Case Manager

Alexandra Comm Hlth Ctr; Calgary; On-site; CAD 59,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alex Community Health Centre in Calgary is seeking a dedicated Case Manager to support formerly homeless individuals within an Intensive Case Management model. You will develop personalized plans, coordinate housing and health services, and help participants achieve housing stability and community integration.

Reporting to the Team Lead, you will work from a strength-based, client-centered approach, meeting participants in homes and community settings, and collaborating with partners to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a relevant field.
• Experience in the homeless-serving system-of-care with knowledge of community resources.
• Strong foundation in addictions and mental health, including trauma.
• Solid understanding of Housing First and Harm Reduction.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to problem solve and think critically.
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
• Openness to a wide scope of practice with a commitment to innovation and flexibility.
• Ability to work independently, including an ability to assess risk.
• Class 5 driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management to individuals exiting homelessness.
• Connect individuals to appropriate services in the community and assist in facilitating referrals.
• Complete appropriate needs and risk assessments.
• Work from a culturally competent framework.
• Work with individuals in their homes and community settings to teach and support daily living skills.
• Identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and address them.
• Transport program participants to appointments and assist with daily activities.
• Advocate for tenants and landlords under the Residential Tenancy Act.
• Aid participants in navigating the justice and health care system.
• Assist in finding and securing appropriate housing and income support.
• Support individuals with acute, severe, and persistent mental health and substance use disorders.
• Collaborate with team and partner agencies.
• Demonstrate professionalism and time management.
• Participate in afterhours landlord line rotation.
• Assist with data collection and entry as directed.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Homeless-serving experience

Addictions & MH

Housing First & Harm Reduction

Active listening

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Independence

Driver’s license

First Aid/CPR awareness

Crisis intervention (asset)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or a relevant field

Job description

Salary Range: $58,715.00 To $65,228.00 Annually

Do you have experience working in the homeless-serving sector-of-care? Do you have a strong foundation in addictions and mental health? Do you have a solid understanding of Housing First and Harm Reduction? If so, this position may be for you!

Who We Are

Since 1973, The Alex has been a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing integrated primary health care, community support services, and housing-focused programs to individuals and families who experience barriers to accessing traditional health, housing, and social service systems. Services are grounded in principles of health equity, low-barrier access, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, and person-centered care.

HomeBaseis a scattered-site Recovery Oriented Supportive Housing program operating through an Intensive Case Management (ICM) model. Participants live independently in apartments throughout the community and receive individualized, flexible supports focused on housing stability, health coordination, system navigation, income and benefits support, crisis intervention, and community integration.

Reporting to the Team Lead, the Case Manager will provide ongoing support to formerly homeless individuals as they establish permanent housing. Working within the Intensive Case Management model, and utilizing a strength-based, client-centered approach, the Case Manager will support program participants in creating a personalized plan with individualized goals. Case Managers will meet on a regular basis with program participants in community settings and provide the necessary support to achieve and maintain housing stability as well as community integration.

This is a full-time, contract term position for six months from the hire date.

What You Will Do

• Provide case management to individuals exiting homelessness
• Connect individuals to appropriate services in the community and assist in facilitating referrals
• Complete appropriate needs and risk assessments
• Work from a culturally competent framework
• Work with individuals in their homes and community settings to teach and support with daily living skills.
• Work alongside program participants to help identify risk factors which could lead to eviction.
• Transport program participants to and from appointments and assist with daily activities as required.
• Advocate for the rights of tenants and landlords using the Residential Tenancy Act.
• Aid participants in navigating the justice and health care system.
• Assist in finding and securing appropriate housing.
• Assist in obtaining and maintaining income support.
• Support individuals who are experiencing acute, severe, and persistent mental health and substance use disorders.
• Work as a member of a team, supporting colleagues as needed.
• Display a high degree of professionalism.
• Collaborate with partner agencies.
• Demonstrate strong time management and organization skills.
• Support housing processes to assist with moves and liaise with landlords.
• Receive ongoing training to support with professional development and career goal.
• Participate in the afterhours Landlord Consult line rotation.
• Assist with data collection and entry as directed.
• Perform other duties as required.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a relevant field.
• Experience working in the homeless-serving system-of-care, along with strong knowledge of community resources.
• A strong foundation in addictions and mental health, including personality disorders, PTSD, and trauma.
• Solid understanding of Housing First and Harm Reduction.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including active listening skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Ability to problem solve and think critically.
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
• Openness to a wide scope of practice with a commitment to innovation and flexibility.
• Ability to work independently, including an ability to assess risk.
• A certificate in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention/De-escalation or equivalent is an asset.
• Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, clean 3-year drivers abstract, and $2 million liability coverage are required.
• Minimum of 21 years of age and three (3) years of driving experience is required to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
• Basic First Aid - Level C CPR within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is an asset.

Work Environment and Hours

• Predominately outreach; single staff visits in program participant homes.
• In-office components take place at The Alex Community Health Centre: 2840-4 Ave, Calgary, AB.
• 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours/week)
• Standard hours 8:30-4:30pm, Monday to Friday; flexibility in crisis situations is required.
• Continuous extended periods of sitting, with some standing and walking.
• Frequent driving as part of work duties.
• Occasional climbing of stairs throughout shift.
• Occasional time outside in all weather conditions.
• Occasional physical activity requiring the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel, and carry objects (up to 50Ibs) throughout shift. This includes lifting or transferring clients who require assistance supporting themselves.

Working Conditions

This position requires frontline staff, in some cases, to be exposed to emotionally disturbing events, such as medical distress, threatened/actual serious injury, violence, abuse, and death. There may also be exposure to situations where clients may be experiencing fear, terror, hopelessness, rage, self-harm and conflict. It is understood and accepted that this position will be working in distress/high-stress situations, which may include emergency response where resiliency, stress tolerance, and the ability to maintain composure is imperative. This position may also be exposed to bodily fluids. The health and safety - both physical and psychological- of our employees is a priority. The Alex is focused on providing a safe, supportive and healthy work environment.

Driving on behalf of The Alex

This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes and, at times, driving an Alex fleet vehicle. Candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract. Candidates must also agree to maintain $2 million liability insurance on their personal vehicle to transport clients, and consent to the possibility of an annual driver's abstract review to meet our insurance provider’s requirements. Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with the CRA guidelines. Driving a fleet vehicle at The Alex also requires that staff are at least 21 years of age with a minimum of three (3) years’ driving experience.

The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.

In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

*The term "racialized" is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms "racial minority", "visible minority", "person of colour", or "non-White".

For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website at www.thealex.ca .

At The Alex, we place a high value on strong, ethical, and professional relationships between clients and primary care providers. Clear boundaries are essential to ensuring safe, respectful, and effective care. To protect clients, medical professionals and staff, employees and contractors of The Alex are not permitted to access internal physicians, nurses, mental health clinicians, or other allied health professional services during their employment.

We recognize that some applicants may have had, or may currently have, meaningful care relationships with The Alex at the time of applying. If you are currently a client and wish to continue in our recruitment process, you are asked to disclose your service provider relationship. Should you be hired, you will be required to transition your care to an external provider within your first 90 days of employment and maintain this external care relationship for the duration of your employment. Reasonable extensions of the 90-day deadline may be considered where absolutely necessary and in the sole discretion of The Alex.

This approach helps us maintain clear boundaries, uphold professional standards, and protect our workers’ rights to privacy and confidentiality.