Job Title: Residential Client Advocate- Relief
(Bargaining Unit Position as per Collective Agreement)
Department: Women’s Services
Reports to: Manager of Shelter Logistics
Jobs Reporting: N/A
Time Commitment: A relief employee is not regularly scheduled to work, and works on an as-needed basis. In accordance with the Inasmuch Relief Policy.
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Objective: The relief Residential Client Advocate will work from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma informed, and intersectional feminist framework and uses a client centered approach to support women-identified individuals and their dependents who are experiencing abuse and/or homelessness while offering a safe space for individuals to reside during this process. The Residential Client Advocate will provide service from a client-centered approach, respecting each woman’s self-determination and personal decision-making.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Provide direct service to women-identified individuals and their dependents including, but not limited to, conducting risk assessment, safety planning, ensuring the safety of the shelter, completing assessments and admissions, facilitating programming, offering house information and completing housing applications, arrangement of interpreters, participating in conflict resolution and offering crisis intervention by phone and through web and text-based services
Ensure the overall safety and security of the shelter is maintained
Support in the development of a risk assessment and detailed personal safety plan for women-identified individuals and their dependents who have experienced violence and review and update as the service user situation changes
Identify child welfare concerns and comply with Duty to Report obligations in accordance with the child and Family Services Act and good practices in working with women-identified individuals and children around child-welfare concerns and collaborate with Hamilton Child and Family Supports, Catholic Children’s Aid Society as needed
Provide information on resources to service users and referrals as identified by service users
Participate in developing and delivering on-site groups and activities for service users




Inform and encourage service users to participate in filling out MCCSS Service User Surveys
Keep systematic records using automated case management software and in-house tools such as log books and report templates
Understand and follow protocols with community partners such as Hamilton Police Services, Hamilton Child and Family Supports, and the School Board
Participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and case conference meetings as directed by management
Work safely, and identify and report any health and safety concerns, in accordance with Mission Services’ Workplace Health and Safety policies and procedures
Adhere to a strict confidentiality policy
Understand and adhere to all Mission Services, Inasmuch House, and Shelter Standards policies and procedures
Adhere to all Mission Services and Inasmuch House and Shelter Standards policies and procedures
Assist in the supervision and provision of programming alongside Mission Services volunteers, and placement students
Other duties that may be required to ensure the continuation of services
Qualifications:
Education
Minimumdiploma in Social Service Work, or related field
Preference for degree in Social Work
Experience
Minimum one (1) year of work experience and/or student placement experience in any of the following fields: gender-based violence, addiction, mental health, concurrent disorders, counselling or other social service positions supporting vulnerable women
Knowledge
Excellent understanding of gender-based violence and child abuse
Knowledge and understanding of individuals experiencing mental health disorders, addiction, poverty and homelessness
Works from an intersectional feminist perspective
Understands working from a person-centered, trauma-informed perspective
Works from an Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive informed framework
Understanding of Mission Services’ Mission, Vision and Values and how these are to be reflected in practice
Skills




Empathy and active listening skills
Crisis intervention skills
Organizational and time-management skills
Interpersonal effectiveness skills
Abilities
Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations
Ability to make confident decisions that align with the sector standards
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a team
Ability to speak French is an asset
Other Requirements
Proof of passing a vulnerable sector check
Proof of negative two-step tuberculosis skin test
Nature and Scope:
Contacts
Frequent contact with woman-identified individuals residing within the shelter and their dependents
Collaborating with other Inasmuch employees including: Residential Client Advocates, Emergency Residential Team Support, Child and Youth Advocate, LEAF Group Facilitator, Legal Advocate, Transitional Housing Support Worker, Cleaner, Administrative Assistants, , and Positive Food Program Worker
Reporting to and communicating with the Manager of Residential Programming, Manager of Outreach and Shelter Facilities, Manager of Shelter Logistics and Director of Women’s Services
Connecting with community supports to coordinate referrals and care for service users
Level of Responsibility
Identify child welfare concerns and comply with Duty to Report obligations in accordance with the Child and Family Services Act and good practices in working with women-identified individuals and children around child-welfare concerns
Ensure the overall safety and security of the shelter is maintained
Will occasionally be required to work-alone
Decision-Making Authority
May occasionally be required to support full-time staff with case management to ensure continuity of services
Will be required to connect with management on site or on-call management that is available 24/7 to ensure compliance with program policies and procedures
Will have to respond to frequent disruptions
Will be required to respond to crisis situations
Will be required to understand and practice safety procedures for emergency responses to fire, power failures, severe weather, building maintenance, and on-call manager and operations procedures
Relief staff may be required to work irregular hours

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📌 Relief Residential Client Advocate (Ontario)
🏢 Mission Services of Hamilton
📍 Ontario