We Value Our Staff

Our staff team is comprised of over 80 people from varied backgrounds, each bringing expertise unique to the program within which they work. Social service work, nursing, occupational health, psychology, forensic, crisis, voluntary sector management, fund raising, communications, and administration are among the fields of expertise sought by the Branch to form a comprehensive, well-rounded staff team.

Our staff is highly valued as they are the primary way through which our clients realize their goals. We are a human service organization and as such, bring much integrity in our interactions with staff and treat them with the utmost respect. It’s critical in order to do the best for our clients.

Communication is Important

Building trust and open communication is important. Therefore, every staff member has a direct line to their supervisor and, if necessary, the CEO, in order to address challenges and barriers to getting their job done as effectively as possible. This culminates in an annual review that involves a staff member’s direct supervisor, as well as clients, peers, management, and other service providers. The open and fair nature of the review is such that a staff can trust the feedback and gives them an opportunity to learn how to do their job well. Scheduled employee-employer supervision discussions follow a standard agenda and are based on a written job description and employment agreements signed for each staff. This helps to ensure equitable treatment of staff based on the same administrative principles and personnel policies.

Comprehensive Training

Mandatory training for all staff includes CPR and First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and Non-violent Crisis Intervention Training. As well, program by program, staff conducts team building and further, this happens organization-wide twice a year. To the extent that we consult other service providers, we surpass that level of involving our staff in developing the best services we can offer.

In addition to this training, each staff has a designated amount of money to direct to their choice of training and development as identified on hiring or through regular supervision. Opportunity sometimes exists for staff to represent the Branch at conferences and events. This training may be relevant organization-wide, not just limited to a person’s job or program. Involving all staff in these opportunities gives everyone a chance to see what else they might be interested in and into what they’re capable to grow.

Our Volunteers

Volunteers are critical to the organization’s success, seen primarily at the top level of the organization with our Board of Directors. With too few resources currently secured to build our capacity in this area of operations, front-line volunteer opportunities exist primarily through student placements. It’s a win-win scenario with placement students, as they have a clear mandate to learn by doing and we benefit from their “doing” as we invest our time to teach.

Volunteer job descriptions are mandatory for all volunteers. This standard helps to establish volunteer practices that mirror the relationships established with paid staff. Volunteer opportunities are posted on this web site. Should you be interested in reviewing and applying for any posted jobs, please click here.

Currently, there are over 100 volunteers involved with the Branch in direct service, fundraising, education, awareness, program development, and governance. It is an operational goal of the branch to enhance our capacity to place and support volunteers and we hope that this will happen as part of our plans to continually enhance our core operational functions.