Employment Opportunities

HOURS OF WORK:            23 hours per week

SCHEDULE:                         Saturday to Sunday: 8:00 pm - 8:00 am

DAYS OFF:                           At this time the days off are:

                                               Monday to Friday

START DATE:                      ASAP

All candidates subject to a criminal records search.

JOB DESCRIPTION – MENTAL HEALTH WORKER – COLD WEATHER SHELTER

SUMMARY

The Mental Health Worker – Cold Weather Shelter must be committed to the mission and philosophy of the MPA Society as well as the principles and practice of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and harm reduction strategies including the provision of low barrier emergency shelter housing.  This commitment is demonstrated through utilization of the principles and approaches of PSR along with harm reduction strategies focused on development of partnerships, expansion of a base of best practice knowledge and a strong commitment to the concept and encouragement of self-empowerment.  This position involves working in a low barrier environment.

The Mental Health Worker – Cold Weather Shelter must demonstrate the beliefs, personality, temperament, flexibility and adaptability required to work in a complex low barrier environment.

The mental Health Worker – Cold Weather Shelter will provide a range of support services to homeless individuals including those with complex treated and untreated mental health issues and /or substance users in need of temporary cold weather emergency low barrier housing. Working closely with other members of the shelter team as well as team members from various operational portfolios within the MPA Society organization, the Mental Health Worker assesses incoming referrals to the shelter and provides short term case management services. These services include: appropriate referrals to ongoing community supports internal and external to the MPA Society organization, advocating on the client’s behalf in an effort to gain access to appropriate assistance, and generally educating and supporting individuals who are dealing with complex bio-psycho-social issues. The Mental Health Worker – Cold Weather Shelter role may include assistance with basic First Aid as necessary.

The Community Worker is also responsible for the general daily operations of the shelter, including responding to shelter telephones, doorbells and visitors; cleaning of office area, common areas and washrooms; preparing shelter rooms, distribution of health/hygiene products, and maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and residents.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Responsible for the activities involved in the daily operation of the Cold Weather Shelter including monitoring and ensuring the safety of clients and the facility by performing duties such as screening telephone calls and visitors, and ensuring that non program participants are not in the program space.
2. Responding to incoming referral to the shelter by assessing to ensure the individual meets the criteria for admission and that the individual is appropriate for a co-ed shelter and that the shelter has the necessary space to provide the service.
3. Provides a range of services for each participant including care planning, linking the participant with on-going community resources relevant to their particular situation, providing information on housing options, health services including both physical and mental health, substance abuse, and income assistance and provides advocacy on behalf of the participant when necessary.
4. Performs crisis intervention services including assessment of mental health decompensation, suicidality, physical health crises and ensuring the participant and shelter are safe and seeks relevant emergency services when required.
5. Reports all crises and critical incidents to the Manager of the Shelter and in the Managers absence reports all crises and critical incidents to the Manager of Advocacy and Social Justice.
6. Provides non-violent crisis intervention in response to any verbal or physical aggression and contacts emergency services including the police if unable to de-escalate an aggressive situation.
7. Communicates clearly and effectively with all program participants and other program staff and external agencies
8. Communicates clearly the shelter rules and visitor guidelines in a respectful manner.
9. Provides education information for program participants on topics including but not limited to mental health, physical health, harm reduction, HIV/Hep C+, low cost housing, etc.
10. Facilitates long term housing options by informing participants of housing registries, assisting clients with housing application forms and connecting participants to the BC Homeless Outreach Worker – Cold Weather Shelter.
11. Prepares the shelter space for all new program participants
12. Responds to shelter telephones, doorbells and visitors.
13. Provides all relevant and required documentation for program participants as required.
14. Actively participates in building a skilled, cohesive, collaborative staff team including commitment and dedication to MPA Society mission, philosophy value and belief statements.
15. Actively participates in the resolving of interpersonal conflict and negativity and assisting in orienting, training and mentoring of all staff including casual auxillary personnel.
16. Cleans offices, common space areas and washrooms including the sweeping and mopping of floors, dusting, washing dishes, tables and other fixtures as needed or as directed in the absence of cleaning personnel including the ordering, stocking and rotation of all necessary equipment and supplies.
17. Performs other duties as required and assigned.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

1. Completion of a diploma or degree in community social services wit two years of recent related work experience with an emphasis on mental health, addictions, homelessness including low barrier emergency shelter housing and or social services or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
2. Working knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitiation principals and the ability and willingness to work within its philosophy, concurrent disorders and the harm reduction model of recovery.
3. Ability to operate all related equipment including computer literacy.
4. Ability to carry out the physical demands of the position.
5. Certificates in first aid, CPR, Food Safe and a Class 5 unrestricted BC Drivers License.
6. Certification in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is preferred.
7. Understanding, knowledge and ability to implement Psychosocial Rehabilitation principals and the ability and willingness to work within its philosophy; concurrent disorders and the Harm Reduction Model of Recovery.
8. Knowledge of resources and collateral services available to our members that will assist them in all areas of their lives.  This includes but is not limited to medical, economic, housing, social, recreation, and vocational. 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. A working understanding of resources and collateral services available to our members that assist their medical, economic, housing, social, recreation, and vocational.
2. Ability to operate related equipment.
3. Ability to organize, prioritize and problem solve.
4. Ability to establish and maintain rapport with program participants.
5. Ability to observe and recognize psychiatric and medical status changes in program participants.
6. A good understanding of the issues facing persons that are homesless complicated by mental illness and addictions issues.
7. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
8. Ability to work in stressful and complex work environment.
   
   
   

Referencing the posting code above, submit a resume and cover letter to hr@mpa-society.org

Or, fax to 604-482-3760
Or, mail to:
MPA Society
122 Powell Street
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1G1