Position Summary

The Support Worker provides a range of supports, serving homeless/at-risk individuals, many of whom are living with mental illness, substance use and/or HIV. Using a strengths-based model, the Support Worker participates with tenants in the development and implementation of service plans, including assessment; goal setting, achievement, and review; resource acquisition; and monitoring in the areas of daily living, financial, vocational/educational, social supports, health, harm reduction, culture, recovery, and leisure/recreational supports. The Support Worker works closely and collaboratively with other direct service staff, family, and external service providers, advocating for access and rights as needed. The Support Worker also provides daily supports including medication administration, building security, crisis intervention, health and recreational groups and general problem solving.

Job Competition # cas2025.078          

Closing Date: Midnight, April 02, 2025

Job: Relief Support Worker, Sechelt Hightide Modular Housing, Casual

Hourly Range: $31.56 – $33.28 (BCGEU, Grid 34)       

Work Site: Sechelt, BC

A clear British Columbia Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check for working with vulnerable adults and/or children is a condition of employment with RainCity Housing. Applicants must be willing and able to receive a clearance under the Criminal Record Review Act.  

Program Summary

Opened in April 2019, Sechelt Modular housing provides 40 units of single room occupancy (SRO) housing to low-income individuals 19 years of age or older who live in the community, have a history of homelessness and who need additional support services to maintain housing. This supported housing program is staffed by a combination of support workers, including an Indigenous Cultural Liaison Support Worker and a Peer Services Support Worker.

Each unit contains a private bathroom with toilet, shower, and sink, as well as a kitchenette. The building has 24/7 staffing, with a minimum of two staff working on site to maintain the building, deliver programs, support tenants, and ensure a safe environment within the building. The program supports also include an onsite kitchen facility and a cook to prepare at least one hot meal per day. The building also has custodial, home support and facilities management staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Many forms of education and experience are valued, including volunteering, and lived experience of mental illness/addiction/homelessness. Minimum education and experience include:

• A Diploma in community social services.
• Two (2) years year of recent, related work experience; emphasis on mental health, addictions, homelessness and/or social services.
• Or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification.
• Naloxone certification.

Key Skills and Abilities

• Establish a dignifying and purposeful relationship with the client, contacting and getting to know the client as a unique individual, and clarifying the role of the PSS and client in the service planning process.
• Ability to identify and work to increase client strengths, including the use of hope inducing strategies and assisting the client in self-managing their illness and other aspects of their life.
• Informally teach harm reduction, life skills.
• Respond to problematic behaviour using an understanding of the behaviour's context and function.
• Knowledge of the integrated concurrent disorders recovery model for working with chronically homeless individuals.
• Knowledge of mental health diagnoses, medications, treatment, and support resources.
• Knowledge of the bio-psychosocial addictions model, including stages of change and harm reduction
• Knowledge of diagnoses, treatment, and support resources in the areas of substance use, physical health, HIV and Hepatitis C.
• Knowledge of the housing continuum, including supported housing systems and program models for special needs populations.
• Demonstrates understanding of oppression and marginalization as related to chronically homeless individuals.
• Ability to resolve crisis situations effectively and safely.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to establish workload priorities, adjust to new or unexpected events, problem solve, and deal effectively with conflict situations.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Please submit both a cover letter and resume to apply, describing your suitability for this position. We thank all applicants in advance for their interest. As part of the application process, you may be asked a short set of questions to provide further information about your experience and availability. Please note, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Diversity
RainCity Housing serves a diverse group of people, and we need a staff group that reflects this diversity. People of diverse backgrounds and cultures are encouraged to apply.

As we work towards building a diverse staff team, we are particularly seeking applicants who identify as being Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, applicants with personal lived expertise, and 2SLGBTQ+ identified people.

Inclusion and creating a safer space
We are committed to making our organization a safer place for our staff, with steps taken to create space for learning and unlearning. RainCity’s department of Indigenous Cultural Services was created with the purpose to acknowledge the unique history and service needs of our Indigenous staff and tenants in respect to accessing culturally relevant and culturally sensitive care and support. RainCity’s Black Affinity Group was formed to provide support for Black staff by creating a safe space to support each other, network, debrief, and to heal from the impact of harm endured. Candidates are welcome to self-identifying in their cover letters as Black, First nations, Métis, or Inuit.

All of our employees are expected to develop and exhibit skills to contribute to safety in the workplace, including demonstrating anti-racism knowledge and skills to support racialized communities, including knowledge of Canada’s historical and on-going colonialism and its impact on Indigenous peoples, and commitment to learn and uphold the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Employees are also expected to demonstrate anti-discrimination knowledge and skills to support equity seeking groups, including the 2SLGBTQA+ community, people who use drugs and alcohol, people living with mental health issues and sex workers.