Are you a person who is a self-starter, with a passion for working with a growing non-profit organization that supports Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness? The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEHS) is seeking a SPAKEN House Lead to work with the Indigenous Street Community and support those who recently transitioned into culturally supportive housing.

We are a non-profit and registered charitable organization whose sole focus is to support Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness with a vision to lead long-term systemic change to better meet the needs of our people living away from home and experiencing homelessness.

Date Posted : September 08, 2023

Location: Victoria, BC

Wage / Salary:  $25.22 per hour

The House Lead supports both Family Members (FM) and staff at the ACEH’s Culturally Supportive Housing sites. The House Lead exercises a relative degree of autonomy within the position’s scope. That is, the House Lead is expected to independently solve problems in complex situations while also assisting other Support Workers navigate them. The House Lead must be thoroughly knowledgeable about House policies, guidelines, processes and support the staff to build capacity in this knowledge base. The House Lead should collaborate and consult regularly with the House Manager. Further, the House Lead will need to understand the overall vision of the ACEHS and make decisions that align with the ACEHS’s vision and mission. Though rare, the House Lead will represent the HM in both internal and external meetings when required. Other duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

●     Provide cultural and psycho-emotional support to our Family Members. This may include best practices in crisis intervention and de-escalation as well as decolonized harm reduction.

●     Employ and engage with CAMS as the ACEH’s dedicated case management platform. This includes all Case Notes, Incident Reporting, Wellness Planning with respect to Family Member support. Further, ensure Support Workers are using the platform in accordance to the expectations of the ACEHS (I.e. confidentiality; proper documentation; etc.). Review daily Case Notes from overnight shifts and relay key updates to the House Manager for review in an organized manner.

●     Ensure Wellness Check and Suite Checks are completed in accordance with policy and procedures.

●     When necessary, monitor the House and property via CCTV. Ensure any use of the CCTV follows the respective policy and procedures, around requests for footage from external agencies.

●     In consultation with management, report important site related maintenance requests on the Limble system (i.e. the dedicated iPad device for maintenance requests).

●     Assist in running Fire drills when required.

●     Ensure GFL (waste collection services) can access the waste/garbage enclosures.

●     Liaise with Sysco and other distribution services when they arrive on site at any ACEH Culturally Supportive Housing facility

●     Ensure Support Workers carry through with the scheduled operations of the House (e.g. routine garbage and recycling runs; cleaning and sanitization schedules; review and follow-up to ensure cleaning log tracking sheets have been completed, and the cleaning tasks were done at high quality; sign the daily form; alert the HM if there are issues.

●     Collaborate with House Manager to order cleaning/janitorial supplies through Sysco; harm reduction supplies through BCCDC; or any other program related supplies through the chosen ACEH distributor (may include medical supplies)

●     Maintain and Update House and Family Member Event Calendar onsite

●     Participate in case management meetings when necessary.  Communicate the relevant and necessary information to Support Workers as determined to be essential to their tasks.

●     Maintain Cleaning Supplies Inventory

●     Maintain Harm Reduction Supplies Inventory

●     Participate in Family Member meetings at the House

●     Assist Family Members in day-to-day budgeting, if necessary.

●     Maintain Family Member storage area in an organized fashion, ensuring proper documentation for signing items in/out. Furthermore, maintaining all records of items being signed in and out.

●     Ensure the weekly FM meetings are supported, reminders to staff and FM

●     30-minute check in with HM; focus on challenges and opportunities and FM case management

●     Liaise with ACEHS Elder and Cultural Mentors when on site to assist in programming (e.g. ‘Wellbriety’ or another form of cultural work related to addiction and mental health)

●     Ensure Occupational Health and Safety standards are being followed

●     Be prepared to step in as the representative for the House to welcome guests and to complete the first step of the intake process

●     Provide orientation to new support staff on site.

●     Ensure all memos are posted in the office for a period of 2 weeks

●     Update Family Member mail log as mail comes in/out

Support Worker Responsibilities: The House Lead will work with the team to develop a warm, welcoming, and culturally safe environment with a sense of family and community for the FM’s. The House Lead participates in a decolonized approach to harm reduction. This entails collaboration within a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural setting. In general, the Support Worker will:

●     Maintain respectful, effective, open, and honest communication with the family members, co- workers, and House Manager, Maintain the safety and security of the building for the family members and staff.

●     Familiarizing the family members with the environment and guidelines for living communally.

●     Provide conflict resolution between family members when required.

●     Respond to emergencies, communicate with the House Manager and First Responders.

●     Maintain constant cleanliness of the building, following safety and health protocols.

●     Actively participate in all mandatory staff meetings and training sessions.

●     Support the House Manager in supporting cultural activities.

●     Provide one-on-one support, advocacy, mentorship, and resources to the family members, familiarizing the family members with various ACEH programing.

●     Provide information regarding income assistance, legal services, health issues, support for addictions, housing, parenting support, and other resources as requested.

●     Participates in life-planning and supporting the family members to meet their goals and objectives.

●     Perform other related duties as requested.

●       1-year related experience working with vulnerable peoples and or providing care. Preference given to those who have worked with Indigenous peoples and have training/ education in relevant Indigenous post-secondary

●       Valid First Aid Certification

●       Consent to the Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check for Working with Vulnerable Adults

●       Preferred Naloxone Overdose Training and Certification

●       Preferred Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification

●       Preferred Food Safe Certification

●       Experience or personal insights working cooperatively with people with disabilities, lived experience, and addictions considered an asset

●       Experience working with non-profit organizations, family support, social services, and Indigenous support services and programs considered an asset

 

Working conditions

●       Ability to use stairs

●       Ability to lift 30 pounds

●       Ability to complete repetitive tasks (such as sitting, standing, walking, and bending)

Preference will be given to qualified candidates with Indigenous ancestry. The ACEHS values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its staff, the ACEHS encourages members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter which highlights how your knowledge, skills and abilities will culturally support and contribute to the ACEHS and our community.

●       Progressive understanding of persistent mental illness, addictions, and other challenges and how these impact people’s overall health, wellbeing, and quality of life

●       Ability to work in a holistic, professional, and non-judgmental manner as you are working with a broad range of personalities, needs, cultures, lived experiences and abilities

●       Ability to effectively respond and adjust to unexpected events, assess high risk situations, problem-solve, provide crisis intervention, and manage conflict in a culturally supportive manner

●       Ability to work independently and effectively respond to and manage competing demands while adhering to deadlines

●       Effective written, electronic, and verbal communication skills to facilitate interprofessional collaborative practice, healthy and culturally safe environments, and a respectful workplace for community members, staff, guests, and volunteers

●       Use a de-colonized harm reduction approach in addressing situations

• Ability to use stairs
• Ability to lift 30 pounds
• Ability to complete repetitive tasks (such as sitting, standing, walking and bending)

• Preference will be given to qualified candidates with Indigenous ancestry.
• The ACEH values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its staff, the ACEHS encourages members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply.
• Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter which highlights how your knowledge, skills and abilities will culturally support and contribute to the ACEH and our community.