This position is responsible to work alongside the Men’s Recovery team to ensure each Men’s Recovery program participant is supported and cared for well and they have a safe and sober place to find direction and assistance. The job includes providing referrals; accompanying to appointments; advocating for material needs; organizing program activities; assisting with daily routines and problem-solving; attending to emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs; and conducting searches and screenings as necessary and approved by the on-call supervisor. This position sometimes involves conducting program participant discharge plans and working with the on-call supervisor to come up with the best plan forward. The job involves shift work, including on weekends, evenings, and statutory holidays. Depending on the scheduled shift, duties as required differ depending on the time of shift scheduled.

This is a casual position. The starting range for this position is $26.26 to $28.70 per hour.

Who We Are (external only)

Demonstrating the love of Christ, UGM feeds hope and changes lives through a faith-based continuum of care. We are a proud member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities and have earned the Best Christian Workplace award again in 2021. We provide competitive salaries. A focus on employee resilience, support for professional development, engagement in meaningful work, and a fun and caring environment are all part of being a member of the UGM team. If you are someone who desires to learn and grow, has a passion to serve and make a difference, and connects with others with both humility and humour, then you will be a great fit at UGM.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Model Christ in word and deed.
• Build rapport with participants by fostering a climate of grace, forgiveness, and accountability—
• Actively support the participants in the Men’s Recovery program by:
  • Providing information and referrals when necessary
  • Advocating and helping to acquire material needs and services within the community.
  • Assisting with problem-solving and life skills within the context of their daily routines with a coach approach
• Attend to the emotional, physically, mental, and spiritual needs of all participants—and especially those with complex mental health diagnoses.
• Provide medication facilitation, including locking meds, completing MARS sheets, working with pharmacies and medication delivery services, etc.
• Conduct room searches, bag searches, and urine screenings with both sensitivity and determination, dealing appropriately with participants’ feelings of resentment and frustration.
• Organize and participate in program activities, offering ideas and resources when appropriate.
• Maintain the database and accurate digital records and manuals using the computer.
• Take an active role in proactively and re-actively defusing and deescalating aggressive situations.
• Be knowledgeable of all the material documented in the Men’s Recovery Program handbook, as well as related documentation, and apply it consistently.
• Monitor sobriety of participants and visitors, and report to the supervisor when necessary.
• Maintain the work space in a clean and presentable condition, monitoring the areas in and around UGM, and ensuring that equipment is functioning properly.
• Adhere to all UGM published policies, practices and procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety.

KSA’s

• Mature individual, committed to UGM’s Mission Statement and Core Values.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality within the organization and its clientele.
• Personal lived experience of overcoming addiction is an asset
• Knowledge of addiction and recovery, including normative stages of recovery, relapse process and triggers.
• Recovery Coaching and/or Motivational Interviewing expertise.
• 12-step and other non-step recovery knowledge, including local meetings.
• Valid class 5 driver’s license required
• Good English skills (verbal, reading and writing).
• Basic computer skills (Excel, Word and Outlook).
• Ability to work independently.
• Able to effectively identify and solve problems and follow through on initiatives.
• Related post-secondary education is required (e.g. Psychology, Social Work, Human Services).
• 2 years of related work or volunteer experience is required.
• Basic computer skills (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Knowledge of motivational interviewing and stages of change is preferred.
• Ability to work as part of a team under the direction of a supervisor.
• Ability to set and maintain healthy boundaries.
• Completion of UGM’s Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training and all other mandatory training, including First Aid training/certification and Naloxone training/certification.
• Technical Competency—Trauma-Informed Care (Level 1): Help identify negative events that have impacted the client’s functioning, and develop interventions that emphasize safety, choice, and personal control.

Working Conditions

• Work Location

Work is generally performed indoors within an office environment, with standard office equipment available. Physical Requirements

Work fluctuates between sedentary and active, but may require standing, walking or reaching for up to 90% of the time. Employee is required to look at a computer screen and use a keyboard for up to 30% of the time. Must be able to lift up to 35lbs occasionally.

• Work Conditions

Working environment is generally favorable. Lighting and temperature are adequate. Work is performed amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises. Frequent environmental exposures to cold, heat, and water. This position is required to work in an environment often dealing with clients in crisis situations brought about by diverse problems. The ability to function independently and frequently under pressure, while managing multiple concurrent tasks including emergency situations is an ongoing expectation of this position.

• Hours of Work

This position works within the hours of 7:30 am to 11:00 pm, covering day, afternoon/evening, shifts. Weekend work and statutory holiday work will be required. Moderate overtime may be required.

There is no set schedule and, thus, flexibility is required.

• Hazards

Job requires frequent interaction with the public some of whom may be upset, abusive, and/or violent. Job requires working frequently with people in unhealthy conditions and may include exposure to bodily fluids, lice and bedbugs. Employee is required to hear information about clients’ lives which may be troubling or upsetting, and may cause emotional issues including vicarious trauma.

• Other

Due to the nature of the job, and our commitment to a safe environment, the candidate is subject to a criminal record check and must submit a current Driver’s Abstract.