Job Description

Job Posting: Lisgar Supportive Housing for Women

Full-Time Case Manager (Bilingual- French)

(Monday - Friday 7am-3pm)

Indigenous applicants are encouraged to self-identify

Title:

Case Manager

female designated

Location(s): Lisgar Supportive Housing, Ottawa

Salary:

$52,840.57 to $59,808.00 per annum based on work experience

Hours

:

37.5 Fulltime Hours (75 Hours Bi-weekly)

Employer:

John Howard Society of Ottawa

Closing Date:

September 5, 2025

To protect vulnerable clients and employees in settings where the risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 and the Delta variant is higher, we are asking all successful candidates to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

About the environment:

Employees at JHS Ottawa say the organizational culture is supportive, innovative, and focused on creating a caring environment for both clients, and staff. At JHS Ottawa, you will find an employer that celebrates the uniqueness of each of its staff members and is committed to promoting an engaging working culture where all employees are encouraged to live their strengths and realize their potential. JHS Ottawa will provide permanent new employees access to a benefit plan, four weeks vacation annually, a Defined Contribution Pension Plan after eligibility waiting period, and opportunities for continual learning and development.

About who we support:

Our employees are supporting a diverse client group including youth and adults, all genders, from a wide cross section of social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds who are representative of our broader community. We are accountable to the people we serve by providing the highest quality of service with integrity through the delivery of responsive, innovative and evidence-informed approaches.

About diversity at JHS Ottawa:

The John Howard Society of Ottawa is committed to reflecting and responding to the diversity of the people and communities we serve and is seeking that diversity in applicants for this position. We welcome candidates from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People, women, persons with disabilities, persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, and all candidates who contribute to furthering the diversity of ideas. We also recognize that people from diverse groups have different needs and require different solutions to gain equal opportunity for success in the hiring process. If you require any accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.

Job Summary:

The Lisgar Women's Residence is a 29-unit supportive housing program designated for adult women who have exited chronic homelessness and in partnership with Minwaashin Lodge, we prioritize a minimum of 70% of our apartments for Indigenous clients. Our program fulfils both Housing First and Harm Reduction philosophies of service. We provide permanent homes and wrap around care that enables the women to lead semi-independent lives as they work through challenges related to their overall stability, which includes substance use, food security and ongoing system navigation. A significant part of our role as a housing team is supporting the women while they learn to care for themselves and their spaces. General supports include medication management, access to clean consumption gear, activity planning, guest management, overdose prevention and care, accompaniment to appointments, ongoing safety checks, budgeting, goal planning, companionship, meal preparation, unit care, emotional care, cultural care, and crisis intervention.


Regardless of complexities, we strive to create a community that prioritizes belonging, where everyone feels celebrated and at home. This includes providing the small joys in life, such as home-made food, someone to talk to, spending time outside, or holiday gatherings. Through the guidance of Indigenous partnerships, our team also aims to provide cultural care onsite as often as we can. All staff are encouraged to participate in Indigenous-led programming.


The case manager position plays an influential role in which you will become part of our daily fabric. We are seeking a bilingual candidate who will be able to demonstrate the following:

strong assertive engagement and critical thinking skills experience navigating community services and various referral processes adaptability and initiative to support evolving client needs crisis intervention and aggression management techniques show leadership, teamwork, creativity, and be self-driven


This role offers a generous amount of autonomy, and the successful candidate will be required to work well independently. The successful candidate must be able to maintain therapeutic and engaging rapport with the women despite challenges; develop and regularly update care plans; provide consistent support in their apartments; liaise with a variety of community partners - hospitals, health centers, foodbanks, lawyers, pharmacies and social assistance - while also ensuring that you are having some fun at work too. At times the role can be challenging, but it is also highly rewarding. There are inherent risks associated with working in a supportive housing program such as pests, exposure to substance use, cigarette smoke, verbal abuse, drug overdoses, and death. As a program, we mitigate risks and protect against harm with clear boundaries and program policies as preventative and protective measures.



This position will allow you the chance to develop well-rounded transferable skill set in understanding behavior and motivation, addiction psychology, trauma-informed care, gender responsivity, Indigenous health and wellness, and client advocacy. We also offer a competitive benefit package, along with ongoing opportunities for professional development, and various agency-wide committee opportunities. Please submit your cover letter along with your resume today!

Case Manager Responsibilities:

Complete ongoing evaluations of the residents' areas of need Develop and implement care plans, or behavior modification plans to address those needs. Establish achievable, specific goals with the client, and identify intermediate targets for change Maintain knowledge and assist clients with referrals to appropriate community service agencies Apply various therapeutic intervention techniques; NVCI; ASIST; MHFA; MI Provide ongoing support to your caseload (at a minimum of once per week) in their apartments as per Housing First best practices Understand applicable law - Mental Health Act, Residential Tenancies Act Understand individuals with addictions, aggression, physical and mental health limitations, and gender specific challenges, including intimate partner violene and human trafficking through a trauma-informed lens Promote Indigenous beliefs, values, and traditions that enhance health Use a client-focused, assertive case management approach to foster housing stability Have a basic understanding of the application of research to program design Prepare and attend all clinical supervision sessions as required Maintain professional development through participation in relevant training, participation in supervision and through counselor development plans

Program and Building Responsibilities

Intervene and provide support to client crises and basic needs Intervene and address any building related concerns - hoarding; fire hazards; pest control Adhere to all security and safety protocols associated with Lisgar Facilitate excellent collaborative relationships with colleagues Provide shift coverage when required Assist in maintaining a positive environment for clients and colleagues Actively engage with the Cultural Outreach Worker and other Minwaashin staff to support clients with their housing stability and promote a healthy living environment Proactively communicate with Support Workers to support clients and building safety Participate in the on-call rotation, adhering to the relevant policy and procedures Perform other duties as may be occasionally requested

Report Writing/Administrative

Maintain client master files by affixing any relevant internal or external documentation Ensure client case notes are maintained on the SharePoint system at minimum once per week Produce additional written reports and records as required - serious occurrences, aggressive incidents, Form 2 applications and accompanying documentation Produce all documentation associated with program research and evaluation within deadlines

As the successful candidate, you will have the following qualifications:

Education:

University Degree/College Diploma in a Social Services program or related field Working towards completion of a diploma/degree A combination of experience and training will be considered.

Preferred Experience:

(1) years' experience working with homelessness, addictions, and mental health related issues. Experience, personal or professional, with Indigenous communities and cultures Experience in supportive housing/residential programs or a community shelter setting Experience working in a Harm Reduction environment.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

Knowledge of the unique experiences of urban Indigenous homelessness Knowledge of the unique challenges & needs of women experiencing homelessness Competent in the history, culture, and trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples Competency engaging & establishing rapport with clients experiencing mental health and substance use issues. Competent using crisis management skills and effective boundary setting skills. Knowledge of relevant legislation (Residential Tenancies Act and Mental Health Act) Basic counselling skills to support client interactions and tasks as directed Strong time management skills to support completion of various maintenance, cleaning and other administrative tasks while on shift Competency in written skills to support log entries, report summaries. Bilingualism in languages other that English are considered an asset

Successful Candidates will:

Provide a recent Criminal Record Check for Vulnerable populations Have valid CPR Certification and Overdose response training Possess strong time management, interpersonal, and boundary setting skills Have excellent people skills to facilitate relationships with clients, colleagues, supervisors, community members, and our immediate neighbors in the Lisgar area. Be open-minded, flexible, adaptable, and open to learning about Indigenous culture, addictions, harm reduction, and mental health Enjoys being challenged to try new things and increase professional development Seeking a rewarding, fun, meaningful, and challenging new career journey

You're a fit with our organizational culture, if you mirror our values in the way you work:

You are committed to providing the highest quality of care for your clients, though responsive, innovative, and evidence informed approaches. Driven by curiosity, you adapt to achieve the best results for clients/communities you serve. Celebrating the uniqueness and lived experience of every person is part of your nature, and this conviction creates a sense of belonging, safety, and better outcomes for all. As a leader, you lead in a way that helps employees live their strengths and reach their potential. Lead with compassion and care for others, and help JHS build a culture of listening, mutual support, and meaningful connections.

You're a fit with our organizational culture, if you believe:

In building meaningful connections across our programs, partners, and neighbourhoods fosters
inclusion and empowerment.In a person-centred approach, recognizing the value, expertise, and capacity of each individual to make choices that lead to their best self. That systemic inequalities exist, and that all people have the right to be treated with dignity, to live free from discrimination, to have a home, and to access employment, education, health promotion and other supports. In reducing harm to individuals and communities through a non-judgmental approach that builds resiliency and accountability. In the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt, change, and grow while promoting the conditions to inspire positive transformation.
We sincerely thank all applicants who express interest in JHS and this position- only those selected for an interview will be contacted.