Perinatal Wellness Worker

Are you someone who shares our commitment to lovingly supporting pregnant and newly parenting Indigenous women as a pathway to healing and to prevent homelessness? The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEH) is in search of Perinatal Wellness Workers for its *NEW* 15-unit Culturally Supportive House opening in November 2024 named XEXE PAHLATSIS LELUM, offering 24/7 care to support prenatal and postnatal Indigenous women who are experiencing housing precarity and/or substance use. Perinatal Wellness Workers will work alongside the House Manager, Elder, Cook, Aunty, and Programs Coordinator to provide culturally supportive care in the areas of housing, food security, hygiene, substance use, recovery, mental health, wellness, employment, and more. They will assist in organizing on-site meals and programming to build a sense of community and more broadly provide wellness-related supports.

Our Vision: Our way is to care for all our people, from the youngest to the oldest. We are all one. Some of our people living away from home are suffering, isolated and homeless. We stand together to end homelessness.

JOB DETAILS

Position Type: Full-time (36 hours per week), Part-time (24 hours per week)

• Available Line 5: Day shift, 24 hours per week (Saturday-Sunday, 7 AM - 7 PM)
• Available Line 8: Night shift, 36 hours per week (Wednesday-Friday, 7 PM - 7 AM)
• Available Line 10: Night shift, 24 hours per week (Saturday-Sunday, 7 PM - 7 AM)

Wage: $28.00 per hour. Additional $2.00 per hour night shift premium for hours worked between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

Start Date: October 1st, 2024.

Location: XEXE PAHLATSIS LELUM on Fort Street, Victoria BC; and other ACEH sites as required.

Application Submission: You are required to submit a resume that highlights Indigenous community/organization involvements, education, certification, demonstrated contract experience, and how your knowledge, skills, and abilities will support and contribute to the ACEH and our community through a cultural lens.

Applications missing this will automatically be screened out of the selection process.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates with Indigenous ancestry. The ACEH values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its staff, the ACEH encourages members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply. 

DELIVERABLES 

• Build caring relationships with Family Members (program participants, residents).

• Support Family Members with move-ins and getting settled in their home. 

• Support Family Members when returning home from birthing, ensuring basic needs are met.

• Serve food during meal times and complete clean up.

• Provide child-minding in accordance with ACEH policy and procedures.

• Familiarize Family Members with various ACEH programming and guidelines for living communally.

• Maintain the safety and security of the building.

• Provide information to Family Members regarding income assistance, legal services, health issues, support for addictions, housing, parenting support, and other resources as needed.

• Act as helpers for the Elder and Cultural Facilitators during workshops and activities.

• Facilitate family and friend visits during established visiting hours.

• General upkeep of common areas including the Community Room, Elders Lounge, Family Visitations Lounge, office, hallways, bathrooms, storage, laundry room, patio, and more.

• Support Family Member attendance at on-site appointments with Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, Public Health Nurses, and counsellors; accompanying where requested.

• Support celebrations for milestones including births and birthdays. 

• Complete regular Wellness Checks to ensure safety of all Family Members.

• Connect Family Members to other community resources align with identified priorities to enhance care.

• When required, respond to overdose including Naloxone administration. 

• When required, respond to emergencies, liaising with the House Manager and First responders.

• When required, provide conflict resolution between Family Members using de escalation and crisis intervention best practices.

• When required, support the cook in prep and serving meals and refreshments.

• Uphold provincial child protection regulations including the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) in collaboration with the House Manager.

• Periodically accompany Family Members to land-based healing day events at the direction of the House Manager.

• Help Family Members work toward their personal goals outlined in their Care Plans.

• Support the Family Members with essential wellness tasks including laundry, de-cluttering, and room cleaning.

• Participate in ongoing training and professional development opportunities.

• Log daily case management notes and incident reports in the ACEH’s Case Management Administration Systems (CAMS).

• Meet the physical demands of the position including deep cleaning, moving inventory, organizing, lifting heavy objects, etc.

• Perform other duties as required by the House Manager.

Qualifications: 

• Practical experience and personal insight working with Indigenous mothers and newborns.

• Combination of training and/or education in related field (i.e., Early Childhood Education).

• Demonstrated experience working non-judgementally with people with disabilities, lived experience, and who use substances.

• Required valid First Aid Certification.

• Required current Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check for Working with Vulnerable Adults and Children.    

• Preferred Naloxone Overdose Training and Certification. 

• Preferred Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification. 

• Preferred Food Safe Certification.

• Preferred Knowledge of cultural practices and traditions related to birthing and child rearing.  

• Preferred Experience working with non-profit organizations, family support, social services, and Indigenous support services and programs.

Skills & Aptitudes

• Non-judgmental, respectful, compassionate, patient, and loving.

• Progressive understanding of persistent mental illness, addictions, and other challenges and how these impact people’s overall health, well-being, and quality of life 

• Proven ability to be highly self-motivated, demonstrated initiative and recommend changes when required to improve operations. 

• Ability to work in a holistic, professional, and non-judgmental manner as you are working with a broad range of personalities, needs, cultures, lived experiences and abilities 

• Ability to effectively respond and adjust to unexpected events, assess high risk situations, problem-solve, provide crisis intervention, and manage conflict in a culturally supportive manner 

• Ability to work independently and effectively respond to and manage competing demands while adhering to deadlines within a fast-paced environment 

• Effective written, electronic, and verbal communication skills to facilitate interprofessional collaborative practice, healthy and culturally safe environments, and a respectful workplace for community members, staff, guests and volunteers 

• Sound understanding of the intergenerational trauma that occurs as a result of government institutions as well as the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada. 

 
Working Conditions 

• Ability to use stairs 

• Ability to lift 30 pounds