Women’s Centre Support Worker
One-year contract: Full-Time
Hours of Work: 35 hours/week, Monday – Friday
The St. John’s Status of Women’s Council/Women’s Centre
The St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre is a feminist organization that since 1972 is continually working to achieve equality and justice through political activism, community collaboration and the creation of a safe and inclusive space for all women in the St. John’s area.
Reports to: Women’s Centre Coordinator
The Women’s Centre is a low barrier and welcoming space for women to come and meet with staff, participate in programming and groups and meet other women. Services include supportive counselling and groups, information and referral, advocacy, social and recreation programming; system navigation such as income, legal, housing and safety.
Position Summary: The Women’s Centre Support Worker provides direct staffing for programs designed for women. The Support worker will deliver and promote program activities with other members of their immediate team. The worker will provide direct support to individuals through the provision of formal and informal programming, advocacy, informal counseling and support, information and referral. The Women’s Centre approach is based on principles of feminism, harm reduction, active listening and a welcoming and safe environment.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The Women’s Centre is an office, residential and drop in space. There will be some travel to external meetings and occasional participant accompaniments. It is an emotionally challenging position and at times a physically demanding job.
Responsibilities:
• Work productively within a team to ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the Women’s Centre
• Assist the Women Centre Coordinator with the development, planning and delivering of programming that is responsive and meets the needs of participants
• Engage women coming to the centre through relationship building and trust
• Encourage and facilitate social connections between women coming to the centre
• Provide appropriate information, referrals and advocacy to other support services, both internally and to external organizations
• Build and maintain respectful working relationships with external community partners.
• Identify, intervene, and effectively deal with crisis and conflict situations. Deal with emergency situations as they arise
• This position requires some cooking and cleaning duties.
• Perform administrative tasks such as communications, reports, information management of service statistics.
• Participate in regular staff meetings
• Observe work related requirements such as punctuality, attending staff meetings, meeting deadlines and working with or without direct support
Qualifications:
• Educational background in social services or human services including continuing education aimed at women centred programs and supports
• Knowledge and prior work experience in a community based centre, understanding of the issues facing marginalized women living with impacts of poverty, violence, mental illness and addiction issues. Understanding of the principles of outreach work
• Knowledge of community-based resources and services, and experience of supporting individuals to navigate the system such as housing, legal, income support, health
• Experience working with women who experience homelessness, health issues (both physical and mental); addictions; abuse; and social isolation and violence.
• Understanding of strategies that promote community and empowerment
• Ability to develop effective and productive relationships with program participants, co-workers and external agencies.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• An understanding of conflict resolution and de-escalation skills
• Administrative and organizational skills, including an understanding of Microsoft software such as Word, Excel and Outlook
Please apply for this position to: Jenny Wright, Executive Director, jenny@sjwomenscentre.ca by 4pm on March 30th, 2016
Please demonstrate how your education/experience reflect the qualifications required in your cover letter.