrangement of interpreters, participating in conflict resolution and offering crisis intervention by phone and through web and text-based services
• Ensure the overall safety and security of the shelter is maintained
• Support in the development of a risk assessment and detailed personal safety plan for women-identified individuals and their dependents who have experienced violence and review and update as the service user situation changes
• Identify child welfare concerns and comply with Duty to Report obligations in accordance with the child and Family Services Act and good practices in working with women-identified individuals and children around child-welfare concerns and collaborate with Hamilton Child and Family Supports, Catholic Children’s Aid Society as needed
• Provide information on resources to service users and referrals as identified by service users
• Participate in developing and delivering on-site groups and activities for service users
• Inform and encourage service users to participate in filling out MCCSS Service User Surveys
• Keep systematic records using automated case management software and in-house tools such as log books and report templates
• Understand and follow protocols with community partners such as Hamilton Police Services, Hamilton Child and Family Supports, and the School Board
• Participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and case conference meetings as directed by management
• Work safely, and identify and report any health and safety concerns, in accordance with Mission Services’ Workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures
• Adhere to a strict confidentiality policy
• Understand and adhere to all Mission Services, Inasmuch House, and Shelter Standards policies and procedures
• Adhere to all Mission Services and Inasmuch House and Shelter Standards policies and procedures
• Assist in the supervision and provision of programming alongside Mission Services volunteers, and placement students
• Other duties that may be required to ensure the continuation of services

QUALIFICATIONS:

Successful candidates will hold at minimum a diploma in Social Service Work.

• Preference for degree in Social Work
• Minimum one (1) year of work experience and/or student placement experience in any of the following fields: gender-based violence, addiction, mental health, concurrent disorders, counselling or other social service positions supporting vulnerable women
• Demonstrated understanding of gender-based violence, child abuse, mental health disorders, addiction, poverty and homelessness
• Demonstrated understanding of working from an intersectional feminist lens
• Demonstrated ability to provide person-centered, trauma-informed and AR/AO services and supports to women and children with diverse experiences and identities
• Excellent counselling, crisis intervention, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations
• Confident decision maker and enthusiastic team player
• Committed to upholding the organization’s mission, values and standards
• Fluency in French is an asset

HOURS OF WORK:

• Varies with shift availability
• Must be available to work day, afternoon, night and weekend shifts
• Must have flexible availability

REQUIREMENTS:

• Two-Step Tuberculosis Skin Test

At Mission Services of Hamilton, we value diversity in our employees and we work from an anti-racism/anti-oppression framework and strive for equity and inclusion.

We strive to foster an organization that reflects the diversity of the community we serve and welcome applications

from all qualified candidates. We encourage applications from individuals from underserved and underrepresented

cultural and racial communities, from First Nations Inuit and Metis communities, Two-Spirit, LGBTQIA+

communities, people living with disabilities, and those with lived experience of abuse, food insecurity, homelessness,

mental health difficulties and addictions.

Mission Services is also committed to developing an inclusive, barrier-free selection process and work environment.

We thank all applicants, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. If contacted,

please advise us if you require any accommodation measures to ensure you will be interviewed in a fair and

equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation requests will be treated with confidentiality.

We are committed to a fair and transparent hiring process. While our recruitment system may use AI‑assisted tools to help screen applications, final decisions are made by our recruitment team, and all applications receive human review.