Community Engagement Worker –Indigenous Health and Wellness (Contract)

Internal and External Job Posting

Community Engagement Worker –Indigenous Health and Wellness (Contract)

Elm Housing Support

JOB ID: ELM0629

 

Employment Type:                          Full-Time, Contract

Work Hours:                                    35 hours per week (includes evening and weekend hours; shares on-call duties)

Salary:                                              $54,294 annually, plus comprehensive benefits

Location:                                         150 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0B1

Contract Start Date:                        March 22, 2022

Contract End Date:                         March 31, 2023

Internal Application Deadline:       Wednesday, January 26, 2022

External Application Deadline:      Friday, January 28, 2022

 

JOIN OUR TEAM

YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected. We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and/or Two-Spirit. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

The Community Engagement Worker – Indigenous Health and Wellness is responsible for leading the design and implementation of programming that promotes culturally appropriate individual and community health for Indigenous residents, with the goals of creating an inclusive community, encouraging participation within the broader community, and developing effective strategies to meet the emotional, practical and social support needs of the tenant community.  The Community Engagement Worker – Indigenous Health and Wellness will work within the Community Engagement Program team and alongside the Jean Tweed Centre case management team to ensure that community engagement activities support a positive and dynamic community environment with a focus on health outcomes.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – YWCA ELM CENTRE

YWCA Elm Centre includes 300 units of permanent housing for three different resident groups: 165 units of affordable rental units for women, 50 units for women and women-led families of Indigenous descent (including 10 women-led families fleeing violence) and 85 units for women who are experiencing significant mental health challenges or concurrent mental health/addictions disorders. The program will provide services to the entire residential community, with a dual focus on community building and individualized supports.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Acts as specialist consultant to YWCA Manager,  YWCA Elm support team, Jean Tweed Centre case managers and tenants in the area of innovative community engagement and capacity building with marginalized and mixed communities;
• Develops, implements and evaluates workshops, groups and individual supports that incorporate an understanding of residents’ mental health, addictions, and woman abuse issues, with attention to the value of peer supports in the Indigenous, youth, and supportive housing sub-communities;
• Creates programming specifically designed to build community capacity for residents of Indigenous descent with an emphasis on health promotion and wellbeing;
• Works in collaboration with case managers to assess and develop service plans that take into consideration the needs and experience of Indigenous residents;
• Assists in conducting intake interviews, ensures relevant documentation is completed/acquired and supports tenants move in process as required
• Provides crisis prevention, intervention and counseling for women and children to respons to crisis in ways that support individual and community well-being and uses the health care system appropriately
• Uses harm reduction approaches to increase the individual’s capacity for successful tenancy, their recovery goals and community engagement.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

• General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired throught the completion of an undergraduate degree in a social services or health field  (e.g. BSW/Social Work, Occupational Therapy, etc.);
• 3 to 5 years experience working in a diverse, direct service setting with Indigenous adults and families who experience the impacts of poverty, homelessness/under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/addictions/or concurrent disorders, and other sources of marginalization or oppression (Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate knowledge of Indigenous healing practices and traditional teachings into community programming and individual support;
• Knowledge of Indigenous services and community resources and other community resources that provide culturally competent services for Indigenous clients;
• Demonstrated ability to deliver programming that recognizes and values cultural identities (ethno-racial, LGBTQ, e.g.) ;
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating leadership within groups and developing dynamic and innovative programming;
• Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, strengths-based, de-escalates tension, and teaches conflict resolution ;
• Demonstrated crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis
• Proven experience and strong skills in developing and facilitating group-based programming;
• Lived experience in the Indigenous community and the ability to deliver culturally sensitive services;
• Preference will be given to qualified candidates of Indigenous heritage;
• Experience working with diverse individuals and groups (ethno-cultural, gender, abilities, race, etc.) and the ability to deliver culturally sensitive services ;
• Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act an asset;
• Very good knowledge and understanding of community resources for Indigenous women;
• Proven experience working in a collaborative, complex service setting;
• Familiarity with Windows and Excel programs, excellent oral and written communication.

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees are required to be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination series by October 30, 2021. As a condition of hire, new staff will be required to submit proof of vaccination prior to their first day of work.  The YWCA will consider written requests for accommodation under the Human Rights Code on a case by case basis and will accommodate those individuals who are legally entitled to accommodation.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your cover letter and résumé to Danielle Nakouz, Manager of Elm Housing Support Program at elmhousingjobs@ywcatoronto.org  Please quote JOB ID number ELM0629 and your name in the subject line. 

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter and your email subject line, if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is not secondable.

 

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations. 

 

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.