Follow-Up & Transitional Support Worker (Housing)

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team of Employment and Community Programs and help us to achieve great things in our community!

You Got This! a Home for Good program supports clients with a history of homelessness who leave the streets or leave incarceration and achieve permanent housing with supports after they move in. The Follow-up Support staff work within a Housing First case management framework which is client centred and based in harm reduction to assist with community integration life skill development financial stability socio-recreational interaction recovery and housing stability.

Follow-up supports are assessed on an on-going basis based upon a clients specific needs and level of support needed to meet their goals; a case management plan will be developed and monitored.

In this role you will:

• Attend client transfer meetings.
• Work with youth to develop client crisis plans.
• Assist clients with community mapping and community integration by facilitating connections to community social and recreational activities through accompaniment.
• Actively involve clients in planning goal setting and decision making; develop goals related to life skills development and employment options.
• Connect clients to other community and/or ongoing supports such as mental health and/or physical health and/or substance use/harm reduction resources and supports.
• Assist clients with referrals; accompany the client to appointments and walk with the client in their community to identify and connect with local resources.
• Conduct regular home visits focused on specific activities/outcomes that result in the client moving toward independence.
• Ensure Assertive Engagement which involves actively looking for and locating the client in the community as required.
• Act as a Landlord contact and support.
• Actively work with the clients to prevent eviction which includes checking monthly with the landlord to ensure rent was paid participate in landlord mediation etc.
• Assist clients to move towards achieving long-term income stability which may involve collaboration with TESS/Ontario Works (OW) worker referrals to employment supports pursuing an ODSP application and accessing other financial literacy programs.
• Maintain regular case notes to track progress on client goals and highlight next steps landlord communications referrals and crisis plans.
• Assist clients with re-housing and complete required documentation.
• Ensure clients are discharged from services as prescribed by Eva initiatives and the YMCA (or Funder requirements).
• Attend a monthly case conference with program partners.
• Provide ongoing assessment case management care coordination and monitoring of clients needs; monitor and evaluate clients changing needs and coordinate individualized services.
• Document; maintain member case files and ensure quality audit measures are achieved in accordance with the YMCA and funders standards.
• Respond to and investigate enquiries complaints and emergency situations involving clients; assess the situation and present and implement solutions; listen mediate negotiate and provide support and guidance to resolve issues.
• Participate in research activities and program development and delivery.
• Liaise with staff from other programs and community agencies to provide program information or advocate for transfers/placements of clients.
• Adhere to all Vanauley St. YMCA protocols and practices as well as Association and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Participate in volunteer supervision staff meetings and professional development trainings as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• Post-secondary education in social or human services or equivalent experience
• Training certificate in defusing hostility and/or crisis prevention
• Minimum of two years of experience in a setting that provides service to homeless or street-involved youth including case management
• Ability to work flexible shifts
• Working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act Landlord and Tenant Board processes and other relevant housing legislation
• Knowledge and ability to integrate anti-oppression critical disability LGBTQ2S and trans-positivity trauma recovery approach in support of mental health and strengths-based principles into practice
• Knowledge of the issues that lead young people to become homeless and the ability to work with youth in a respectful non-judgmental and consistent manner
• Extensive skills in mental health harm reduction and support for marginalized individuals with complex needs
• Excellent written communication skills
• Commitment to working in a socially inclusive environment responding with sensitivity and personal awareness to the diverse needs of members including visible and non-visible dimensions of diversity
• Well-developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members staff and volunteers; excellent written/verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate and resolve conflict in a constructive and professional manner
• Experience with Windows Microsoft Word Perfect/Excel
• Valid First Aid/CPR Certificate; knowledge of health and safety and child protection laws
• Excellent understanding of diversity inclusion and equity including the ability to identify and address barriers work effectively with diverse stakeholders and integrate equity into program design

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCAs Mission Vision and Values

• Focus on the health safety and wellbeing of all children youth and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable Relationship-Builder Improvement-Orientated Team Player & Leader Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people helping them grow lead and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services such as health and fitness licensed child care camps employment and immigrant services education and training and services for youth families and seniors. Learn more in our strategic plan Greater Together which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour Indigenous Peoples disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest however due to the volume of applications we receive we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.

Required Experience:

IC