Community Housing Support Worker (Casual) - Vernon & Kelowna

Position Overview

As a casual Community Housing Support Worker (CHSW), you will provide person-centered, community-based support to individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including those with complex behavioral, mental health, and substance use challenges. The CHSW works independently with individuals in their homes and occasionally in community settings. Both environments will frequently involve working in often dynamic situations requiring sound judgment, adaptability, and strong crisis-response skills.

This position also involves supporting clients in achieving outcomes related to housing stability, community inclusion, and independence by supporting individuals to develop and maintain life skills in alignment with their individualized service plans. This includes assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), facilitating access to community resources, and implementing behavioural and harm reduction strategies.

Major Responsibilities

• Conduct initial and ongoing needs assessments to identify client strengths, risks, and service priorities

• Assist with activities of daily living (e.g. meeting professional appointments, budgeting, shopping, recreational activities, and basic cooking/meal planning assistance)

• Recognize, analyze, and address challenging and emergent situations

• Collaboratively develop, implement, and regularly review individualized service plans with clients and stakeholders

• Advocate for and assist clients in accessing community resources, income supports, healthcare services, treatment programs, housing opportunities, and other services

• Support clients with developing alternative coping strategies and behaviours

• Contribute towards positive behavioural support frameworks, incorporating input from family members and support networks, where appropriate

• Co-facilitate therapeutic, recreational, and educational social group activities

• Complete assessments, progress reports, and incident documentation accurately and within required timelines

What We Offer

• A supportive, caring, work environment with a focus on investing in our staff

• Professional development opportunities

• Immediate access to our robust Employee Assistance Program

Acknowledgement

The John Howard Society of Okanagan & Kootenay is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will have the opportunity to be considered for employment without regard to their race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only shortlisted candidates and those eligible to work in Canada will be contacted.

• Post-secondary education in Social Services, Human Services, Community Support, Mental Health and Addictions, Social Work, Criminology, Psychology, or another related field

• Minimum 1 year of recent and related experience supporting vulnerable populations in housing, shelter, social services, community support, corrections, healthcare, or a related environment

• Solid understanding of trauma-informed practice, harm reduction principles, person-centred service delivery, and recovery-oriented approaches

• Demonstrated crisis intervention and problem-solving abilities

• Knowledge of housing continuum and barriers to accessing safe and affordable housing

• Intermediate computer skills with ability and willingness to learn new programs

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills

• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism, boundaries, and confidentiality

• Strong sense of integrity and accountability

• Ability to prioritize and manage workload under pressure

  Condition of Hire

• Class 5 drivers license, clean drivers abstract, and access to a reliable insured vehicle for work purposes

• Able to pass a Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check

• Valid Emergency First Aid/CPR certificate or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire

• Satisfactory completion of the “Introduction to Homelessness Service Sector” training offered through HSABC within 30 days of hire