Addiction Support Worker

Indwell • Cambridge, ON

8d • Onsite

About The Position

As an Addiction Support Worker, reporting to the Program Supervisor, you will provide essential support to tenants to help them achieve health and housing stability. This role operates within a collaborative interdisciplinary team, adhering to person-centered and evidence-based care principles. You will coordinate and deliver mental health and addiction services, offering treatment, rehabilitation, and support to individuals in supportive housing. The program specifically serves those who have experienced long-term housing instability and/or extended hospitalizations, requiring a high level of resilience and a willingness to navigate challenging situations. Indwell, founded in 1974, is a Christian charity dedicated to serving people impacted by poverty and homelessness. It is a rapidly growing developer in Ontario, creating affordable, high-quality housing communities with supportive programs for over 1,300 tenants, focusing on their health, wellness, and sense of belonging. The organization values dignity, love, and hope, embracing diversity, equality, and inclusion, and encourages employees to contribute their individuality to transform lives.

Requirements

• College diploma or bachelor’s degree with a focus on addictions
• Recent Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) with acceptable information to Indwell to meet operational requirements (at one’s own cost)
• Current Standard First Aid & CPR Certification from an approved provider that meets Ontario provincial standards or willingness to register for training within 30 days of employment (reimbursement by Indwell)
• Experience working in mental health and/or addictions, with harm reduction approaches to substance use
• Knowledge of concurrent disorders and various addiction treatments/theories
• 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 (e.g., cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice)
• 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
• 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

Nice To Haves

• Certification with CCACF
• Familiarity with SPDAT/ the Ontario Common Assessment of Need

Responsibilities

• Build therapeutic relationships with tenants using a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, promoting hope and trust
• Demonstrate comfort and familiarity with a harm reduction approach
• Develop, contribute to, and carry out individual tenant support plans, including relevant assessment tools and consistent follow-up to treatment and recovery plans
• Manage a primary caseload under the supervision of the Program Supervisor
• Work individually with tenants to identify and achieve substance-related goals pertinent to their support needs and recovery
• Support tenants in connecting with community resources and supports, including both clinical and informal networks
• Encourage tenant engagement in community-based, culturally meaningful programming
• Support tenants with issues related to maintaining their health and housing
• Reinforce tenants’ life skills, including spiritual, social, and coping skills
• Recognize and promote the role of spirituality and provide support and guidance as required, as a representative of a faith-based organization
• Utilize crisis management and intervention skills confidently
• Respond to tenant complaints/concerns with care, compassion, and efficiency
• Develop and facilitate relevant group programming to meet community needs
• Assist with meal preparation and delivery as needed, and participate in dinner alongside tenants
• Assist with the admission and orientation of new tenants
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment
• Support and build capacity within the interdisciplinary team regarding substance use and tenant-centered approaches
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to assess specific program needs related to substance use and other addictions
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide direct and indirect support to tenants, encouraging housing stability, including medication administration, apartment checks, and community events
• Work with tenants to maintain a safe apartment and engage in life skills training as needed
• Keep the interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends in best practices for addiction support
• Support and collaborate with the Volunteer Coordinator to integrate program volunteers into addiction support activities and complete volunteer logs
• Assist in the orientation and support of staff, students, and volunteers
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and other agency meetings as required
• Maintain positive written and verbal communication
• Demonstrate positive relationships within the Indwell team
• Promote and demonstrate the vision, mission, and values of Indwell within the workplace and community
• Stay apprised of new research and developments relevant to the role through workshops, journals, websites, and literature, and transfer knowledge effectively to the team and tenants
• Follow applicable regulations, policies, and procedures
• Work collaboratively with Facilities, reporting maintenance needs to ensure upkeep of buildings/grounds
• Complete regular environmental checks, including requirements of the building’s Integrated Pest Management plan
• Use appropriate procedures when responding to emergency situations
• Ensure personal health and safety, and that of tenants and co-workers, by adhering to health & safety standards
• Complete required safety checks and inspections as assigned
• Attend and participate in all required training to maintain and develop new skills
• Complete required reports in a timely manner in accordance with policy and procedures
• Perform administrative tasks as assigned, such as rent collections and financial records
• Complete required documentation thoroughly and timely, focusing on maintaining and protecting tenant health records

Benefits

• 3 weeks paid vacation 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), Cliffs Strengths Finder Assessment facilitated by People Developer for mentoring opportunities, Lunch and Learn Webinars, Indigenous Cultural Competency and 2SLGBTQ Awareness + more
• Social Events: Indwell’s Hope and Homes Banquet yearly to celebrate the important work we do + team gatherings

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees