Battered Women’s Support Services is Hiring!!

We’re looking for two women to join our dynamic and extremely committed direct services team.

Battered Women’s Support services is recruiting for a Legal Advocate and Aboriginal Women’s Liaison.

Working at Battered Women’s Support Services means joining a team of volunteers and paid employees who work as an integrated team to support individual women while advocating for social, systemic and institutional change.
Our programs are extremely busy and the issues facing women survivors of violence are complex. Working at Battered Women’s Support Services means making real change in the lives of women survivors of abuse and violence.

Internal and External Postings

Women’s Employment Liaison

Temporary Full-time to: Upon return of incumbent from Maternity Leave
40 hours per week at $ 17.60 per hour
Excellent benefits
Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Alternating Wednesdays 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
– Evenings and Weekends are required

Battered Women’s Support Services is currently hiring for BWSS Aboriginal Women’s Employment Program for women survivors of violence/abuse

Position Summary

The BWSS Aboriginal Women’s Employment Liaison provides case management services, assessment, counselling, training, information & referrals to women survivors of violence/abuse with BWSS Empowering Women’s Employment Program. Facilitates the development of a realistic action plan for women’s economic development and employment. Monitors progress and provides follow-up counselling and support until the action plan is completed. Provides participants with employment assistance individually and in groups. The Women’s Employment Liaison reports to the BWSS Manager of Employment Services & Programs.

BWSS Empowering Women’s Employment Program (EWEP) services include case management, individualized training, personal development, support groups, personal development exploration, employment related skills training, and educational assistance, counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, legal advocacy and referrals to women survivors of violence in relationships and sexual assault.

Key Responsibilities:
Works from a feminist, anti-oppression perspective
Facilitates the development of a Personal Development Plan with participants, assessing interests, skills, abilities and readiness as they relate to obtaining and retaining employment and identifying barriers to employment including impact of violence and provides referral both within the organization and to other collateral agencies
Contacts potential employers in order to obtain employment opportunities, volunteer placements, job shadowing, promotes the program and develop relationships.
Provides participants with information on employment opportunities that are compatible with their interests, skills and abilities by analyzing available jobs and identifying specific tasks to match jobs to participants.
Assists in the development of monitoring mechanisms for participants job and volunteer placements
Provides support and skill development in areas related to obtaining employment such as job search strategies, job application, resume writing and interview skills.

Delivers services in groups and individually to support skill acquisition and build on current skills
Maintains and provides current employment-related information such as labour market information, employment standards regulations and information on other community resources and services.
Develops and maintains database of community partners for outreach and recruitment purposes
Deliver services with cultural relevancy, immigration/settlement and in recognition of the impact cultural genocide and colonization on Aboriginal women
Participates as a member of BWSS Empowering Women’s Employment Program Team
Promotes public awareness and support of the BWSS Empowering Women’s Employment Program by producing promotional materials and attending community events
Assists with debriefing and case consultation with BWSS Employment staff
Prepares related reports and compiles statistics on program operation and use

Qualifications
Minimum two years of recent related experience working with women survivors of violence
Employment counselling experience
Strong group facilitation skills & training skills
Crisis intervention skills
Feminist leadership skills
Training and education in a directly related field
Strong feminist analysis of violence against women combined with an anti-oppression commitment, awareness and analysis and demonstrated ability to apply analysis
Knowledge and experience working with Aboriginal women and knowledge of generational impact of colonization and residential school.
Knowledge and experience working with Immigrant women and understanding of settlement process
Demonstrated cultural proficiency and ability to work with women from various cultural communities
Strong conflict resolution skills and demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team
Satisfactory criminal record checks
Have experience in women’s organization and non-profit society environments
Have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Have proven ability to work co-operatively with colleagues and service provider in the community
Be personable, flexible and self-directed

This position requires union membership
This position is part of an organization where the sole purpose is to alleviate and address the conditions of a disadvantaged group (women who are marginalized by violence and various forms of inequalities) being female is a bona fide occupational requirement. As such, only women will be considered for this position. Only women who identify as Aboriginal, First Nations, Inuit or Metis will be considered for this position.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday, June 29nd, 2011
Resume cover letter and three references to:
Fran Smith
Fax: 604-687-1864, Email: fran@bwss.org Address: P.O Box 21503 1424 Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC V5L 5G2
_______________

Legal Advocate

Battered Women’s Support Services
Permanent Job Posting
40 hours per week
Hourly pay 21.38 per hour plus benefits
Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
Alternating Wednesdays 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional evenings and weekends may be required

Purpose of Position
The Legal Advocacy program provides information, support and advocacy to women dealing with legal issues such as separation, divorce, custody and access, child support, and other issues related to family law, as well as immigration and other systems.

Key Responsibilities
1. Program Services:
· Provide legal information, summary of case law, legal research and general assistance to women in building strategies for their legal case.
· Assume responsibility for the over-all operations of the Legal Services and Advocacy Program.
· Work from an anti-oppression feminist analysis of violence against women
· Become familiar with and perform work consistent with the Outcome Measurement Framework
· Interviewing women, assessing/analyzing legal problems, assisting in resolving legal problems, assisting women prepare for court, preparing documents in consultation with legal supervisor
· Deliver training workshops
· Provide consultation and support to BWSS volunteers related to legal advocacy issues
· Provide consultation and support to BWSS staff related to legal advocacy issues.
· Maintain an excellent working knowledge of emergent legal-social issues related to violence against women and to seek solutions.
· Assist with the administration of all record keeping and service delivery obligations of the Law Foundation of B. C. contract, in keeping with legal and contractual obligations undertaken by the Society. Such administrative duties will include preparing refunding proposal and regular program activity reports as required by BWSS and the funder.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday, June 29nd, 2011
Resume cover letter and three references to:
Rosa Elena Arteaga
Fax: 604-687-1864, Email: rosa@bwss.org Address: P.O Box 21503 1424 Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC V5L 5G2

This position requires union membership

This position is part of an organization where the sole purpose is to alleviate and address the conditions of a disadvantaged group (women who are marginalized by violence and various forms of inequalities) being female is a bona fide occupational requirement. As such, only women will be considered for this position.