Search Homelessness Services Association of BC

Job Description / Duties

Main Purpose and Function
Community Services is currently accepting applications from qualified individuals for on-call work as an Activity Leader for the 2020-2021 Warming Centre season.
Community Services operate warming centres for the purpose of providing overnight warmth to vulnerable populations who are experiencing homelessness and face
barriers related to addiction, mental health, physical and/or cognitive disabilities and other issues related to poverty and marginalization.
Opened in response to extreme cold weather, warming centres are activated as a life-saving response for people sleeping outside during the city’s coldest months.
Warming centres continually welcome people throughout the evening, offering respite from the cold at any hour during opening hours. Warming centres offer a warm
space, staff to connect to, snacks, beverages, and washrooms.
Reporting to the Warming Centre Coordinator, this front line position offers shifts at different warming centre locations in the downtown core. Hours of work will be
between the hours of 8:00pm to 7:00am (with a one hour break), with operations being entirely weather dependent (-5C or colder). Shifts will be scheduled with 24
hours’ notice with no guaranteed hours over the winter season. This is an on-call position, and may be scheduled within 24 hours of activation. This is a seasonal
position.

Qualifications / Required Skills

This position involves the set-up and take down of warming centre operations and the overall supervision of the warming centre program during overnight operation.
This includes:
Welcoming guests : this may include, street-based outreach to encourage folks to attend warming centres
Attending to emergencies and first aid situations as required
Observes guests and their environments to ensure the safety of guests and the premises by performing duties such as reporting unsafe conditions, incidents
and/or behaviours, interacting with guests including observing client behaviour, investigating disturbances, dealing with client emergencies in accordance with
guidelines and reporting incidents to appropriate staff or authorities. Defuses volatile situations through methods such as non-violent crisis intervention
techniques. Records observations for communication to other staff.
The maintenance of statistics
The preparation of light snacks to be served throughout the 12 hours the warming centres are open, and
cleaning of touch points, high traffic areas, consistent with COVID-19 protocols
all while maintaining a positive and safe environment for staff, patrons and the facility
Training will be provided for this position.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Education and Experience:
Completion of Grade 10 education, including or supplemented by an understanding of community recreation, addiction, mental health, physical and/or
cognitive disabilities, conflict resolution and violence prevention, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as a team member
Ability to create a warm and welcoming environment that is sensitive to the needs of the marginalized population served
Ability to record and maintain Warming centre statistics
Knowledge of homelessness related agencies, services and resources or experience working with vulnerable populations is considered an asset
Food Safe certification is an asset
Standard First Aid certification is a requirement of this position, with Naloxone training considered an asset (Can also be provided)
A Police Record Check is required

Additional Information

Business Unit/Department: Arts, Culture and Community Services (1200)
Affiliation: CUPE 15 Non Pks
Employment Type: Auxiliary/Casual
Position Start Date: November, 2020
Number of Positions: Up to 10
Salary Information: Pay Grade GR:013: $23.44 to $27.45 per hour

Contact Information

Application Close: November 5, 2020
At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. We encourage applicants from
diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous applicants, all genders, nationalities and persons with disabilities.
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and
inclusion.

Employer Profile

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Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.