Community Liaison Officer

Sandervandenakker; British Columbia; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading city is seeking a compassionate Community Liaison Officer to support unhoused individuals. This role involves conducting safety patrols, coordinating with outreach workers, and ensuring compliance with City bylaws. Ideal candidates will have experience working with vulnerable populations and be comfortable in crisis situations. This is a two-year term position with opportunities to make a significant impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in social work or outreach with unsheltered individuals.
• Ability to work with vulnerable and diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct safety patrols and welfare checks of unhoused individuals.
• Liaise with community stakeholders and ensure compliance with City bylaws.
• Handle crisis situations with respect and confidence.

Skills

Cultural Competence

Crisis Management

Communication

Education

Certificate in Community Mental Health Work

Bylaw Compliance, Enforcement, and Investigation Skills Level 1 and 2

Job description

Join to apply for the Community Liaison Officer role at City of New Westminster.

The City of New Westminster is seeking a compassionate, trauma-informed, and experienced professional to join our newly created Operations Support Team. This team supports community members experiencing homelessness, including those with medical, mental health, or substance use issues. As a key field staff member working closely with bylaws staff, you will connect with unhoused individuals, including those living in encampments, and other community members affected by these issues. Your responsibilities include advising on staff, unhoused, and public safety, coordinating with outreach support workers, and ensuring compliance with City bylaws. This position is a two-year term.

As a Community Liaison Officer, You Will :

1. Conduct regular safety patrols of encampments and welfare checks of unhoused people throughout the City, responding to service calls.
2. Provide oversight, input, and direction to the Crises Response team to ensure their safety and adherence to safety policies and procedures.
3. Determine appropriate responses to encampments, prioritizing safety for staff and community members.
4. Inspect, investigate, and enforce City bylaws related to encampments.
5. Respond to community service calls involving unhoused individuals or those with addiction, mental health, or health concerns, including providing education.
6. Liaise with community stakeholders, the Crises Response Team, and other City departments such as bylaws, police, and fire to support unhoused people and ensure bylaws compliance.
7. Engage with unhoused individuals to establish clear expectations and follow-up plans compassionately to achieve compliance.
8. Recommend policy and procedure updates for safety improvements, staying current with industry best practices and environmental trends.
9. Develop short-term strategies for various situations, including gaining voluntary compliance.
10. Coordinate with outreach workers to provide culturally appropriate, safe, and competent services tailored to individual needs, including collaboration with provincial and community service providers.
11. Handle volatile and unpredictable crisis situations with respect and confidence, prioritizing worker safety, especially when mental health and substance use issues are involved.
12. Build relationships and collaborate with organizations and service providers, including Indigenous groups, supporting unhoused individuals.
13. Perform safety audits and risk assessments of public spaces where unhoused people gather, recommending safety measures and City staff deployment using CPTED principles.
14. Report on individual and program outcomes to inform program progress and direction.

If you possess many of these key competencies, we would like to hear from you:

1. Ability and comfort working with vulnerable, culturally diverse, and racialized populations.
2. Two years of recent related experience in social work, outreach, or bylaws, working with unsheltered individuals and those with mental health and substance use issues, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
3. Certificate in Community Mental Health Work or equivalent is an asset.
4. An Indigenous background, experience, or training with Indigenous culture and practices is an asset.
5. Completion of Bylaw Compliance, Enforcement, and Investigation Skills Level 1 and 2 is an asset.
6. Exceptional note-taking, file management, and report writing skills.
7. Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
8. Ability to work non-standard hours.
9. Occupational First Aid Level 1 certification.
10. Naloxone training.
11. Ability to pass and maintain a clear Police Information Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Check.