Indigenous-led Outreach Worker
Top Benefits
About the role
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
“Despite great challenges we believe unhealthy cycles can be broken, new opportunities created and, through healing, health restored.”
In partnership with Montana First Nations and Frog Lake First Nations, Boyle Street Community Services is hiring for an Indigenous Street Outreach team. This program directly supports Indigenous individuals who are houseless throughout the entirety of Edmonton with a specific focus given to individuals camping in the river valley and more hidden locations who are not connected to services. The program supports individuals towards transitioning from life on the streets to a more stable, connected lifestyle. At the same time, this team works to increase understanding with other Edmontonians with the purpose of promoting a caring and inclusive culture in our city.
Reporting to the Outreach Services Manager the Indigenous Street Outreach Worker supports individuals sleeping rough throughout Edmonton (including in the river valley/parkland areas) and assists them in transitioning to a safer lifestyle, while increasing understanding among the broader community about the target population and street-related challenges.
“We stand with our clients, side by side, patiently and for as long as they want – a constant and consistent caring force”
Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team alongside our clients.
Position Responsibilities
- Building and maintaining relationships while seeking input and guidance from Montana First Nation and Frog Lake First Nation, other colleagues, community members and their chosen Elders and supports, and others as appropriate.
- Be in relationship with a Council of Elders who support the Indigenous Outreach Team’s cultural pathways.
- Connect with street populations sleeping on public lands through intensive outreach in the River Valley, parks and other public spaces.
- Build rapport with individuals sleeping rough and gain an understanding of their stories and concerns, and their needs.
- Provide cultural support around a wide range of issues resulting from the legacy of residential school system, including the intergenerational effects, in a manner that is sensitive to the unique needs of vulnerable populations: for example; providing traditional medicines, attending sweat lodges with community members, land based experiences.
- Connect individuals sleeping rough to resources that will improve their standard of living, such as culture, Nations connections, housing, income, medical supports, and identification,accompany them to appointments, and advocate on their behalf.
- Work with the agency and its partners to provide community members various cultural healing, including sweats, feasts, healing circles and/or pipe ceremonies.
- Connect with businesses, storeowners, community groups, residents, City of Edmonton, EPS, EMS, hospitals and other service agencies that come into contact with individuals frequenting the streets.
- Liaise between people who are homeless and other stakeholders in the community.
- Identify service gaps in meeting the needs of people on the streets.
- Discuss how to have a healthy level of coexistence, tolerance and respect among all the relevant stakeholders, and determine best practice.
- BSCS is more than a workplace. It is a community where everyone helps and contributes to the whole, and there is an expectation that all employees will take part in events (during the work week and occasionally during weekends and evenings). This includes fundraising campaigns, running community meals, medicine picking etc.
Qualifications
- Able to quickly, creatively, and ethically solve problems with clients.
- Proven ability to work in a respectful and client-centered manner
- Strengths-based approach by default, and confidence in strong de-escalation techniques, works with initiative, commitment and enthusiasm, physically fit, good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- At least two years of experience delivering community-based services.
- Knowledge of evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural techniques
- Expertise in developing and monitoring case plans.
- Experience networking with a range of partners and stakeholders
- This unique position requires team members to walk long distances on rugged terrain, carrying bags with supplies that weigh between 20-25 pounds, all year around in all weather conditions.
- Local travel on behalf of clients and the agency is required; must have a valid class 5 license, reliable vehicle with minimum $2,000,000 liability insurance, and a clean driver’s abstract.
- Police Check with the Vulnerable Sector and Child and Youth Intervention Check completed within the past six months
- Valid First Aid certificate or enrolled in a future course
- Experience with and knowledge of Indigenous culture and ceremonies is considered an asset.
Why Work for Boyle?
- All work done positivelyimpactsthe community and its members!
- Access toLuminoHealth, including Stress & Wellness support
- Employeeactivities andevents throughout the year
- Various training initiatives, and development opportunities
Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team alongside our clients.
Clients, staff, and partners are vital members of the Boyle Street team, so we place emphasis on making sure that we address each other correctly by using preferred pronouns. We invite you to let us know how to properly refer to you and your pronouns as you explore finding a professional home with us.
Boyle Street Community Services aims to foster a work environment that is rich with Indigenous culture, teachings, ceremonies, and activities- as a reflection of the communities we serve and the land we reside upon.
Boyle Street Community Services is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of the communities we serve and are committed to engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. Boyle Street Community Services welcomes applications from First Nation, Inuit, Métis, New Canadian, differently abled, and LGBTQ2S communities.
About Boyle Street Community Services
Fifty years ago, Boyle Street Community Services was founded to provide a wide range of services under a single roof to people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Edmonton. Today, Boyle Street Community Services provides more than 40 programs across 13 locations in Edmonton.
Boyle Street Community Services is a registered charity that serves approximately 12,000 adults, youth and families, with the mission of ending chronic homelessness in Edmonton. Boyle Street provides a variety of intervention and prevention services, grounded in harm reduction philosophy and harm reduction, which support our clients through crises and address the leading causes of homelessness.
Indigenous-led Outreach Worker
Top Benefits
About the role
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
“Despite great challenges we believe unhealthy cycles can be broken, new opportunities created and, through healing, health restored.”
In partnership with Montana First Nations and Frog Lake First Nations, Boyle Street Community Services is hiring for an Indigenous Street Outreach team. This program directly supports Indigenous individuals who are houseless throughout the entirety of Edmonton with a specific focus given to individuals camping in the river valley and more hidden locations who are not connected to services. The program supports individuals towards transitioning from life on the streets to a more stable, connected lifestyle. At the same time, this team works to increase understanding with other Edmontonians with the purpose of promoting a caring and inclusive culture in our city.
Reporting to the Outreach Services Manager the Indigenous Street Outreach Worker supports individuals sleeping rough throughout Edmonton (including in the river valley/parkland areas) and assists them in transitioning to a safer lifestyle, while increasing understanding among the broader community about the target population and street-related challenges.
“We stand with our clients, side by side, patiently and for as long as they want – a constant and consistent caring force”
Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team alongside our clients.
Position Responsibilities
- Building and maintaining relationships while seeking input and guidance from Montana First Nation and Frog Lake First Nation, other colleagues, community members and their chosen Elders and supports, and others as appropriate.
- Be in relationship with a Council of Elders who support the Indigenous Outreach Team’s cultural pathways.
- Connect with street populations sleeping on public lands through intensive outreach in the River Valley, parks and other public spaces.
- Build rapport with individuals sleeping rough and gain an understanding of their stories and concerns, and their needs.
- Provide cultural support around a wide range of issues resulting from the legacy of residential school system, including the intergenerational effects, in a manner that is sensitive to the unique needs of vulnerable populations: for example; providing traditional medicines, attending sweat lodges with community members, land based experiences.
- Connect individuals sleeping rough to resources that will improve their standard of living, such as culture, Nations connections, housing, income, medical supports, and identification,accompany them to appointments, and advocate on their behalf.
- Work with the agency and its partners to provide community members various cultural healing, including sweats, feasts, healing circles and/or pipe ceremonies.
- Connect with businesses, storeowners, community groups, residents, City of Edmonton, EPS, EMS, hospitals and other service agencies that come into contact with individuals frequenting the streets.
- Liaise between people who are homeless and other stakeholders in the community.
- Identify service gaps in meeting the needs of people on the streets.
- Discuss how to have a healthy level of coexistence, tolerance and respect among all the relevant stakeholders, and determine best practice.
- BSCS is more than a workplace. It is a community where everyone helps and contributes to the whole, and there is an expectation that all employees will take part in events (during the work week and occasionally during weekends and evenings). This includes fundraising campaigns, running community meals, medicine picking etc.
Qualifications
- Able to quickly, creatively, and ethically solve problems with clients.
- Proven ability to work in a respectful and client-centered manner
- Strengths-based approach by default, and confidence in strong de-escalation techniques, works with initiative, commitment and enthusiasm, physically fit, good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- At least two years of experience delivering community-based services.
- Knowledge of evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural techniques
- Expertise in developing and monitoring case plans.
- Experience networking with a range of partners and stakeholders
- This unique position requires team members to walk long distances on rugged terrain, carrying bags with supplies that weigh between 20-25 pounds, all year around in all weather conditions.
- Local travel on behalf of clients and the agency is required; must have a valid class 5 license, reliable vehicle with minimum $2,000,000 liability insurance, and a clean driver’s abstract.
- Police Check with the Vulnerable Sector and Child and Youth Intervention Check completed within the past six months
- Valid First Aid certificate or enrolled in a future course
- Experience with and knowledge of Indigenous culture and ceremonies is considered an asset.
Why Work for Boyle?
- All work done positivelyimpactsthe community and its members!
- Access toLuminoHealth, including Stress & Wellness support
- Employeeactivities andevents throughout the year
- Various training initiatives, and development opportunities
Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) is a values-driven organization that believes our clients are the experts in their own life. Your job will be to foster innovation with your team alongside our clients.
Clients, staff, and partners are vital members of the Boyle Street team, so we place emphasis on making sure that we address each other correctly by using preferred pronouns. We invite you to let us know how to properly refer to you and your pronouns as you explore finding a professional home with us.
Boyle Street Community Services aims to foster a work environment that is rich with Indigenous culture, teachings, ceremonies, and activities- as a reflection of the communities we serve and the land we reside upon.
Boyle Street Community Services is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of the communities we serve and are committed to engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. Boyle Street Community Services welcomes applications from First Nation, Inuit, Métis, New Canadian, differently abled, and LGBTQ2S communities.
About Boyle Street Community Services
Fifty years ago, Boyle Street Community Services was founded to provide a wide range of services under a single roof to people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Edmonton. Today, Boyle Street Community Services provides more than 40 programs across 13 locations in Edmonton.
Boyle Street Community Services is a registered charity that serves approximately 12,000 adults, youth and families, with the mission of ending chronic homelessness in Edmonton. Boyle Street provides a variety of intervention and prevention services, grounded in harm reduction philosophy and harm reduction, which support our clients through crises and address the leading causes of homelessness.