Aboriginal Women’s Program

First Nations Women’s Support Worker

Temporary Part-Time Position
32 hours per week $16.60 per hour plus benefits
Tuesday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Alternating Wednesdays 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm,
Additional evenings and/or weekends may be required
Start date: May 2, 2011
End date: Upon return of incumbent from a leave.

Battered Women’s Support Services is currently hiring for the position of First Nations Women’s Support Worker in our Victim Service Program.

This is a Part-time position 32 hours a week working out of various locations in Vancouver and the BWSS offices.

Purpose of Position

 This position is responsible for providing crisis support services for adult and female youth survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, criminal harassment and violence in adult intimate relationships within the Lower Mainland with women who identify as Aboriginal, First Nation’s, Metis and Native. The First Nations Women’s Support Worker is also responsible for providing crisis support services to women from various cultural communities.

Key Responsibilities

 To deliver services as program demands require, in accordance with BWSS Statement of Philosophy and Provincial Government Program Standards for Victim Service Program.

 To provide crisis support to women survivors, in person and over the phone
 To provide assessment, safety planning and referrals
 To provide information and advocacy
 To design and develop support groups for women from various First Nation’s communities now living in the Lower Mainland
 To assist women with Indian Residential School Independent Assessment Process.
 To work as a member of the Crisis Program
 To provide outreach
 To provide court accompaniment
 To provide co-facilitation of support groups
 To provide community relations and public education
 To prepare reports and compile statistics
 To assist with debriefing and case consultation with BWSS staff and volunteers
 To perform other duties as defined in job description

Qualifications

 A strong feminist analysis of violence against women
 Extensive training and education in a directly related field
 Knowledge of legal issues for Aboriginal women including women affected by Bill
C-31
 Strong conflict resolution skills and strong commitment to working as a positive member of a team.
 Ability to speak traditional language(s) an asset.
 Two – four years experience working with women survivors of violence
 Extensive training and education in a directly related field
 Ability to co-facilitate support groups
 Knowledge and experience working with survivors of historic racism and the impact of colonization and residential school
 Satisfactory criminal record search
 Strong conflict resolution skills and strong commitment to working as a positive member of a team.
 Demonstrated cultural competency including awareness of diverse marginalized communities in Lower Mainland and ability to work with women from various cultural communities

The successful applicant will be a member of CUPE. As a bona fide job requirement a woman who identifies as Aboriginal, First Nation’s, Native or Metis will hold this position.

Send cover letter and resume detailing how you meet or exceed these qualifications to:

Lisa Yellow-Quill or Fran Smith
Aboriginal Women’s Program Co-Manager

P.O. Box 21503 1424 Commercial Dr., Vancouver, BC, V5L 5G2
Fax: 604-687-1864, Email: lisa@bwss.org No telephone calls please
Application Closing Date: Friday, April 22, 2011 at 5:00 pm