Job Summary: The Warming Centre Worker position reports to the Warming Centre Supervisor.

The Warming Centre

Worker is responsible for the service delivery of the day-to-day operations of the Warming Centre, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the winter months. This is a seasonal position involving rotating 8 hour and 12 hour shifts across days, evenings, and overnight periods to ensure continuous coverage.

Warming Centre

Workers are expected to maintain availability to support round the clock shift schedules throughout the operating season.

Accountability: Able to affirm The Lighthouse's vision, mission, and beliefs and demonstrate commitment to its values of trust, compassion, leadership, safety, and faith, including sensitivity to issues related to poverty, homelessness, mental illness, addictions, and developmental disabilities, and a commitment to a discrimination-free environment.

Responsibilities:

- Set-up and take down of/warming centre operations at the beginning and end of the night.
- Maintain a safe, healthy, and positive environment for staff, volunteers, and participants.
- Help to build positive relationships that are healthy and supportive.
- De-escalate participants and help them work through the issues that are causing problems including conflict resolution between participants.
- Focus on participants' needs with a non-judgmental attitude.
- Promptly address any behaviours that could lead to harm to themselves or others, or any behaviour that goes directly against the agreed upon program expectations, using a person-centered, trauma informed approach.
- Record and report any and all issues related to behaviour including what was done to support the participant and any follow up that is required.
- Exhibit appropriate qualified boundaries with staff, volunteers, and participants.
- Help to build positive relationships that are healthy and supportive while presenting oneself in a professional manner.
- Ensure warming centre expectations, policies and procedures are followed.




- Maintain paper and electronic records including incident reports, log book, and attendance reports.
- Perform routine janitorial duties, including vacuuming and mopping of all floors, cleaning bathrooms, removing any garbage including paraphernalia, cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces.
- Administer basic first aid and maintain applicable records.
- Communicate available community resources to participants as needed.
- Monitor and report any facility issues including maintenance, cleanliness, and pest control issues as required.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

- Social Service Worker Program, or equivalent preferred.
- Related experience working with vulnerable populations.
- First Aid Level 1/CPR required.
- Additional training and qualifications in safe talk, mental health first aid, and other related qualifications considered an asset.
- Working knowledge of the community and social service agencies and programs in the area.
- De-escalation skills.
- Excellent verbal communication skills.
- Ability to exercise excellent judgment and problem-solving skills.
- Strong emotional intelligence.
- Ability to actively listen.
- Demonstrated ability working as a team member.
- A satisfactory Criminal Record Check/Vulnerable Police Check.

A cover letter or letter of interest along with your resume is preferred. Only those selected will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in joining the organization.

Artificial intelligence (AI) may be used to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position by analyzing application materials and generating recommendations to support human decision-making.

Pay: From $21.57 per hour

Benefits

- Casual dress
- On-site parking

Application question(s):
- What is your current employment status? Please type your answer (e.g., Part-time, Full-time, Casual, Unemployed, or Other). If you have more than one employment status, please mention all that apply.

Education:
- DCS / DEC (preferred)

Licence/Certification:
- CPR/First Aid Certification (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Warming Centre Worker (Orillia)
🏢 The Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter
📍 Orillia