Mental Health Outreach Worker

Are you a registered Social Worker looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where you can advocate for clients and connect them with essential services? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Job Overview: Reporting to the Team Lead, the Social Worker / Mental Health Outreach Worker is a key member of the Pathways Team and is responsible for utilizing a variety of approaches to support program participants to achieve stability and wellness while reintegrating into community. Mental Health Outreach Workers with Pathways offer advocacy, skills teaching, resource referral, etc., and are responsive to ACT Team duties.

Key Responsibilities

Program Philosophy

• Offer culturally sensitive services where indicated
• Uphold the principles of ACT Model, Harm Reduction, Housing First and Trauma Informed Care
• Understand the Residential Tenancy Act, Mental Health Act and Community Treatment Orders
• Understand and follow program policies and procedures

Administrative

• Complete monthly evidence-based assessment tools with program participants and required data entry
• Create, implement and update participant-centred service plan goals, safety planning, housing support plans
• Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and respective of professional college requirements

Client Care

• Provide single-staff, assertive outreach services to individuals with significant mental health and addiction concerns
• Support program participants who experience acute, severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders
• Connect participants to appropriate services in the community and assist in facilitating referrals as needed
• Willingness to teach and support participants in their suites and community settings with daily living skills (e.g. cooking, cleaning, financial literacy, grocery shopping, budgeting, laundry, etc.)
• Help identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and work alongside program participants to reduce the likelihood of eviction, including supporting with regular unit inspections
• Accompany and/or provide transportation support to external appointments and assist with activities of daily living as required
• Advocate for the rights of program participants
• Aid participants with systems navigation, including justice, financial, and health care system(s)
• Assist participants with obtaining and maintaining income supports
• Assist program participants with rent payment and rental arrear payment plans as needed
• Understand and support participants with medication assistance as required
• Demonstrate strong crisis support and de-escalation skills
• Remain open to a wide scope of practice with a commitment to innovation and flexibility
• Provide services to assist participants with needs such as housing, housing location, entitlements, employment, education, community integration, etc.

Team

• Demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills, including active listening skills
• Actively participate in daily team meeting and case planning meetings
• Demonstrate initiative and an ability to work as an influential member of a team under minimal supervision, supporting colleagues as needed
• Display a high degree of professionalism as well as collaborate with partner agencies
• Welcome and provide ongoing feedback to promote a healthy workplace environment, strong team cohesion and exceptional program delivery
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture
• Facilitate group programming for participants and staff relevant to expertise
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counselling, Community Rehabilitation, or a related field
• Eligible for registration with their professional discipline in Alberta (e.g., Alberta College of Social Workers)
• Minimum two years of experience in a social service setting
• Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues
• Strong knowledge base of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
• Understanding of Housing First and Harm Reduction
• Comfort meeting individually with participants in the community, in a broad variety of settings, with a safety-first mindset
• Knowledge of evidenced-based interventions (e.g., motivational interviewing, de-escalation skills, crisis intervention, etc.)
• Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture
• Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility
• Willingness to support participants with housing needs (e.g. safely lift household items within your ability, support with teaching independent living skills, etc.)
• Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, clean 3-year drivers abstract, and $2 million liability coverage are required
• First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is an asset.

Work Environment And Hours

• Predominantly outreach: single staff visits in program participant homes.
• Standard hours 08:30 – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Flexibility is required in crisis situations.
• 24-hour on-call services on a rotating schedule.
• Continuous extended periods of sitting, with some standing and walking (sometimes up or down stairwells).
• Frequent driving as part of work duties.
• Occasional physical action requiring the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (up to and over 20Ibs.) throughout shift.
• Frequent time outside in all weather conditions.

Driving On Behalf Of The Alex

This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes. Candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract. Candidates must also agree to maintain $2 million liability insurance on their personal vehicle, and consent to the possibility of an annual driver's abstract review to meet our insurance provider’s requirements. Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with the CRA guidelines. Driving a fleet vehicle at The Alex also requires that staff are at least 21 years of age with a minimum of three (3) years’ driving experience.

Benefits

Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:

• 3-weeks’ vacation
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Health / Wellness Spending Accounts
• RRSP and/or Student Loan Repayment Program (up to 5% match)
• Personal Days
• Floating Holiday
• Sick/Wellness Days
• Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
• Professional Development

How To Apply

If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people’s lives, please visit our career centre: Jobs at The Alex | The Alex.

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will make every effort to accommodate candidate’s schedules and needs in all parts of the hiring process.

The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.

In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

• The term “racialized” is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms “racial minority, “visible minority”, “person of colour”, or “non-White”.

For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website at www.thealex.ca