Do you want to make a positive difference in the current housing affordability crisis’s devastating effects on the Lower Mainland’s most vulnerable? Are you passionate about providing trauma-informed and women-centered practical and pastoral care to mothers in an abstinence -based transitional housing community? Are you a mature Christian leader with a Bachelor of Social Work? If so, this role will be of interest to you! You will use your knowledge and experience to support and provide case management to women, specifically program tenants living with their child/children and participating in the Sanctuary Transitional Housing Program and alumni with children. This includes support with goal setting and community systems navigation all while ensuring adherence to program guidelines and policies.

You will frequently deal with clients in crisis situations, brought about by diverse problems. There will be other staff nearby to assist as required.

This is a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week) position. The starting salary range for this position is $35.20-$38.46.

Who We Are

Demonstrating the love of Christ, UGM feeds hope and changes lives through a faith-based continuum of care. We are a proud member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities and have earned the Best Christian Workplace award again in 2021. We provide competitive salaries, generous vacation and sick leave, an RRSP matching program, as well as the potential for educational assistance and flexible work arrangements. In addition, our extensive benefits plan is fully employer-paid and includes extended dental and medical, as well as $4,500 per year in pooled paramedical expenses. A focus on employee resilience, support for professional development, engagement in meaningful work, and a fun and caring environment are all part of being a member of the UGM team. If you are someone who desires to learn and grow, has a passion to serve and make a difference, and connects with others with both humility and humour, then you will be a great fit at UGM.

What You’ll Need

If you are considering applying for this position, you must:

• be legally entitled to work in Canada
• be able to demonstrate compatibility with our Core Values
• agree with our Statement of Faith
• be willing to provide, as a condition of employment, a current criminal record check, with vulnerable sector search, if you are the successful candidate.
• possess a valid, unrestricted driver’s license and submit a current driver’s abstract.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Case Management (40%)

• Assist guests in establishing goals, monitoring progress, and preparing a case plan for their next steps (housing, employment, addiction services, life skills, health, education or other case specific needs), advocate for participants and refer them to the appropriate community resources for achieving these goals.

• Document all relevant case notes and maintain accurate case files and records for future reference.

• Collaborates with the Sanctuary multidisciplinary team to strategize treatment planning in order to assist participants in establishing goals, monitoring progress, and preparing action plans via Outcome Star/My Recovery for their next steps (housing, employment, addiction services, life skills, health, education, infant care, or other case specific needs).

• Model healthy relationships and secure attachment, providing coaching, skills training, and crisis management.

• Assess, record, and report observed behavior as necessary to appropriate authorities.

Intake/Discharge (10%)

• Analyze, screen, and process intake applicants or attend interagency consultations.

• First point of contact upon arrival. Complete paperwork, introduce and orient to the new building and complete/assist bed bug protocol, key system etc.

• Assist each participant with intake and discharge, including research, referrals, and administrative support.

Advocacy (30%)

• Partner with outside agencies, government ministries, individuals, and families to meet on and offsite regarding the current and future well-being of the Sanctuary participants and their babes.
• Schedule and record minutes of ongoing interagency meetings with participants , family members, Child Protection Social Workers and community supports. Together with the Case Manager team establish and implement individualized Action Plans.

General (20%)

• Participate in staff meetings, training and development opportunities.

• Perform other duties as required by your supervisor, including assisting Sanctuary staff when required, and lead group programming as required.

• Adhere to all UGM published policies, practices and procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety.

KSA’s

• Agreement with UGM’s Mission Statement (see www.ugm.ca) and Statement of Faith.

• A vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, our Creator, as Saviour and Lord.

• Bachelor of Social Work and current full registration with the BCCSW required.

• 2 - 3 years of related work experience is required, with knowledge of issues related to poverty, addiction and parenting.

• Consideration may be given to alternate combinations of lived experience and education.

• Understanding of Stages of Change and Attachment Theory

• Understanding of and/or experience with Child Protection Social Worker involvement with families under the Child, Family and Community Services Act.

• Experience with therapeutic approach to motivational interviewing.

• Experience working in a community organization, foundation or ministry.

• Intermediate computer skills (Excel, Word and Outlook).

• Valid Class 5 drivers’ license required.

• Able to work collaboratively with partnering community agencies and with participants in a respectful and culturally-sensitive manner.

• Able to nurture mothers in advancing their parenting skills while supporting the safety and well- being of their children.

• Completion of UGM’s Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training and all other mandatory training, including First Aid training/certification and Naloxone training/certification.

• Willing to provide vaccination information.

• Technical Competency—Trauma-Informed Care (Level 3): Help identify negative events that have impacted the client’s functioning, and develop interventions that emphasize safety, choice, and personal control.

Working Conditions

• Work Location

Work is generally performed indoors; up to 30% of time spent outdoors in all types of weather.

• Physical Requirements

Duties require extended periods of standing and/or walking. Duties require occasional periods of climbing, pulling/pushing items, lifting/carrying items, keyboarding, reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling. Employees are required to look at a computer screen for up to 50% of the time. Must be able to lift up to 35lbs occasionally.

• Work Conditions

Working environment is generally favorable. Lighting and temperature are adequate. Work is performed amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises. Regular environmental exposures to cold, heat, and water. This position is required to work in an environment often dealing with clients in crisis situations brought about by diverse problems. The ability to function independently and frequently under pressure, while managing multiple concurrent tasks including emergency situations is an ongoing expectation of this position.

• Hours of Work

This position typically works weekday daytime shifts. Some work on scheduled days off may be required. Moderate overtime may be required. Work on statutory holidays may be required.

• Hazards

Job requires frequent interaction with the public some of whom may be upset, abusive, and/or violent. Job requires working frequently with people in unhealthy conditions and may include exposure to bodily fluids, lice and bedbugs. Employee is required to hear information about clients’ lives which may be troubling or upsetting; may cause emotional issues (vicarious trauma).

• Other

Due to the nature of the job, and our commitment to a safe environment, the candidate is subject to a criminal record check and must submit a current Driver’s Abstract.