Addiction Support Worker

614 Talbot St, St Thomas, ON N5P 1C8, Canada Req #532

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Come Build Hope and Homes with Us!

Addiction Support Worker – Full Time

St. Thomas, ON (Railway City Lofts – 614 Talbot Street)

Position Description: Reporting to the Program Supervisor, the Addiction Support Worker will be responsible for providing tenants residing at Railway City Lofts with supports that help achieve health and housing stability. The Addiction Support Worker will work within the context of a collaborative interdisciplinary team reflecting the principles of person-centered care and evidence-based care by assisting with coordinating and delivering mental health and addiction services to tenants. This program serves individuals who have experienced long-term housing instability and/or long stay hospitalizations. This position will require a high level of resilience and a willingness to work in close proximity to challenging situations.

About Indwell: We are a Christian not-for-profit charity that creates affordable housing communities and supportive programs for people seeking health, wellness, and belonging. Founded in 1974, we continue to grow and thrive to build high-quality energy efficient housing and inclusive living, uplifting our society. Our belief is that every employee is a leader contributing to transform lives through HOPE and HOMES. To learn more, go to: indwell.ca/our-model

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week. The program operates 7 days a week. This position includes working evening and weekend hours, including some public holidays. Participation in the on-call schedule rotation is required, which consists of carrying a work cell phone 24/7 for that one week, responding to urgent needs. At times, this position will also require substantial flexibility to meet program needs.

Direct Support to Residents:

• Skilled in building therapeutic relationships with residents with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, promoting hope, trust, and engagement in addiction-related programming and supports.
• Develop, contribute to, and carry out holistic support plans, including any relevant assessment tools and ensure consistent monitoring and follow-up to treatment and recovery plans.
• Assist residents in developing and practicing the skills defined in their service plans in consultation with residents and interdisciplinary team.
• Knowledge and deep understanding of psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery models, including harm reduction strategies around substance use.
• Demonstrate understanding and ability to assess the addiction support-related needs of residents.
• Support residents to connect with community resources and supports, including both clinical and informal supports and community-based, culturally meaningful programming.
• Coordinate, lead and/or participate in case conferences with outside supports.
• Proven advocacy skills to ensure residents receive the support and referrals they need to carry out their individual support plans and access appropriate resources.
• Confident in utilizing de-escalation strategies and crisis prevention and intervention skills.
• Reinforce residents’ life skills, including spiritual, social, and coping skills.
• Assist with intake and orientation of new residents.
• Develop and facilitate relevant group programming related to substance use, community building, and social inclusion and other topics to meet the needs of the community.
• Competent utilizing motivational interviewing techniques with residents to identify and achieve substance use and housing stability related goals as it relates to their support needs and recovery.
• Complete required documentation in a thorough and timely manner with a focus on maintaining and protecting health records.
• Hold responsibility for a primary caseload (using a team model and/or case management model) under the supervision of the Program Supervisor.
• As a representative of a faith-based organization, recognize and promote the role of spirituality and provide support and guidance as required.
• Other duties as required.

Support, Direction, and Commitment to Interdisciplinary Team

• Support and build capacity within the interdisciplinary team around substance use and relevant resident-centered approaches.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to assess specific program needs regarding substance use and other addictions.
• Demonstrate ongoing commitment to learning and supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice).
• Interdisciplinary supports provided by all team members to residents will include medication administration, apartment checks, community events, group programming, meal program, and other supports as necessary.
• Engaging and establishing unique community partnerships to meet and improve addiction support for residents.
• Keep interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends related to best practices in addiction support for residents.
• Support and collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator to integrate program volunteers into addiction support activities. Complete volunteer logs as required.
• Assist in the orientation and support of staff, students, and volunteers.
• Attend and participate in all required training to maintain and develop new skills.
• Comfort and familiarity with landlord responsibilities such as pest management and rent collection.
• Work collaboratively with Indwell’s Facilities Team, reporting maintenance needs to ensure upkeep of buildings/grounds.

Leadership

• Promote and demonstrate the vision, mission, and values of Indwell within the workplace and community.
• Participate and contribute to relevant team meetings, organizational cross-regional teams, and community tables.
• Reinforce a positive workplace culture and tone through your skilled verbal and written communication.
• Keep apprised of new research and developments relevant to your role, through workshops, journals, websites, and literature. Transfer knowledge back to the team and residents in the most effective manner available.

Health, Welfare and Safety Practices

• Maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.
• Upholding organizational policy and procedures.
• Using appropriate procedures when responding to emergency situations.
• Complete required safety checks and inspections as assigned.
• Attending and participating in all required training to maintain and develop new skills.
• Other duties as required.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

• College diploma or bachelor’s degree with a focus on addictions.
• Certification with CCACF is considered an asset.
• Experience working in mental health and/or addictions, with harm reduction approaches to substance use.
• Knowledge of concurrent disorders and of various addiction treatments/theories is required.
• Experience working within a case management framework with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use, or other special needs.
• A client-centered approach, using trauma-informed strategies to support residents.
• A warm, sensitive and caring approach with a genuine interest in supporting a diverse population of people living with mental illness.
• Demonstrated ongoing learning and experience around supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice, etc.).
• Strong communication, listening, interview and assessment skills, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective crisis intervention and conflict management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-stress environment, work independently, be flexible, organized, responsible, and take initiative.
• Excellent written, verbal, time management, and organizational skills.
• A commitment to interpersonal collaborative teamwork and care and continuous professional development.
• Familiarity with SPDAT/ the Ontario Common Assessment of Need is an asset.
• Committed to upholding and modeling the standards set out in the organization’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, Code of Conduct and other operating standards and policies.

We want you to thrive:

• Vacation: 3 weeks (15 days) paid with 8 HEAL days (sick and personal appointments) per year.
• Extensive Benefits: paid: Extended health (100% medication coverage- some exceptions may apply), dental and vision care. Life Insurance and long-term disability.
• Employee Assistance Program: primary care and professional consulting services.
• Group RRSP: Indwell contributes 5% of salary.
• New Staff Orientation Days.
• Professional and Personal Development: annual Leadership Conference (themed with guest speaker) + Spiritual Ranch Retreat (reflection and recharge with various outdoor activities). Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment facilitated by People Developer for mentoring opportunities, Lunch and Learn Webinars, Indigenous Cultural Competency and 2SLGBTQ Awareness. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), First Aid/CPR/Naloxone, Therapeutic Relationships and Applied Suicide Intervention (ASIST).
• Social Events: Indwell’s Hope and Homes Banquet yearly to celebrate the important work we do + team gatherings.

As Indwell works to support diverse tenant populations, we are seeking to create a diverse work culture that closely matches the diversity of our communities with qualified individuals who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives. Our supports, services, and employment are open to people from every creed, race, ethnicity, sex, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. And we especially invite applications from Black, Indigenous peoples, members of racialized communities and intersectionalities. Indwell’s leadership are motivated by the example of Jesus Christ as reflected in Indwell’s statement of faith.

Inspired to JOIN OUR TEAM, we invite you…

To APPLY: Please forward your cover letter and resume to our website: www.indwell.ca/careers. We thank all for your interest; however, only those applicants that are being considered will be notified.

Personal information submitted will be used only for employment opportunities within Indwell in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.

Accommodation will be provided to applicants who make their needs known in advance for the duration of the hiring process as required under Indwell’s Employment policy.