City: Kamloops

Reports to: Coordinator of Outreach and Overdose Prevention

Term: Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)

Hours: 8:00am to 4:00pm with ½ hour paid break | Do note: Hours may include working evenings from 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Wage Range: $25.55 up to $29.26 based on education and related experience.

Position Summary: As a Street Outreach Worker you will provide supportive outreach services, to vulnerable people who may struggle with mental health concerns, substance misuse challenges, chronic health conditions and those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless in our community. Promote healthy, independent living skills in order for them to achieve their personal aspiration and live as independently as possible. Within this role you will directly partner with Community Service Officers (“CSO”) to deliver the Outreach and Response Program. Service delivery is based on a client-centered, trauma-informed, and non-judgmental perspective.

What We Offer:

• Competitive benefits including but not limited to dental, vision, physiotherapy, massage, and fertility upon eligibility
• Municipal Pension Plan upon eligibility
• On-site training and development opportunities such as Violence Prevention, Cultural Awareness and 2SLGBTQ+ training
• A culture of equality, inclusion, and diversity including paid cultural sensitivity days
• Wellness plan benefits: Reimbursement of 50%, up to a maximum of $250.00 per calendar year
• Competitive Vacation entitlements with up to 3 weeks paid vacation in your first year upon eligibility.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Partner with Community Service Officers to engage with individuals experiencing homelessness or suffering from issues related to mental health and addictions.
• Initiate a case management approach to identify and build a solid understanding of the health, housing, and support service needs of people experiencing homelessness in the community.
• Work alongside community partner CMHA to ensure service continuity between daytime and evening hours.
• Provide outreach services in partnership with community partners (i.e., nurses, social workers, family physicians, psychiatrists, Interior Health, etc.).
• Provide crisis/transition point intervention when necessary for clients.
• Harm reduction distribution and education.
• Contribute to the protection of clients from abuse, and support clients when they are in distress.
• One-on-one contact with individuals on the street and in emergency shelters.
• Provide individualized support, as needed, to multiple barrier clients and to assist them in referrals to acquiring affordable, safe, and supported community housing.
• Assist with homeless camp counts when required.
• Advocating on behalf of clients and/or supporting them to advocate for themselves.
• Encourage and support Program Participants to live as fully and independently as possible.
• Participate in the assessment, goal setting and program planning for Program Participants when requested.
• Provide supervision and support to mitigate individual and program risk to ensure safety, comfort, and wellness.
• Work closely with identified community resources for each Program Participant.
• Actively seek the views of Program Participants and involve them in decision making to improve their own identity, purpose, and self-esteem.
• Monitor and move along community members who are loitering in and around the properties.
• Provide crisis intervention as required including overdose responses by ensuring immediate access to medical services and completing necessary incident reports when required.
• Provide monthly documentation of client statistics and work duties performed.
• Complete any required reporting required by the City of Kamloops.
• Provide weekly statistics to the Coordinator of Outreach and Overdose Prevention.
• Complete accurate and up-to-date communication/case notes.
• Maintain files and statistics as per accreditation standards.
• When requested, be a member of the Society’s Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) team.
• Ensure compliance with all Society policies and procedures.
• Other duties which may or may not be outlined within this job description.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor of Social Work, Human Services Diploma, Support Worker/Care Aid Certificate, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or lived experience.
• Strong ability to recognize and address difficult behaviors.
• Good communication, documentation, interpersonal, and conflict management skills.
• Ability to work within a team-based environment involving multi-agency support.
• Strong working knowledge of community resources.
• Understands and maintains professional boundaries.
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and reliable/appropriate transportation with business use coverage.
• Must pass an acceptable criminal record check for the vulnerable sector.
• Basic First Aid is required.
• Readiness to complete in-house online training within the first month of employment.
• Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, and Trauma Informed Practice an asset.

If you self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) and/or would like assistance with the application process, job readiness, interview readiness, or tips for resume and cover letter writing, we encourage you to contact us, and you will be redirected to careers@askwellness.ca

The ASK Wellness Society is dedicated to promoting diversity/multiculturalism with inclusion as one of our Core Values. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or ag