SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WORKER

Collegeview - Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

One (1) Bargaining Unit, Contract Part-Time Position

Saturday-Sunday Every Other Weekend, 8:00am-4:00pm

Existing Vacancy

Compensation: $25.28/hour-$29.40/hour

About Cota

Cota is an accredited not-for-profit organization that has been providing community-based support to people living with mental health and cognitive challenges for over 50 years. At present, our wide array of services delivers much needed support to over 4,000 people/year who live with mental health challenges, psychogeriatric mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, developmental disabilities, dual diagnoses and/or the experience of homelessness. These services include, but are not limited to, case management, supportive housing and adult day program services. A full listing of our services can be viewed on our website at https://cotainspires.ca/

Cota is presently seeking a dynamic and innovative individual to join our amazing team in the capacity of the role outlined within this posting. Followed by our mission to support individuals with mental health and cognitive challenges to live well within their communities, we strive toward a vision of a supportive, inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. If you feel you have the skills and qualifications to perform the duties of this role while consistently exemplifying Cota’s values Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview

The Supportive Housing Worker is responsible for providing Recovery Oriented services to Cota clients in a manner consistent with Cota’s Mission, Vision and Values.

About the Team

We require Supportive Housing Worker to work as a team member of our Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Supportive Housing program at Collegeview. Collegeview is located at the Collegeview Apartment site in the Yonge St. /College St. area of downtown Toronto. This program provides rent-geared-to-income accommodation and supports to adults living with ABI requiring various levels of physical, cognitive, and behavioral support. Tenants reside in their own apartments and share a communal kitchen with other tenants. The goal of the program is to assist tenants with activities of daily living (ADL’s & IADL’s) and other individual goals so that they can maintain their housing and lead productive lives within the community. The Collegeview team supports the program every day, 24hrs 7 days a week.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Supportive Housing Worker’s duties may involve, but not necessarily be limited to:

• In conjunction with the manager and supervisor, they assist with the search for, and acquisition of, appropriate housing units as may be required within the program

• Coordinates intake processes including:

• Reviewing the referral information of applicants to the program

• Coordinating and participating in screening interviews with applicants and their respective referral sources

• Determining eligibility for the program and confirming acceptance of new clients into the program

• Coordinating move-in arrangements with the new clients and their respective referral sources

• Facilitating internal move-in practices/protocols with new clients, per applicable program standards/guidelines

• Orientating new clients to the housing environment and Cota’s service

• Assists with the development of tenant Support/Goal Plans

• Plays an active lead role in ensuring that Support/Goal Plans are developed with each tenant and his/her support network and a record of this is documented in client’s chart

• Shares responsibility with the Team for implementing appropriate housing supports that assist clients in pursuing/achieving their goals

• Liaises with client support networks on a regular basis

• Focuses on assisting clients with:

a) Tenancy Related Matters, such as:

• Rent payments
• landlord disputes
• Reducing high risk behaviours
• Coping within a communal environment
• Engagement within the life of the tenant community

b) Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as:

• Maintaining appropriate medications routines
• Providing assistance and reminders relating to appointments
• Establishing and/or maintaining client personal hygiene routines
• Assisting with clients’ laundry routines
• Maintaining and/or cleaning clients’ units/rooms
• Assisting clients with menu planning, grocery shopping and/or cooking
• Managing and supporting clients with behavioural needs
• Other supports with ADLs as identified by the Supervisor and/or Team

c) Other individual support requirements including, but not limited to:

• Community orientation
• Linking to Case Management and/or other services
• Situational dispute/problem resolution
• Informal counselling/guidance

1. Supports the maintenance of safe/clean environment:

• Directly assists with maintaining the site in a clean and orderly state. This may involve:
  • Cleaning/setting up vacant tenant units in order to prepare them for occupancy as scheduled, or, as required
  • Cleaning common areas such as common rooms/lounges after activities, common kitchen, office, staff lounge, and building exterior space area as scheduled, or, as required
  • Assisting with any pest control/eradication efforts, as required
  • Continually assessing the environment for safety and security issues and recommending action to address any deficiencies

1. Coordinates/facilitates tenant meetings to promote direct client participation in the planning of services/activities provided by Cota and to promote a safe and open forum for dialogue in relation to issues/concerns that clients may have regarding the services they receive, the environment that they live in, and any conflict/tension that they may be experiencing in relation to their living environment

2. Plans and facilitates group activities/events which foster clients engagement/participation, the development of social networks, and skill acquisition

3. Coordinates the purchasing of necessary program/activity supplies, and accounts for purchases in accordance with program guidelines

4. Offers outreach support/education to landlords and housing providers through:

• Orientation to/education about the challenges facing our clients and their support needs
• Participation in joint client/landlord dispute meetings

1. Documentation and data entry

• Documents all clients contacts/interactions in the appropriate client chart according to Cota's documentation guidelines
• Enters data relating to client interactions into Cota's database system according to data collection guideline
• Assists with other data collection activities within the program, as determined by the Supervisor and/or Team

1. Participates in team meetings, provides input and ideas for improving services, efficiencies and ongoing program planning

Other Responsibilities:

• Maintains current certification and/or up-to-date training in identified Required Training areas for MH&CS Division Service providers
• Adheres to all Cota's policies and procedures and follows established applicable program guidelines, procedures and practices
• Adheres to all applicable legislation, in particular, the Ontario Human Rights Code
• Complies with all Health and Safety policies and procedures to ensure every reasonable precaution is taken for the protection of workers and clients and that health and safety concerns or incidents are responded to promptly
• Works cooperatively, respectfully and constructively with clients, Team members, management, other service providers, and external stakeholders
• Ensures that confidentiality of clients, employees and Cota information is maintained at all times
• Undertakes other related and/or delegated duties, as assigned

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Completion of a Community College Diploma in Social Services, Community Work, Mental Health, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of related certified trainings, and a minimum of three (3) years of related or lived experience supporting individuals in housing, social services, or community-based settings.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Clinical knowledge relevant to the target population being served.

• Knowledge of community resources relevant to the target population being served and/or demonstrated ability to search for applicable resources/information.

• Ability to design and implement group activities and facilitate group meetings.

• Good crisis management and dispute resolution skills.

• Good interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).

• Basic computer literacy (Word, E-mail, Internet).

• Good judgment and ability to work independently as well as cooperatively with others.

• Non-judgmental attitude.

• Consistent/ reliable and flexible.

• Ability to recognize safety issues and follow safe work practices.

• Demonstrated client-centred and customer focused approach.

• Ability to problem solve and make recommendations to resolve issues.

• Effective team player.

• Sensitive to challenges experienced by marginalized population groups such as poverty, access issues, mental health and addictions

Judgment:

• Ability to identify client risk factors and coordinate appropriate follow-up.

• Respectful and aware of client - worker boundaries.

• Awareness of safety issues with clients.

Other:

Flexibility to shift hours as needed to support program needs.

Application Details:

Please complete the application below before May 14, 2025 at 4:00pm.

Benefits:

Upon successful completion of a three-month period of employment, permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week will be eligible for employer-paid group insurance benefits. These employer-paid benefits will include:

• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Dental care
• Travel assistance
• Vision care

Permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week are also required to enroll in employee-paid long-term disability coverage.

Additional Information:

Interview Process: Cota may choose to conduct parts/all of the hiring process virtually. Please note that as part of maintaining an agile workforce, all Cota staff may be required to be reasonably reassigned to support the operational needs of our essential services.

Screening Process: Please note that Cota uses AI to screen potential applicants for all roles.

We would like to thank all those that apply; however, due to high volumes of interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Thank you, Cota's HR Department.

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Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation are key values of Cota. We are dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace, upholding dignity, and acknowledging each person's individual contributions and potential as an equal-opportunity employer. We uphold the Ontario Human Right Code and strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ people, and others who provide various viewpoints. Cota ensures an accessible hiring process in line with the AODA principles, providing accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For any accommodation requests, please contact hr_recruitment@cotainspires.ca