Supportive Housing Worker

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WORKER 

Step By Step Housing Program

One (1) Bargaining Unit, Permanent Full-Time Position

Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

About Cota

Cota's core values of Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation are at centre of who we are and what we do.

We are seeking a dynamic and innovative individual who will work enthusiastically to deliver recovery oriented support to Service Users and their family that is Service User centered, comprehensive and meet Service Users needs, ensure Service Users safety and work within a quality improvement framework to identify opportunities for enhancing quality and quantitative outcomes of the services. Service Users and family centered care is guiding principle at Cota that helps improve decision-making processes, health outcome and Service Users experiences. The successful individual will embed this guiding principle into their work.  

Role Overview

The Supportive Housing Worker will provide housing coordination to an assigned group of service users within Scarborough or the greater Toronto area and work in partnership with those service users to secure and maintain their housing stability. Seek input from the service user to develop independent living skills to maintain housing stability and achieve mental health stability by pursuing their personal recovery.

About the Team

The Step By Step Housing Program is presently seeking one (1) experienced, dynamic and motivated community-based Supportive Housing Worker to join our Scarborough Housing team. The Scarborough Housing Program is an innovative program, operating from a Housing First perspective, and is designed to provide wrap around supports to assist individuals who are homeless and are living with mental health issues and whom may have had contact with the criminal justice system.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct face-to-face assessments with clients at their locations including but not limited to home, shelters and hospitals.
• Interact directly with referral source, physicians, and other services involved in client’s care.
• Initiate services to clients at the point of intake to ensure that proper assessment and initial service response occurs
• Develop coordinated care plans with/ for clients and complete the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) and other assessments as required
• Collaborate with other systems, organizations and individuals from courts, probation, short-term residential beds program, hospital and community to ensure a well-coordinated service system.
• Record client status/progress using the appropriate documentation system.
•  Build and maintain positive working relationships with new and existing landlords
• Work collaboratively with landlords to address any tenant related issues or disputes.
• Interact with and support service team to secure new units and maintain units for service users that acquire housing.
• Assist with the search for and acquisition of appropriate housing units as may be required within the program.

The Successful Candidate Requires:

• A combination of a post-secondary degree or diploma with a minimum of 2 years of direct experience in the delivery of community mental health services. 
• Sound clinical knowledge and understanding of the Service Users population and demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively with individuals with serious mental illness, addiction challenges, justice issues and complex needs.
• Knowledge and appreciation of housing issues as applicable to the target population.
• Knowledge of legislation and regulations including Residential Tenancies Act
• Knowledge of eviction prevention strategies.
• Knowledge of housing first philosophy.
• Demonstrated ability to provide holistic and comprehensive case management services to all clients including initial and ongoing assessments, goal setting, short and long-term case plan development, crisis intervention, progress monitoring, individual money management.
• Demonstrated ability to use problem-solving techniques to identify and assess Service Users needs and develop appropriate intervention strategies. 
• Demonstrated ability to engage in a meaningful relationship with a broad range of Service Users, including those who are resistant.
• Skillful in assertive outreach and follow-up using a flexible approach to support/assist Service Users in remaining engaged.
• Excellent knowledge of community resources and demonstrated ability to negotiate with others on behalf of Service Users.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent clinical judgment and decision-making skills including a keen awareness of Service Users-clinician boundary issues. 
• Experience, alignment and commitment to harm reduction.
• Experience with group facilitation is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of and commitment to an Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression framework as well as an ability to articulate and implement Recovery Philosophies. 
• Proficient in MS Office, and OCAN documentation.
• Experience working in a community agency an asset.

Other Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Conduct visits in the Service Users' homes, hostels, hospitals and other community settings working in sometimes difficult conditions, including hoarding and pest infestations.
• Comfortable working with a broad range of Service Users groups. 
• Must have access to a vehicle.

Application Details

Please forward a cover letter and your current resume on or before May 13th, 2024 by 4:00 pm with the reference IN239. 

Cota is deeply committed to promoting diversity, advancing equity and fostering a culture of inclusion. Being part of Cota, you know that we recognize everyone's contribution. We are also respectful of each individual's dignity, unique experience, potential and protected rights in line with the grounds laid out by the Ontario Human Rights Code. As an equal opportunity employer, we remain dedicated to sustaining an experienced workforce that reflects the diversity of the clients and communities that we serve.

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.

Accommodation: Cota is an equal opportunity employer and strives to ensure that its recruitment and selection processes meets the needs of all persons with disabilities. As such, Cota will provide reasonable accommodation for any applicant, as requested during the recruitment process. For any recruitment related accommodation needs and/or requests please contact the HR Department via humanresources@cotainspires.ca

Cota values diversity: We welcome applications by qualified candidates from equity-deserving groups, including people with disabilities, Indigenous and racialized people, and queer, trans- and gender non-conforming people.

Scent Free: Cota encourages a scent-free environment. Onsite employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.).