Search Homelessness Services Association of BC

Job Description / Duties

The Peer Service Navigator will facilitate women’s access to services, and supports including referrals to internal and external services. She will work with women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who live in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver to support them to find services that they require. Reporting directly to the Peer Service Manager and Supervisor, she will work in collaboration with other DEWC staff to promote integrated services to women. She will work from a feminist perspective and within an anti-oppression framework.

Referral & Outreach:
The Navigator will be an integral part of the Drop-In Centre team. Working within the Drop-In Centre, she will assist women through the referral process to internal and external services such as housing, victim services, legal aid, education, ensuring a successful transfer of service. Works together with Peer Support Staff to identify and connect with women who may need support and referral.
Provides information and referral to women in such areas as income assistance, housing, health services, drug & alcohol treatment and recovery, counseling, education and assist women to access services by accompanying to those referral points when required.

Conflict Resolution/Crisis Management:
Manage crisis between, within and among various groups and individuals in the Drop In space, including mentoring and using a variety of self help coping skills and different approaches to interpersonal situations. Maintain a culture of ‘People helping people help themselves’.

Ensures women who appear in crisis are offered appropriate supports such as medical, counseling, or advocacy services. Using empathy, trauma informed practice and motivational interview techniques to assess what services a woman requires.

Administration:
Provide quarterly activity reports. Provides statistics and relevant data that will support activities for the program

Organization:
Attends and participates in weekly staff meetings, staff development sessions.

Training:
Engages in training and workshops that are relevant to the job and where the information is beneficial to the women in the DTES

Qualifications / Required Skills

 Minimum 5 years related experience working with low-income women, at least 2 years in a women serving or inner city drop-in environment
 Must have a strong working knowledge and analysis of the issues impacting women in the dtes, including violence against women, mental health, homelessness, and addictions
 Candidate must work from strong feminist analysis and within an anti-oppression framework
 Must have a strong working knowledge of and experience of the Housing First model as well as housing options for low-income community including social housing, cooperative housing; and affordability housing societies
 Understanding of and practices a trauma informed care response when working with women
 Efficient organizational skills including record keeping, scheduling, and problem-solving abilities
 Demonstrated administrative skills, including report writing
 Demonstrated computer and IT aptitude
 Experience providing outreach, accompaniment and advocacy
 Strong conflict resolution skills and practice
 Demonstrated crises intervention training and experience
 Experience providing assisted referral as well as familiarity with support services, agencies and community resources in the Downtown Eastside
 Excellent communication skills required, including the ability to work in a respectful and cooperative manner with co-workers, and centre members
 Ability to work within a chaotic environment and with a diverse community of women
 A First Aid certificate is required
 Candidate must undergo a criminal record check
 Women with addiction issues need to be at least 5 years in recovery

Additional Information

Benefits of Joining the DEWC Team

-Healthcare: extended health includes dental, vision, prescription medications, select alternative therapies, EAP life insurance and long-term disability.
-Vacation & Leave: Vacation at 6% in the first year and 8% after. Sick leave credit Access to other special leaves to handle family or personal situations.
-For your Retirement: Enrolled in the Municipal Pension Plan with a matching contribution from DEWC.
-Other perks: Compressed work schedule, employee loan program; Regular staff development days; DEWC employees are considered first for any open positions.

Position Details:

Start Date: ASAP – Permanent / Full-Time/ Sunday to Thursday, Flex Sunday Schedule, 70 hours bi-weekly
Union BCGEU - $24.23/ hour + generous health & wellness benefits
Location – 302 Columbia St.
Posting Closing Date: Open until the position is filled

Please submit cover letter and resume to careers@dewc.ca
For full job description visit: www.dewc.ca/careers

Indigenous women and women of colour are strongly encouraged to apply / Additional languages spoken an asset.

**While we thank all applicants for their interests, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted**

Salary: $24.23/ hour

Contact Information

Please submit cover letter and resume to careers@dewc.ca

For full job description visit: www.dewc.ca/careers

Employer Profile

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre exists to support and empower women and children living in extreme poverty in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. High levels of violence, homelessness, addictions and poverty characterize this community where women and children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, injustice and injury. Through the Drop-In Centre and Emergency Night Shelter, we provide practical support to over 500 women and children daily to survive the conditions of ill health and violence that surround them.