Spiritual Care Advisor

Who We Are

For more than 130 years The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church each year we help more than 2 million people providing necessities such as food clothing and shelter. In addition we support people experiencing unemployment addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission vision and values of hope service dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description:

POSITION PURPOSE SUMMARY:

The Chaplain provides intentional directed spiritual care for residents staff and community members at Vancouver Harbour Light. The position will organize and facilitate pastoral care services and spirituality-based classes and groups including Christian programing. The Chaplain will provide Christian leadership in planning directing coordinating assist with residents and staff with a range of duties as assigned.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Works with men and women within an adult multi-program residential facility setting.
• Prays with and/or leads people to faith in Jesus Christ as opportunity permits.
• Provides spiritual counsel/guidance to Harbour Light staff and community members and to clients residing in emergency shelters treatment programs CRF halfway-house and residential housing.
• Primary provider of spiritual care for clients in the Diane Harwood Centre for Women Assists advises refers guides Treatment Program clients in supportive recovery. Conducts interviews related to addiction treatment and other program participants as required.
• Attends meetings assists with and participates in specific assigned administrative duties. Leads and/or participates in scheduled Spirituality Classes to clients as part of Treatment Program.
• Leads and/or participates in morning Spiritual Reflections in both the mens and womens treatment programs.
• Assists clients towards achieving personal and spiritual well-being.
• Assists in planning and leading client outings supervising participating clients and communicating concerns promptly regarding clients to program management and counselors.
• As assigned provides leadership over special events and memorials.
• Works as a member of the Chaplaincy team and with other community agencies.
• Maintains written records and logs of activity reports and statistical information (SAMIS). Keeps accurate current client notes and follows program/facility policies for client charting in CAMS
• May assist the Director of Spiritual Care in the following areas; recruiting training and monitoring chaplaincy volunteers.
• Liaises with representatives of other faith communities as needed.
• Is knowledgeable about and acts in accordance with security procedures of the organization to ensure safety and confidentiality of clients and information. Organizes physical dcor and set-up of chapel and other pastoral care areas.
• Serves on The Salvation Army working groups and committees as assigned.
• As assigned attend and participate in staff meetings and case management meetings for shelter CRF treatment and housing programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned

CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Governance Boards and Councils: None

Internal:

• May represent spiritual care team at program department case management committee(s)
• May represent spiritual care team on staff wellness and/or occupational health & safety committees External:
• May represent Harbour Light on community or divisional working groups (as assigned) Other ministry units particularly Anchor of Hope Community Church

MANAGERIAL/TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY:

• Reports directly to: Director of Spiritual Care
• Direct reports for this position: none
• The Chaplain may provide supervision to volunteers and/or practicum students.

FINANCIAL AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT:

• Access to highly confidential and private information.
• The Chaplain may be involved in minor financial matters regularly or on a relief basis and has responsibility for the wise use of their own resources. They may be authorized to spend disburse or collect small amounts of cash. They have very little input into the annual budget.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Hours of Work: Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This includes 7.5 paid hours and 0.5 hours unpaid lunch break. Some flexible hours of work may be required for special events and/or program activities such as occasional evenings and/or Sundays.
• The Chaplain works in various spaces (office chapel program areas) within a residential social services setting located in the downtown eastside of Vancouver.
• The performance of the job requires a moderate amount of standing walking assisting clients in wheelchairs/walkers intervening in confrontations and moderate computer use/data entry. The Chaplain required to lift up to 10 pounds.
• This position requires 0-10% travel as this position may occasionally support VHL at community fairs/events within the Lower Mainland or accompany program clients on outings within the Metro Vancouver region.
• The position involves generally agreeable conditions; however risks may include:
• Physical or verbal aggression from others (e.g. angry people people in crisis etc.) o Possible exposure to drugs alcohol weapons or other prohibited items o Possible exposure to sharp objects (i.e. needle sticks knives and other weapons)
• The Chaplain must follow precautionary measures and all health & safety policies including but not limited to: o Universal precautions o WHMIS Mental Health First Aid and Non-violent Crisis Intervention training
• The above responsibilities must be performed in keeping with The Salvation Armys Mission Vision and Values in a professional manner upholding our code of conduct.

Education Qualifications and Certifications:

• Completion of a formal post-secondary or college program in theology spiritual care and/or chaplaincy with a minimum program length of two academic years (e.g. Spiritual & Religious Care Certificate from Booth University College or equivalent)
• Ability to receive and maintain Criminal Record Review Program vulnerable sector clearance Ability to receive enhanced federal reliability status to work with federat correctional clients Current Certification or willingness to obtain certification in: o First Aid/CPR o Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (or equivalent) o Mental Health First Aid
• Valid Class 5 British Columbia Drivers License

Experience and Skilled Knowledge Requirements

• Minimum one year experience working in a community health or social services setting delivering services and supports specifically to women/female-identifying clients is a requirement.
• Minimum of one year of prior related experience in chaplaincy or a related field supporting individuals in dealing with substance use/recovery and incarceration
• Knowledge of substance use/addiction and different recovery models (incl. 1 2-step) particularly in respect to the unique needs of women in recovery
• Knowledge/understanding of the needs strengths challenges and opportunities for adult men and women in the DTES e.g. substance use mental health homelessness and gender-based violence
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed practices Experience in a community care licensed facility is an asset

Skills and Capabilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills including coaching and/or conflict resolution skills
• Strong sense of integrity and confidentiality with professional ethics and a balanced sense of fairness and flexibility
• Demonstrated ability to provide spiritual guidance and support with a spiritual/emotional understanding of the human heart
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in writing and verbally in English Demonstrated ability to provide a healthy safe non-judgmental space for clients accessing social services and/or residential care particularly in programs serving women/female-identifying clients
• Strategic thinking and planning creative and collaborative problem solving and willingness/desire to learn on the job
• Demonstrated comfort and skill working with diverse populations
• Clear consistent and values-oriented decision-making
• Intermediate computer skills particularly ability to use Outlook-based email basic Excel and Word
• Experience working with CAMS or another cloud-based client database is an asset

Compensation:

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions internal equity and candidate experience skills and qualifications relevant to the role.

The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.