Women's Recovery Support Worker, Vancouver (Temporary, Full-Time)

Are you ready to make a real difference—offering safety, support, and Christ-like care to those in crisis, while working alongside a passionate team that believes in transformation?

This position is responsible to work alongside the Shift Supervisor, Sanctuary and other Care Workers, as well as the Supportive Recovery and Counselling Teams, to ensure each Sanctuary Stabilization program participant is supported and cared for well and they have a safe and clean place to find direction and assistance. The job includes providing referrals; accompanying to appointments; advocating for material needs; organizing program activities; assisting with daily routines and problem-solving; attending to emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs; supervising infants; providing mediation facilitation; and conducting searches and screenings. This position involves ministering to participants by forming relationships and modeling Christ-like behaviour. The job involves shift work, including on weekends, evenings, overnights, and statutory holidays.

Due to the nature of the participants, we serve, only female candidates will be considered for this position

This is a Temporary, full-time (38.75 hours per week) contract ending in 6 months  The starting range for this position is $26.26 to $28.70 per hour.

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 earned the Best Christian Workplace award again in 2021. We provide competitive salaries, generous vacation and sick leave, an RRSP matching program, as well as the potential for educational assistance and flexible work arrangements. In addition, our extensive benefits plan is fully employer-paid and includes extended dental and medical, as well as $4,500 per year in pooled paramedical expenses. A focus on employee resilience, support for professional development, engagement in meaningful work, and a fun and caring environment are all part of being a member of the UGM team.  If you are someone who desires to learn and grow, has a passion to serve and make a difference, and connects with others with both humility and humour, then you will be a great fit at UGM.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Model Christ in word and deed.

• Build rapport with participants by fostering a climate of grace, forgiveness and accountability—and especially developing positive supervisory relationships with those in early recovery stages who are mandated to participate in the Sanctuary Stabilization program.


• Actively support the participants in the Sanctuary Stabilization program by:




• Providing information and referrals to external services for recovery and/or housing.


• Advocating and helping to acquire material needs and services within the community.


• Assisting with problem-solving and life skills within the context of their daily routines.




• Attend to the emotional, physically, mental, and spiritual needs of all participants—and especially those with complex mental health diagnoses and/or taking antipsychotic medications. 


• Supervise infants, as appropriate when asked by the participants, including holding, feeding, and changing, and ensure participants are following family plans and/or supervision orders from MCFD.

• Provide medication facilitation, including locking meds, completing MARS sheets, working with pharmacies and medication delivery services, etc. Provide supervision of participants on opioid-agonist treatment and other prescribed narcotics (including medical marijuana).

• Conduct room searches, bag searches, and urine screenings with both sensitivity and determination, dealing appropriately with participants’ feelings of resentment and frustration.


• Organize and participate in program activities, offering ideas and resources when appropriate.


• Maintain the database and accurate digital records and manuals using the computer.


• Take an active role in proactively and re-actively defusing and deescalating aggressive situations.


• Be knowledgeable of all the material documented in the Sanctuary Stabilization Program handbook, as well as related documentation, and apply it consistently.


• Monitor sobriety of participants and visitors, and report to the supervisor when necessary.


• Maintain the work space in a clean and presentable condition, monitoring the areas in and around UGM, and ensuring that equipment is functioning properly.

• Participate in staff meetings, training and spiritual development opportunities, and perform other duties as required by your supervisor.

• Adhere to all UGM published policies, practices and procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities’

• Mature individual, committed to UGM’s Mission Statement, Core Values, and Statement of Faith.


• A vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, our Creator, as Saviour and Lord..

• Maintain a high level of confidentiality within the organization and its clientele.


• Related post-secondary education is required (e.g. Psychology, Social Work, Human Services).


• 2 years of related work or volunteer experience is required.


• Consideration may be given to alternate combinations of lived experience and education.


• Valid Class 5 drivers’ license is required.


• Food Safe Certificate is required.


• At least 20 hours of training in one or more of these subjects: counselling; crisis and conflict resolution; psychosocial intervention for substance use disorders; and trauma-informed practice.

• Good interpersonal skills.


• Basic computer skills (Outlook, Word, Excel).


• Ability to work as part of a team under the direction of a supervisor.


• Ability to set and maintain healthy boundaries.


• Completion of UGM’s Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training and all other mandatory training, including First Aid training/certification and Naloxone training/certification.


• Willing to provide current vaccination information.


• Knowledge of motivational interviewing and stages of change is preferred.


• Technical Competency—Trauma-Informed Care (Level 1): Help identify negative events that have impacted the client’s functioning, and develop interventions that emphasize safety, choice, and personal control.

Working Conditions

• Work Location

Work is generally performed indoors, with up to 65% of the time spent outdoors in all types of weather.

• Physical Requirements

Work fluctuates between sedentary and active, but may require standing, walking or reaching for up to 90% of the time. Employee is required to look at a computer screen and use a keyboard for up to 30% of the time. Must be able to lift up to 35lbs occasionally. 

• Work Conditions

Working environment is generally favorable. Lighting and temperature are adequate. Work is performed amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises. Frequent environmental exposures to cold, heat, and water. This position is required to work in an environment often dealing with clients in crisis situations brought about by diverse problems. The ability to function independently and frequently under pressure, while managing multiple concurrent tasks including emergency situations is an ongoing expectation of this position.

• Hours of Work

This position will be a part of a team within a 24-hour facility, covering day, afternoon/evening, and overnight shifts. Weekend work and statutory holiday work will be required. Some work on scheduled days off may be required. Moderate overtime may be required.

• Hazards

Job requires frequent interaction with the public some of whom may be upset, abusive, and/or violent. Job requires working frequently with people in unhealthy conditions and may include exposure to bodily fluids, lice and bedbugs. Employee is required to hear information about clients’ lives which may be troubling or upsetting, and may cause emotional issues including vicarious trauma.

• Other

Due to the nature of the job, and our commitment to a safe environment, the candidate is subject to a criminal record check