Program Coordinator - Warming Centre

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 Program Coordinator – Warming Centre provides direction, support and coaching (including corrective action) to Direct Support Workers during the shift.  They provide supervision of clients and maintain the safety and security of the facility and everyone living in it. They direct the team and ensure operations are efficient, safe, and secure. The Program Coordinator – Warming Centre shall ensure guests’ safety while interacting in a positive, supportive manner. They will be involved with their team in the establishment and maintenance of a therapeutic relationship with clients with the goal of facilitating the guest transition into other appropriate shelter support.

Accountabilities:

• Guest Care and Support
• Develops and maintains a strong therapeutic relationship with guests that access the Warming Centre to ensure effective intervention.
• Utilizes the environment in assessing, teaching, and supporting clients around issues such as problem-solving and conflict resolution.
• Completes duties, reports, and logs as per shift description.
• Encourage clients to develop a community-based support networks.
• Assume delegated responsibility for the facility.
• Maintains the safety and security needs of the clients through engagement, supervision and monitoring.
• Completes all documentation regarding guest safety, incident reports, fire safety and other serious incidents.

Health & Safety:

• Maintains the safety and security needs of the guests through engagement, supervision, and monitoring.
• Deals with serious incidents and crises in a safe and therapeutic manner. Communicate and enforce facility rules while maintaining discipline and safety.

Communication and Reporting:

• Completes all documentation regarding client safety, incident reports, fire safety and other serious incidents.
• Documents daily events, progress towards goals, and any significant occurrences.
• Maintains strictest confidentiality regarding the guests, their issues, and their concerns.

• Complete a comprehensive final report at the end of the project term.

Team Coordinator :

• Provides workflow coordination and directions to their team, support and coaching (including corrective suggestions) to direct support workers and shift leads.
• Participates as required in the evaluation and goal-setting processes of the organization
• Acts as the first contact for clients that want to engage in the grievance process.
• Assist direct support workers with decision making regarding difficult client behaviors, conflict resolution and unique cases that come up.
• Trains new staff – including updating and training existing staff with new or changing procedures.
• Contributes to consistency of quality of services
• On-call support for staff calling in sick. Be the on-site contact person for staff calling in sick. Call casuals to fill shifts as necessary.
• Meets regularly to complete check ins with the Housing Services Manager to ensure continuity of services and alignment to program goals.
• Communicates building maintenance requests to the Corps Officer in a timely manner.

Other Responsibilities:

• Works with the Corps Officer to complete projects (updating training manuals, procedural recommendations, client feedback sessions, etc.)
• Presents concerns, questions, and issues in prescribed forums.
• Other related duties as assigned.

CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Governance Boards and Councils:

• Corps Officer
• Guests
• Staff including , Team leads and Direct Support Workers

External:

• Prince Albert Police Services
• Community Partners –Outreach teams, and others.
• Health Professionals

MANAGERIAL/Technical Leadership RESPONSIBILITY:

• Reports directly to Corps Officers
• Direct reports for this position: none.
• Acts as a project coordinator for Direct Support Workers & Team Leads

FINANCIAL AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT:

• Responsible for the safekeeping of materials and equipment for own use.
• Does not process any financial transactions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work setting is at the Warming Centre.
• Some unscheduled overtime may be associated with this position. 
• May be required to work rotational shifts.

The incumbent will/may work under the following disagreeable conditions: 

• Dealing with angry and highly emotional clients and their families.
• May encounter verbal abuse.
• Dealing with people with different levels of intoxication and difficult behaviors.  
• May involve responding to first aid incidents including overdoses.
• May involve bending, stretching, reaching, and climbing
• Minimal opportunities for rest breaks may occur during the shift. 
• Driving program van/vehicle under stressful and less than ideal circumstances.
• May involve sitting, standing, walking for long periods of time.
• Exposure to cold outdoor environments.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds. 

The above responsibilities must be performed in keeping with The Salvation Army’s Mission, Vision and Values, in a professional manner, upholding our code of conduct. 

Education, Qualifications and Certifications:

• Completion of a formal post-secondary/college diploma program of 2 academic years in Social Service Work
• CPR First Aid (C) and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certicate (or similar) or willingness to obtain
• A Driver’s Abstract that is satisfactory to The Salvation Army, in its sole discretion, is an asset.
• ASIST
• Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Criminal Record including Vulnerable Sector Experience and Skilled Knowledge Requirements
• More than 1 year of prior related experience in a shelter setting working with marginalized clientele.
• Experience working within the field of Mental Health and Addictions is preferred
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office, internet, and keyboarding.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Behaviour Based Model.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Strong sense of integrity and confidentiality with professional ethics and a balanced sense of fairness and flexibility.
• Strong understanding of professional boundaries when working with a vulnerable population.
• Strong listening, written and verbal communication skills – clear and simple to understand.
• Able to proactively recognize potential risks, conflicts, and issues, respond with solutions and coaching. 
• Attention to detail, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Patience and ability to deescalate situations.
• Ability to coach and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to make decisions within established framework while understanding the impact decisions will have on programming as well as programs around them.
• Ability and willingness to respect, promote, and support the mission, vision, and values of TSA and develop an understanding of the purpose of the Salvation Army in Canada and its implication as related to position responsibilities.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and motivational skills.
• Attentive listening skills for the purpose of supervision, coaching, and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to deal with internal and external contacts at all levels of the organization in a professional manner.
• Ability to develop and maintain a team environment; work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, be reliable and operate in an environment of accountability.
• Understands the dynamics of clients behaviour with the ability to assess their needs and risks.
• Ability to demonstrate understanding of and empathy toward cultural differences.

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 [email protected] if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.