Social Worker, Victoria (Permanent, Full-Time)

Are you passionate about supporting moms and babies through meaningful social work in a compassionate, trauma-informed, faith-based environment?

Arrow Home is a residential recovery program supporting women and their babies. As the Social Worker, you will walk alongside participants throughout their time at Arrow Home, from their first contact with the program through intake, case management, recovery planning, parenting support, advocacy, and transition from the program.

This is deeply relational work. Using a trauma-informed approach that emphasizes safety, choice, collaboration, and personal agency, you will help participants identify their goals, build on their strengths, access community resources, navigate complex systems, and take meaningful steps toward recovery and greater independence.

You will work closely with Program Participants, the Arrow Home team, government agencies, and community partners. You will support mothers in strengthening responsive parenting skills, healthy attachment, recognition of infant cues, and their children's safety and development.

As part of UGM's Christian community, you will bring a faith-based relational approach to your work by building caring relationships, demonstrating the love of Christ, offering prayer, and inviting participants who are interested to explore the hope and teachings of Jesus Christ.

This is a permanent, full-time position of 37.5 hours per week . The starting wage range is $35.20 to $38.46 per hour .

Due to the nature of this role and the population served, this position is open to applicants who identify and live as women.

Who We Are

Demonstrating the love of Christ, UGM feeds hope and changes lives through a faith-based continuum of care. We are a proud member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities and have been recognized as a Best Christian Workplace. We offer competitive salaries, generous vacation and sick leave, an RRSP matching program, and potential educational assistance and flexible work arrangements.

Our extensive benefits plan is fully employer-paid and includes extended dental and medical coverage, as well as $4,500 per year in pooled paramedical expenses.

At UGM, we value employee resilience, professional development, meaningful work, and a caring and supportive workplace. If you desire to learn and grow, have a passion to serve and make a difference, and connect with others with humility and humour, you may be a great fit for the UGM team.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Trauma-Informed Case Management, 40%

• Build safe, respectful, and collaborative relationships with participants using trauma-informed practices that emphasize safety, choice, personal control, and dignity.
• Complete individual assessments to identify strengths, needs, areas of concern, and factors that may affect recovery, parenting, and independent living.
• Support participants in establishing goals, monitoring progress, and developing individualized case plans related to housing, employment, substance use recovery, life skills, health, education, parenting, infant care, and other identified needs.
• Help participants identify next steps and connect with appropriate community services, recovery resources, and other supports.
• Advocate for participants and provide referrals to community resources that support their goals.
• Collaborate with the Arrow Home team to develop and review individualized plans and support participant progress through the program.
• Model healthy relationships and responsive parenting, providing coaching and skills development related to secure attachment, infant cues, nurturing interactions, and infant development.
• Provide support and leadership during crisis situations and serve as a resource to participants and other UGM staff.
• Document relevant case notes and maintain accurate, timely case files and records.
• Assess, record, and report observed behaviour to appropriate authorities when required.

Intake & Transition, 10%

• Serve as the initial point of contact for individuals referred to Arrow Home.
• Review and screen referrals, conduct intake interviews, assess applicant needs in relation to program services and eligibility criteria, and participate in interagency consultations as required.
• Coordinate participant intake and orientation, including required paperwork, introduction to the program and residence, bag checks, bed bug protocols, and other admission procedures.
• Facilitate planned and unplanned exits from the program.
• Support participants with transition planning through research, referrals, connections to services, and administrative support.

Advocacy & Community Collaboration, 30%

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community organizations, government ministries, service providers, individuals, and families involved in supporting participants and their babies.
• Advocate with government agencies and external service providers on behalf of participants.
• Participate in onsite and community-based meetings regarding the current and future well-being of participants and their children.
• Schedule interagency meetings as required and maintain accurate records and minutes.
• Work collaboratively with participants, family members, Child Protection Social Workers, community supports, and the Arrow Home team to establish and implement individualized action plans.
• Facilitate connections to recovery resources, meetings, appointments, and accompaniments as appropriate.
• Represent Arrow Home professionally and work with community partners in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner.

Team & Program Responsibilities, 20%

• Work collaboratively with the Recovery Care Team, providing consultation, guidance, and support to frontline staff.
• Participate in collaborative case consultation with the Clinical Counsellor, Manager, Supervisor, and other appropriate team members regarding participant needs, program development, safety, and progression.
• Contribute to crisis management and serve as a social work resource to the broader Arrow Home team.
• Participate in the on-call rotation.
• Lead or support group programming as required.
• Participate in staff meetings, training, professional development, and other team activities.
• Assist other Arrow Home team members when required.
• Adhere to all UGM policies, practices, and procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety requirements.
• Perform other duties as required by the supervisor.
• Model Christ in word and deed.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Education & Professional Requirements

• Bachelor of Social Work degree and current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.
• Two to three years of related work experience, with knowledge of issues related to substance use disorder and recovery, poverty, and parenting.
• Consideration may be given to alternate combinations of lived experience and education.
• Valid Class 5 driver's licence.
• Intermediate computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Clinical & Practice Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability to provide trauma-informed care, including identifying experiences that may have affected a participant's functioning and developing interventions that emphasize safety, choice, collaboration, and personal control.
• Understanding of the Stages of Change and Attachment Theory.
• Experience using Motivational Interviewing as a therapeutic approach.
• Understanding of, or experience working with, Child Protection Social Workers and families involved under the Child, Family and Community Service Act.
• Knowledge of substance use disorder, recovery, poverty, parenting, and the complex circumstances that can affect women and families.
• Ability to nurture and support mothers in developing parenting skills while maintaining a clear focus on the safety and well-being of their children.
• Ability to work collaboratively with participants and community partners in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner.
• Ability to respond effectively to crisis situations while maintaining professional boundaries and a trauma-informed approach.

Faith & Organizational Alignment

• In agreement with UGM's Mission Statement and Statement of Faith.
• Has a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, our Creator, as Saviour and Lord.
• Able to integrate Christian faith into relational practice in a respectful and invitational way.
• Experience working in a community organization, foundation, or ministry is an asset.

Training & Certification

• Completion of UGM's Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training and all other mandatory training, including First Aid and Naloxone training/certification.
• Willing to provide vaccination information.

Working Conditions

Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in a residential environment, with regular interaction with participants, babies, team members, and community partners.

Work is generally performed indoors, with up to 30% of working time spent outdoors in varying weather conditions. Indoor work takes place in a climate-controlled residential environment with standard lighting.

The position may involve normal exposure to dust, odours, fumes, and noise, as well as environmental exposure to cold, heat, and water.

Because Arrow Home serves individuals experiencing complex circumstances, the Social Worker regularly supports participants during periods of distress or crisis. The position requires the ability to work independently, respond effectively under pressure, and manage multiple concurrent responsibilities, including emergency situations.

Physical Requirements

Duties require extended periods of standing and walking and occasional climbing, pushing or pulling items, lifting and carrying, keyboarding, reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.

Employees may be required to work at a computer for up to 50% of their working time and must be able to occasionally lift up to 35 lbs.

Hours of Work

This position typically works weekday daytime shifts. Some work on scheduled days off may be required, and moderate overtime may occasionally be necessary. Work on statutory holidays may also be required.

Participation in the on-call rotation is a requirement of the position.

Occupational Considerations

The position involves regular interaction with participants and members of the public who may at times be distressed, upset, verbally aggressive, or physically unsafe.

The work may involve exposure to bodily fluids, lice, bedbugs, and other conditions associated with residential and community-based social service work.

The Social Worker will regularly hear difficult or distressing information about participants' experiences and circumstances. The role therefore carries a risk of vicarious trauma and requires appropriate professional boundaries, self-awareness, use of supervision, and resilience practices.

Additional Requirements

Due to the nature of the position and UGM's commitment to maintaining a safe environment, the successful candidate is required to complete a criminal record check and provide a current Driver's Abstract.