Client Advocate - Hamilton, Canada - Mission Services of Hamilton

Mission Services of Hamilton

Verified Company

Hamilton, Canada

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

JOB POSTING

Community Services and Outreach

Willow's/Emma's Place

Client Advocate

Part-Time, Permanent

2 Positions

Wage:
$22.08 to $24.86 per hour

Posting No. MS0404
***: The Client Advocate will provide feminist, trauma-informed, compassionate, low barrier and innovative supports. Client Advocates will assist women, transgender and non-binary individuals whom predominantly have high acuity mental health and addictions, with meeting their basic needs. This includes access to food, showers, laundry facilities and a safe place to rest. The Client Advocate will support individual goals and plans including making referrals to appropriate community agencies/supports. The Client Advocate will assess the safety of the individuals they support and work with them to create personal safety plans as required. The Client Advocate will also provide support with developing coping strategies and education on harm reductions strategies and any other self-identified goals. The Client Advocate will prevent, manage and defuse any behavioural issues that may arise in the space, and encourage a caring, healthy, safe and positive work environment for both peers and service users.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Ensure the overall safety of the space by ensuring that basic expectations of behaviour are met. Utilizing CPI techniques as well as other deescalation strategies to minimize conflict, aggression and resulting service
Health and safety issues are addressed/reported immediately; complete regular spot checks in washrooms, showers and other client areas; clean up and dispose of paraphernalia according to Mission Services Policies
Demonstrated ability to provide personcentered, trauma and AR/AO informed services and supports to women, transgender and nonbinary individuals with diverse experiences and identities; engage through structured activities, meal time, and 1:1 opportunities
Provide therapeutic groups for women, transgender and nonbinary individuals
Provide strategic engagement for women, transgender and nonbinary individuals who are precariously housed; provide support and resources to prevent homelessness
Provide strategic engagement for women, transgender and nonbinary individuals who are chronically or episodically homeless; provide support and resources to find appropriate housing including a referral or our inhouse systems navigators
Distribute harm reductions supplies; as well as reviewing their use and purpose; overdose education and complete naloxone training reviews
Create overdose prevention plans for substance users who are considered high risk
Respond to overdose events in coordination with fellow coworkers, connecting with EMS, and followup post overdose
Make appropriate referrals to services based on service user identified needs and priorities; maintain updated community resources
Monitor, maintain and distribute health, hygiene and laundry supplies
Connect and work effectively with community agencies re: partnerships/initiatives; promote the space through outreach efforts
Support other members of the team (i.e. volunteers and students), ensuring that each individual is familiar with the day to day operations and philosophies of the space
Track daily, weekly and monthly statistical information that will help guide the future developments of the space
Adhere to a strict policy of confidentiality
Ensure Mission Service's workplace Health & Safety policies and procedures are followed at all times
Other duties as required to ensure the continuation of service to participants in the space

QUALIFICATIONS:

Degree or Diploma in human services, social work/social services or equivalent work experience and education
Experience and education in Concurrent Disorders an asset
Experience working in programs serving women with complex and intersecting needs including poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, addictions and trauma
Skilled in crisis intervention, deescalation, conflict resolution and group facilitation
Comfortable working with women in crisis; there may be risk of exposure to unpredictable behaviours and situations
Demonstrated commitment to principles of harm reduction
Capable of adapting to a flexible and sometimes chaotic work environment
Effective verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational and time management skills
Strong problemsolving, team building, decisionmaking and priority setting skills
Second language is an asset

HOURS OF WORK:

Minimum 7.5 hours biweekly with the possibility of picking up additional shifts dependent on program needs
Ability to work a flexible schedule dependent on program needs, including day, evening, night and weekend shifts
Ability to occasionally work shifts in the 196 after school program/camps dependent on program needs

REQUIREMENTS: