Sheway Indigenous Peer Support Worker

Sheway is a community outreach program for childbearing women and their children who live in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

It provides flexible, non-judgmental, and nurturing services and uses a women-centered, harm reduction approach to support women’s self-determination, choices and empowerment.

Sheway also offers respect and understanding of First Nations culture, history, and tradition.

Program staff work with the women to help them develop the information, skills and confidence that they need to care for them and their children.

Program activities include nutritional support; drop in activities; transportation; the provision of personal hygiene products, clothes, cribs, toys and car seats;

outreach services; recreational and creative programming; and professional support (e.g., postnatal medical and nursing care, assistance in accessing social and financial supports, nutrition counselling and support, alcohol and drug counselling, harm reduction services, support in developing parenting skills, advocacy on housing and legal issues and referrals to community supports and transportation to other services)

What you’ll be doing :

Support and mentor clients of Sheway (women and LGBTQ2S+ individuals) who may be facing a range of barriers.

Provide one-on-one non-judgemental emotional and practical support

Build on clients’ strengths to set goals, build their confidence, self-esteem and develop socials skills.

Host a weekly group for Sheway clients to develop community, reduce isolation, discuss popular issues, share resources, share a meal and host workshops on topics of interest

Resource and Referral Information - developing ongoing resource information and contacts, give resource information to clients

Create a warm welcoming and supportive atmosphere for clients, families and volunteers

Advocate - help clients find services

Work closely with drop-in clients to provide support, resources and referral

Participate in the project evaluation

Other duties as required

What you’ll need :

Knowledge of the DTES issues facing families with children will be an asset

Excellent communication skills, strong professional boundaries and flexible working practices

Awareness of culturally safe, trauma-informed, and gender affirming approaches to health and social services delivery

A self-starter, highly organized, ability to work alone, ability to work with other staff / volunteers

Must have solid computer skills for : statistics collection, spreadsheets, forms, posters, calendars

Maintaining records, statistics and registration information

Some knowledge of resources for women, LGBTQ2S+ people, and families in the community

Demonstrates understanding and experience of working within a strength-based model of support

Comfortable working with high-risk families and situations that may occur

Indigenous applicants or applicants with lived experiences in the communities that we serve are encouraged to apply and preference may be given to applicants who have an Indigenous heritage, with the required combinations of education and experience.

A valid clear criminal record check (including working with vulnerable populations) is required.

The YWCA Metro Vancouver’s COVID-19 vaccination policy is currently suspended and as a result, vaccination from COVID-19 is not required at this time.

However, should circumstances change and the YWCA deem it necessary to reintroduce such policy, you may be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be eligible to continue performing your duties.

What we offer : We offer our eligible employees the following benefits as part of their total compensation package :

Extended medical and dental benefits

A defined benefit pension plan

Flexible working arrangements for applicable positions

Employee Family Assistance Program, a confidential and voluntary support service for employees and their eligible family members

Free staff membership to our Health + Fitness Centre, discounts at our YWCA Hotel and priority in YWCA Childcare centres

Pay Rate : $27.50 per hour

A workplace that prioritizes employee health, safety and wellbeing, including many learning and growth opportunities such as our staff mentorship program and three equity committees who help to support our goals towards achieving meaningful equity and inclusion.

INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND 2S+ PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION