In-Reach Worker, Stratford Connections and Warming Centre

Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health•Stratford, ON

17d•CA$24 - CA$29•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Program Manager, the In-Reach Worker, Connections and Warming Centres, is responsible to support individuals seeking shelter from the winter elements by offering a welcoming and safe environment. The incumbent will oversee all aspects of health and safety in the Centre including monitoring capacity and ensuring all participants are following rules and regulations. The Warming Center is seasonal with variable overnight (7 nights per week) and some day shifts available.

Requirements

Social Service Worker Diploma or related field of study, and/or lived experience is preferred.
Experience with diversion and crisis planning, with focus on mental health and/or addictions, highly desirable.
Professional experience in social services and/or lived experience with an understanding of issues facing individuals with substance abuse and mental health concerns is desirable.
Broad knowledge of addiction and mental health treatments and explanatory theories, homelessness, the criminal justice system and community resources.
Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and techniques of case management of mental illness and addiction and their application.
Demonstrate integrity and ethics, good coping skills, flexibility and commitment to the work.
Communication-written and oral, planning, leadership, interpersonal, negotiating, directing/motivating, organizing, decision making, Coping: Able to maintain a mature problem-solving attitude while dealing with interpersonal conflicts, hazardous conditions, personal rejection, hostility or time demands.
Decisiveness: Able to make decisions quickly on available information and take action, make commitments and not change decisions when challenged, deal with emergencies as necessary.
Decision Making and Problem Solving: Able to take action in solving problems while exhibiting judgement and a realistic understanding of issues, able to use reason, even when dealing with emotional topics.
Creativity: Able to develop unique and novel solutions to problems; use intuition and a new way of thinking to give birth to new ideas; present information in an attention-getting and interesting manner.

Responsibilities

Provide a welcoming, safe and trusting environment for participants
Support hard-to-engage participants and develop relationships of trust
Protect and promote the welfare, dignity, and individual rights of participants at all times, understanding trauma and violence and the impact these have on participants’ lives and behaviours
Provide triage, initial mental health and/or addiction screening using validated tools (e.g. VI-SPDAT), and other required intake paperwork, coordinate and facilitate with participant linkages to recommended services and supports in the community
Provide basic needs, as required, following Warming Centre procedures
Provide information regarding resources found within both the broader mental health and addiction system and the community in general
Provide crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and use negotiation skills, as necessary
Engage Emergency Services when it is determined that additional intervention is required
When appropriate, act as liaison with caregivers and/or support providers who are involved with the participant to facilitate a coordinated approach to service provision
CPR and First Aid Certification required
Perform other duties as assigned or required