POSITION: Family Support Specialist
DEPARTMENT: Women and Children’s Services Springhouse
AFFILIATION: HEU
POSTING NUMBER: 23-52
SALARY: $33.00- $34.54
GRID: 38
DURATION: Ongoing
STATUS: Temporary Full Time: Morning Tue-Sat 8am-4pm
START: ASAP
JOB SUMMARY :
The Family Support Specialist is responsible for the coordination, evaluation and continued development of family support services for Springhouse Shelter. The incumbent will act in accordance with The Bloom Group Policy and Women and Children’s practices and procedures to provide low barrier, harm reduction, trauma informed support and assistance to women and women with children in crisis, working under the direction of the Support Services Coordinator. In addition, the incumbent will provide comprehensive support and case planning to women and women-led families that is client driven, family-centred and strength-based. The role will focus on: establishing a trusting relationship; assisting in strengthening parent/guardian attachment and relationships; assisting moms/guardians in enhancing their parenting skills; improving the family support system and family resiliency while utilizing an approach that ensures residents have a major say in identifying goals and service needs. The goal of the family support specialist role is to empower women and women-led families; draw on their own strengths and capabilities; and, promote an improved quality of life by facilitating timely access to the necessary supports and housing; and, thus shortens the length of homelessness women and women with children accessing our services experience.
EDUCATION/PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor of Social Work or other relevant Bachelors Degree directly related to human services and/or community development is required
- Five years recent related work experience providing support to women and/or children in crisis with a focus on complex case planning/management with vulnerable and marginalized populations is required;
- Two years recent experience in a supervisory capacity is required
- Two year recent experience with program development, implementation and evaluation is required
- An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered
- Level 1 Occupational First Aid Certificate is required
- Food Safe Level 1 is required
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training or Mandt Training is required
REQUIREMENTS:
- Gender is a bona fide occupational requirement: self-identifying women only applicants please.
- We are particularly interested in receiving applications from women who reflect the diversity of the women who access our services: Indigenous and Racialized Women strongly encouraged to apply.
ABILITIES/SKILLS:
- Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbally
- Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite and ability to present documents in an appropriate business format
- Demonstrated flexible supervisory ability and leadership skills
- Demonstrated ability to review existing policy, practices and procedure, providing recommendations to align with current best practice models
- Demonstrated skills in both individual and group supportive peer level counselling, including the ability to observe and recognise changes in residents behaviour and emotional state
- Demonstrated commitment to continual learning and improvement through the incorporation of reflective work-based learning approaches
- Demonstration of advanced interpersonal skills specific to the role including de-briefing, active listening, conflict resolution, group facilitation, one to one direct support and problem solving
- Demonstrated ability to participate and contribute in a strong team environment with an inclusive and collaborative approach
- Proven commitment to and understanding of harm reduction, low barrier, strength based, empowerment, trauma informed and client-centred approaches to working with women and children in crisis
- Strong ability to work under minimal supervision and act with a high degree of independent judgement and initiative, taking action and consulting appropriately as required
- Strong working knowledge of child welfare and protection issues, including relevant legislation and reporting requirements
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience providing parenting support, incorporating a women centered, culturally sensitive, strength-based approach
- Knowledge of child development and youth issues and relating parenting needs
- Proven ability to work with a high degree of compassion, understanding and sensitivity
- Demonstrated ability to provide non-judgmental, client-centered, non-therapeutic emotional and practical support to women and children in crisis
- Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback
- Knowledge and understanding of the complex issues which affect women and children living in poverty, with a demonstrated awareness of specific issues Indigenous Women, Racialized Women, and Women with Disabilities face
- Proven ability to work in a stressful and changing work environment
- Ability to maintain a professional, customer service oriented attitude at all times with the additional ability to observe appropriate boundaries with residents
- Demonstrated comfort and ability to support women and women-led families with mental health and/or substance use issues, utilising a harm reduction approach
- Ability to work and empathize with people who may have experienced abuse, poverty, grief and loss, oppression, violence, mental health challenges, addictions issues or may be living with HIV/AIDS and other life-limiting or life-threatening conditions
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position, experience operating related equipment and ability to effectively use industrial grade cleaning products
Posted: August 28, 2023
Deadline for submission: September 4, 2023 for internal applications or vacant until filled
OPEN TO: INTERNAL AND EXTERNALLY
Thank you for your interest in a career with The Bloom Group.
Should your application be selected for further consideration we will be in contact with you shortly.
