Position: Relief Women’s Advocate
Reports To: Shelter Manager
Relief: Multiple shifts (days, overnights, weekends, statutory holidays)
Rate of pay: $30.90 per hour
About The Denise House: The Denise House is a 33-bed shelter and Community Support Service for women who have experienced gender-based violence, with or without children, located in Oshawa. We are currently seeking to recruit Relief Women’s Advocates for our shelter.
Position Summary: The Relief Women’s Advocate is responsible for the day-to-day needs of the shelter and its residents, while working in collaboration with the larger shelter team. This position is for coverage during planned and unplanned staff absences and activities. There is an expectation of varied availability including sometimes with short notice. The successful candidate must be available to work days, evenings, overnights as well as weekends and statutory holidays.
Responsibilities and Duties:
• Provide professional casework and counseling service to clients: conduct interviews, assessments and determine the needs of clients; goal setting; supportive counseling, safety planning
• Answer telephone enquiries and crisis calls from clients that may involve high level crisis intervention and decision-making abilities
• Facilitate weekly education groups and resident meetings, when required
• Maintain appropriate and accurate file documentation and respect the confidentiality of client’s file, subject to legal and policy parameters
• Participate in staff development/training programs
• Assist with the on-the-job training of new casework staff and student placements
• Laise with community agency personnel, when required e.g. Social Services, police, court, doctors
• Perform house checks, including resident room checks as required
• To assist/support co-workers with a “team model”
• To monitor and maintain security/fire system
• To perform other related duties as assigned
Experience & Qualifications:
• Degree or diploma in Social Work, Social Services or a similar discipline
• Some experience working in the gender-based violence sector with employment experience preferred over student and volunteer experience
• Experience and training in applying anti-racism and anti-oppression approaches, trauma-informed care, 2SLGBTQ+-affirming practice, and harm reduction principles
• Strong understanding of the impacts of systemic oppression on women and gender-diverse adults and children, including sexism, racism, poverty, homophobia, transphobia, and disability-related barriers
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective organizational skills.
• Current Vulnerable Sector check
• WebWISH experience an asset
• First Aid certification an asset
If you are interested in applying for this position, do so via email to nmungal@thedenisehouse.com or by mail to King Steveson Postal Outlet, P.O. Box 30560, Oshawa ON LIJ 818
Only those chosen for an interview will be contacted. If you require any support or accommodation in order to fully participate in an interview, please let us know at the time of scheduling.
The Denise House is committed to building an inclusive, anti-oppressive, and equitable workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from women and gender-diverse people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We especially encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, and disabled communities, as well as those with lived experience of gender-based violence.