Residential Client Advocate-Relief

Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Services of Hamilton is seeking a Relief Residential Client Advocate to support women-identified individuals and their dependents in a shelter setting. You will work within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed framework to promote safety, self-determination, and access to housing resources.

The role requires a diploma in Social Service Work (Social Work degree preferred) and at least one year of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Social Service Work is required.
• Degree in Social Work preferred.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in gender-based violence, addiction, mental health, concurrent disorders, or related fields.
• Understanding of intersectional feminism and trauma-informed care.
• Fluency in French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct service to women-identified individuals and dependents, including risk assessment, safety planning, admissions, programming, and crisis intervention.
• Maintain shelter safety and security.
• Develop risk assessments and personal safety plans; update as situations change.
• Identify child welfare concerns and comply with reporting obligations.
• Provide information on resources and referrals; support group activities on-site.
• Record keeping using case management software and log templates.
• Coordinate with community partners and participate in meetings as directed.
• Adhere to Health and Safety policies and maintain confidentiality.
• Assist in supervision of volunteers and placement students.
• Perform other duties to ensure continued service.

Skills

Counselling

Crisis intervention

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Trauma-informed care

Education

Diploma in Social Service Work

Social Work degree preferred

Job description

JOB POSTING
Mission Services
Violence Against Women’s Services
Inasmuch House
Residential Client Advocate-Relief
Must Have Flexible Availability
Multiple Positions
(Bargaining Unit Position as per Collective Agreement)
Wage: $23.42 - $26.38 Per Hour
Posting No. MS0668

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:

• Police Vulnerable Sector Check
• 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.