Join our innovative shelter services as a Crisis Support Worker position, where you'll play a crucial role in transforming support for women in crisis. Our holistic model addresses physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being to empower women towards stability and independence. In this role, you'll provide immediate mental health and emotional support, lead trauma-informed individual and group sessions, teach coping strategies, and coordinate access to essential community resources. By fostering a safe and supportive environment, you'll help women build resilience and take the next steps towards stability and independence.

The role involves working in a domestic violence crisis shelter with a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, responding to urgent situations while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. It requires emotional resilience due to frequent exposure to trauma and crisis, demanding adaptability and strong self-care practices.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Provide emotional support and guidance to stabilize mental health during shelter entry and stay
• Apply de-escalation techniques and supervise clients at imminent risk
• Complete mental health assessments to determine participant needs, risks and appropriate interventions
• Offer short-term supportive counselling and/or connect with appropriate community agencies
• Provide in-the-moment crisis intervention, including support on the crisis line when needed
• Develop trauma-informed intervention plans to help participants engage in other shelter supports
• Working collaboratively with other shelter support team members to provide holistic client centered case planning
• Coordinate, make referrals and facilitate connections to YW Calgary and greater community services
• Maintain clear and concise participant file documentation
• Assist with data collection and reporting as requested
• Provide consistent short-term follow up post shelter to ensure engagement with long-term supports
• Lead Individual and group sessions on mental health, coping strategies, resilience, self-care and wellness
• Educate and coach shelter staff on crisis intervention best practices
• Promote professional development by encouraging continuous learning and growth opportunities
• Implement evidence-based practices to ensure the highest standard of care and intervention strategies
• Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into one's role, work, and engagement with others, as aligned with YW Calgary's values and Practice Framework
• Understand and remain current with YW Calgary Health, Safety and Wellness policies, practices and protocols and ensure work is performed in alignment with YW's culture.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

• Diploma or degree in Social Work or other related discipline required
• Certifications in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and First Aid required, Brain Story, Indigenous Awareness or equivalent
• Knowledge and experience in crisis intervention, domestic violence, suicide risk assessment and mental health preferred.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations and familiarity with community resources
• Proficiency in computers, databases and case notes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong self-regulation and self-awareness in high pressure crisis environments
• Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making capabilities

If you want to change lives, we want to hear from you.
Deadline: Until filled
Apply today by submitting your resume, cover letter, and salary expectations.
Check out our website for more information about YW Calgary: www.ywcalgary.ca

YW Calgary is committed to providing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where all employees, volunteers and clients feel valued and respected, whatever their race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, ancestry, or place of origin.