Job Description

At House of Friendship we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

Sounds pretty great doesn\xe2\x80\x99t it? It is!

The Family Outreach Program, a community-based program operating in neighbourhoods across Waterloo Region, works with families with children aged 17 and under to prevent and reduce the effects of poverty. Family Outreach Workers support parents and guardians to meet their family\xe2\x80\x99s basic needs by brainstorming solutions together, connecting them with resources in the community and, when necessary, providing direct supports.

Family Outreach Workers provide services across Waterloo Region focused on reducing and preventing child poverty. They walk with and support families living on low income with children aged 17 and under, collaboratively working together to set goals, create solutions and ensure basic needs are met. They provide referrals to community programs and partner agencies, and use funds from the Basic Needs Fund budget to support families.

** This is a full-time, contract position, working 37.5 hours/week from

October 2023 to January 2024.

Schedule is generally daytime, weekday hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

Very occasional evening and weekend hours may be required

to support the needs of the program.

Valid G class driver\xe2\x80\x99s license and access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Frequent travel throughout Waterloo Region.

A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Records Check will be required. **

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide support as needed to families with children aged 17 and under who are living on a limited income

• Meet with families proactively and upon request, helping families set goals and develop strategies to meet their basic needs and improve their quality of life

• Help families to navigate services and systems and connect with community resources

• Continuously develop knowledge about community resources and services that can benefit families

• Build relationships with partner organizations to close gaps, raise awareness about the Family Outreach Program, and serve families together

• Complete data entry, documentation and administrative tasks to support the program

Skills & Experience:

\xc2\xb7 University or College education or training in social services or a related field required

\xc2\xb7 Life experience as a newcomer to Canada or living on a low income greatly valued

\xc2\xb7 Strong knowledge of community resources is an asset

\xc2\xb7 Thorough understanding of the principles of social work and supporting people living on low income

\xc2\xb7 Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, including ability to make decisions about how best to serve families

\xc2\xb7 Ability to manage time independently, including meetings with families, ongoing communication, team work and administration

\xc2\xb7 Ability to manage a quarterly budget and expenses

\xc2\xb7 Computer skills \xe2\x80\x93 primarily MS Office, MS Word, Excel

\xc2\xb7 Ability to speak Arabic an asset

\xc2\xb7 Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem solving skills required

\xc2\xb7 Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community members

\xc2\xb7 Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels and sensitivity to their needs

\xc2\xb7 Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service delivery

\xc2\xb7 Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player and have a positive attitude

\xc2\xb7 Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challenges

\xc2\xb7 Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keeping

\xc2\xb7 Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected

Compensation:

\xc2\xb7 We value our team members above all else and know that our mission can only succeed through your work

\xc2\xb7 We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

o We are a Living Wage employer as defined by the

o We use a 3.5:1 ratio meaning that the highest paid team member is not paid more than 3.5 times than the lowest paid team member

Rate of Pay:

At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of \xe2\x80\x9cgrades\xe2\x80\x9d and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate\xe2\x80\x99s past related experience will be taken into consideration along with where others with similar experience are currently on the pay grid.

Grade: 4

Min: $21.53

Mid: $24.93

Max: $28.33

Working Conditions:

• 4 month contract (October 2023 to January 2024)

• 37.5 hours per week, generally daytime, weekday hours

• Very occasional evening and weekend hours to support the needs of the program

• Working out of multiple sites through the week, daily travel expected to meet with families

• Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.

We strive to remove barriers that may prevent qualified applicants from fully participating in the recruitment and selection process. Accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and other applicable legislation is available throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Accommodations will be provided upon request.

If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let\xe2\x80\x99s talk.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here:

By end of day September 20, 2023.

House of Friendship