Site Support Worker

SITE SUPPORT WORKER

Boarding Home Program - West

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

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

Existing Vacancy

Compensation: $24.54/hour-28.54/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.  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 Site Support Worker assesses each homes’ individual support service needs in collaboration with the tenants, the boarding home front-line staff, home operators and other possible stakeholders. They assist tenants to help maintain housing, integrate into the community through access to resources and therapeutic group activities in an effort to build a sense of community with in these homes and to decrease isolation.

In addition, the Site Support Worker provides support to tenants through direct engagement; orientating new tenants to their home and the surrounding community; facilitate tenant house meetings; participate in tenant/operator dispute meetings; work with stakeholders during a tenant crisis.

About the Team

Cota’s Boarding Home West Team consists of 9 site support workers and two case managers. This team supports tenants living within 16 Habitat funded boarding homes in the west of the city. Tenants are adults living with mental health and/or addiction issues. The Boarding home team visits multiple sites, regularly, in-person through out the week to support tenants, the boarding home operators and their staff.

Services include the facilitation of group activities and events to foster tenant engagement, decrease isolation and social connections, skill development, and education. The teams provides education to the owner/operators and their staff, as well as individual support to tenants, facilitating community orientation, linking to resources and professional supports, situational dispute resolution and informal counselling and guidance when needed.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Providing support to tenants with mental health and/or substance use issues, living in various boarding home, co-op and apartment settings through regularly scheduled visits to each site. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Developing support strategies/plans based on identified site specific needs/trends.
• Providing orientation of new tenants to their housing setting, to Cota’s site support service, and their community.
• Conducting/facilitating tenant house meetings to promote direct tenant participation in the planning of service/activities provided by Cota at the site and to promote a safe and open forum for dialogue in relation to issues and concerns that tenants may have.
• Planning and facilitating therapeutic group activities that foster tenant engagement and participation, the development of social networks, and skill acquisition.
• Coordinating the purchase of necessary program supplies and accounting for purchases in accordance with program guidelines.
• Providing individual support to tenants in the areas of community orientation, linking to other services and professional supports, situational problem resolution and informal counseling, as time allows.

2. Providing support to housing providers and their staff through:

• Participation in the development and facilitation of an annual series of training sessions for housing providers and their staff.
• Participation in joint Cota/Operator and Tenant/Operator dispute resolution meetings.

3. General duties:

• Participation in team meetings and clinical consultations
• Provides input and ideas for improving services, efficiencies and ongoing program planning.
• Documentation and data entry related to client interactions into Cota’s database system according to data entry guidelines.
• Documentation of all incidents and occurrences in accordance with Cota policies, and in accordance with applicable partnership agreements.
• Contributing to the development of monthly and quarterly reports pertaining to each site.

The Successful Candidate Requires: 

• A minimum of a community college diploma in a field relevant to the target population (mental health issues substance use); higher level post-secondary education in a relevant field considered an asset.
• Completion of an accredited Recreation program at the college or university level with a focus on, or specialty in, Therapeutic Recreation, will be considered an asset.
• Experience working in housing, working with clients with substance use and or mental illnesses.
• Clinical experience working with adults who have mental health challenges.
• Experience working with addictions is essential.
• Proven experience planning and facilitating group activities/events which foster tenant engagement/participation.
• Experience in community mental health or in supportive housing settings.
• Positive, Compassionate and innovative
• Good crisis management and dispute resolution skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) Knowledge of and ability to access as well as utilize community resources.
• Basic understanding of different psychiatric conditions.
• Good organizational skills.
• Ability to produce comprehensive reports, and pirouette documentation Basic computer literacy (MS Word, outlook, mobile devise).

Other Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
• Travel necessary within GTA.
• Comfortable working in a variety of Habitat funded Boarding homes.

Application Details: 

Please forward a cover letter and your current resume on or before January 10th, 2025 by 4:00 pm with the reference Job Posting IN336. 

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:

Interviewing 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

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 hr_recruitment@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, hairs.).