Residence Student Support Specialist

Western University delivers an academic experience second to none.  Western challenges the best and brightest faculty, staff and students to commit to the highest global standards.  Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application.  Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community.  Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities.

The Division of Housing and Ancillary Services is committed to providing a first-class residence experience for over 5,300 Western students while supporting the academic mission of the University and ensuring profitability and cost effectiveness of divisional operations.  We provide thriving residence communities which engage our diverse student population. 

Reporting to the Associate Director, Residence Counselling, the Residence Student Support Specialist provides comprehensive and effective mental health support for the residence community through the assessment and management of complex and critical student needs and where risk is present as a result of psychosocial issues.  The incumbent will promote and foster positive relationships and work collaboratively with campus and community partners.  The Residence Student Support Specialist will utilize case management methodology, appropriate intervention strategies and emergency protocols with the ability to coordinate multiple services as required.  The incumbent will be instrumental in the development and implementation of new student support programs and educational initiatives, working collaboratively with campus partners to promote initiatives that increase mental health support for students living in residence.  The Residence Student Support Specialist will evaluate existing processes, programs and services as part of the continuous improvement of student support within the residence community.

Education:

-   Undergraduate degree in Social Work, Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Sciences

-   Master’s degree focused in Counselling, Social Services, Child & Youth Services or College Diploma focused in case management, Child and Youth Services is preferred

Experience:

-   3 years’ experience providing support to individuals in distress

-   3 years’ experience working in a post-secondary setting providing support to students experiencing distress is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

-   Demonstrated knowledge and competence in Case Management frameworks and practice

-   Knowledge and proven skills to work with the adolescent and young adult population and associated theoretical frameworks including case management & student development theory

-   Excellent assessment skills combined with skill in identifying need for further health and safety assessments in students

-   Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse student environment

-   Proven ability to effectively establish rapport with students, campus and community partners

-   Demonstrated knowledge of community resources, excellent organizational and time management skills and the ability to assess priorities and work independently to meet required deadlines with conflicting demands and changing priorities

-   Ability to interact professionally with students, staff and other members of the University community

-   Interpersonal skills to seek out and build relationships with campus partners and other stakeholders to improve service delivery

-   Ability to apply active listening to hear and understand the complete message being communicated

-   Competency to maintain confidentiality and treat sensitive information with discretion

-   Ability to negotiate complex situations in a calm and persuasive manner

-   Ability to perceive and understand the emotions of others and interact with them appropriately based on those emotions

-   Excellent evaluation skills with strong experience in best practices and reporting

-   High level of integrity and trust, tact and diplomacy

-   Well-defined sense of judgement and crisis management with the ability to make ethical decisions based on honesty, integrity, and objectivity

-   Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to deliver engaging and informative presentations that clearly explain information to audiences using appropriate communication channels

-   Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word and Excel)

-   Flexibility of working hours - may be required after hours or on weekends to provide assistance for serious or high risk cases which arise outside of regular working hours

Interested applicants are asked to visit: https://recruit.uwo.ca to apply online to job reference #20623, by midnight on September 17, 2020.  Please note, this is a temporary full-time contract opportunity with an expected end date of May 31, 2021.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.  If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwo.ca or phone 519-661-2194.