Shelter Resource Worker; Temporary, Part-Time, Female

Overview

This is a female-specific role.

Days & Hours of Work:

• Saturday, Sunday & Wednesday (22.5 hours per week)
• 12am-8am (overnight)

Each job within the FIRST UNTIED CHURCH Community Ministry Society should promote our accomplishment of our vision, mission, and values.

This position is accountable to the Manager of Shelter Services in providing a welcoming, safe, and secure environment to the men and women living in the First United Church’s 24/7 emergency shelter. Under the immediate direction of the Shift Supervisor, the Shelter Resource Worker will be a daily presence at the First United Church to provide support to the men and women in the areas of relationship development and community engagement while performing a variety of duties to ensure the smooth operation of the emergency shelter.

• Create a safe, welcoming and calming environment for the men and women staying with the First United emergency shelter and for the community using our services. Engage and develop relationships with each individual through active listening, program offerings, access to our services and being a steady presence throughout all areas of the First United Church. Will work mainly with the shelter residents.
• Act as the first point of contact for men and women staying in the First United Church emergency shelter. Welcome new and returning users of the emergency shelter at First United Church by completing intakes, discussing shelter guidelines, policies and procedures, and ensuring basic shelter, food and hygiene needs are met.
• Maintain the smooth operation of the emergency shelter by knowing who is in the building, doing regular counts and check-ins, managing the entrance door and graciously declining entry to non-shelter users when our day program closes, doing room/bathroom checks regularly. Monitor the showers and ensure clear of refuse for use by the next community member. Provide assistance to the Shift Supervisor as needed.
• Ensure shelter residents are aware of meal times and when the sleeping areas are open making them accessible and ready for use at the appropriate times. Provide access to work lockers as needed.
• Maintain daily documentation and information sharing through HIFIS, incident report forms, statistic reporting, attending bi-weekly Shelter Resource meetings and bi-yearly all-staff meetings. Share community information to all staff and the community as it pertains to our daily work at the First United Church. Liaise with the Shift Supervisor/Assistant Shelter Manager and Shelter Case Planners with concerns and complete Community Care Referrals.
• Participate as a team member of the whole First United church organization. Stay knowledgeable of and be active in programs, services and special projects. Use this knowledge to engage shelter residents in participating in volunteer work, Advocacy, Clinical Outreach team, Supportive funding, and other programs when appropriate.
• Stay observant of the environment and provide calming interventions as required to ensure the safety of everyone and policies are being respected.
• Provide first response to crisis intervention as required by practicing NVCI strategies. Communicate with team members, Shift Supervisor and/or Manager of Shelter Services and work alongside them to de-escalate and resolve situations. Call for Emergency Medical Assistance when appropriate and calling the on-shift First Aid Attendant for all injuries to staff and community members regardless of the severity. Report all incidents, observations, and unsafe conditions through the proper channels and on the computer.
• Participate with the general cleanliness and organization of the First United Church Emergency Shelter including all common areas, washrooms, and sleeping areas. Dispose of belongings that have not been left in a designated spot, or when a shelter resident no longer uses the shelter services. Assist residents to downsize their belongings.
• Other duties as required.

Supervisory/Management responsibility:
None

Latitude:
The nature of working in an emergency shelter is stressful and often will be supporting clients in crisis…