Mental Health Outreach Worker - Calgary, Canada - The Alex

    The Alex
    The Alex Calgary, Canada

    2 weeks ago

    Default job background
    Contract
    Description

    What you will do:

    Program Philosophy

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

    • Administrative

  • Conduct regular evidence-based assessments with program participants, ensuring thorough data collection and entry.
  • Develop, implement, and update participant-centered service plans and safety planning in collaboration with participants.
  • Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation in accordance with agency policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements.
  • Complete data collection and entry accurately and timely to support program evaluation and quality improvement efforts.

    • Participant Care

  • Provide single-staff outreach support for individuals impacted by substance use, employing a recovery-oriented and harm reduction approach.
  • Support program participants experiencing acute, severe, and persistent mental health and substance use disorders with empathy and understanding.
  • Conduct comprehensive assessments of participants strengths, needs, and goals related to independent living skills, including but not limited to housing stability, financial management, self-care, socialization, and community engagement.
  • Willingness to teach, support, and assist participants in their homes and community settings with activities of daily living skills (e.g. cooking, cleaning, financial literacy, grocery shopping, budgeting, laundry, personal hygiene, medication management, and transportation, etc.)
  • Help identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and work alongside program participants and housing first partner agencies to reduce the likelihood of eviction
  • Facilitate life skills groups and workshops on topics such as stress management, time management, communication skills, and conflict resolution.[SR4]
  • Assist clients in accessing community resources and services that support their goals for independent living, including vocational rehabilitation, educational opportunities, and recreational activities.
  • Monitor and track participants progress toward their life skills goals, adjusting plans and interventions as needed to support their continued growth and development.
  • Stay informed about best practices in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and evidence-based interventions for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
  • Advocate for the rights of program participants, ensuring their voices are heard and respected in all aspects of care.
  • Demonstrate crisis support and de-escalation skills to effectively manage challenging situations.
  • Work collaboratively with members of the ACT Team, program participants, families, and partner agencies to assist participants in achieving treatment and recovery goals
  • Nurture professional relationships with other service providers to ensure a high quality of service for our participants

    • Team

  • Demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills
  • Work collaboratively as an influential member of the team, supporting colleagues as needed and fostering a positive workplace environment.
  • Commitment to the interchangeability of being a transdisciplinary ACT team member
  • Provide ongoing feedback to promote team cohesion and exceptional program delivery, contributing positively to team culture.
  • Facilitate group programming for participants, sharing expertise and promoting professional development within the team.
  • Participate in team meetings, care conferences, and clinical supervision sessions to review cases, share insights and expertise, and collaborate on treatment planning

    • What you bring:

  • Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, physical rehabilitation, kinesiology, or related field required;
  • Strong knowledge of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
  • Comfortable meeting individually with participants in various community settings, prioritizing safety at all times.
  • Familiarity with evidence-based interventions such as motivational interviewing, de-escalation skills, crisis intervention, etc.
  • Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
  • Commitment to fostering a positive team culture and contributing positively to team dynamics.
  • Openness to a wide scope of practice, demonstrating innovation and flexibility in approach.
  • Strong initiative and ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.
  • Intermediate First Aid - Level C CPR within 30 days of hire date, certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire
  • Class 5 driver's license and personal vehicle for business use, clean drivers abstract, plus $2 million liability coverage are required
  • A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required
  • Knowledge of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC) 94 Calls to Action is considered an asset
  • Willingness to work within anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks and actively engage in ongoing learning about these frameworks

    • Working environment:

  • Predominantly outreach: Conduct single-staff visits in program participant homes to provide support and assistance
  • 0.6 FTE (22.5 hours/week)
  • Standard hours from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday (flexibility required in crisis situations)
  • ONE year contract term
  • Participate in a rotating schedule for 24-hour on-call services
  • Role involves continuous extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking
  • Frequent driving required as part of work duties
  • Occasional climbing of stairs throughout the shift may be necessary
  • Occasional time spent outside in all weather conditions

    • Working Conditions:

    This position requires frontline staff, in some cases, to be exposed to emotionally disturbing events, such as medical distress, threatened/actual serious injury, violence, abuse, and death. There may also be exposure to situations where clients may be experiencing fear, terror, hopelessness, rage, self-harm and conflict. It is understood and accepted that this position will be working in distress/high-stress situations, which may include emergency response where resiliency, stress tolerance, and the ability to maintain composure is imperative. This position may also be exposed to bodily fluids. The health and safety - both physical and psychological- of our employees is a priority. The Alex is focused on providing a safe, supportive and healthy work environment.