Community Outreach Worker - Casual

Island Crisis Care Society; Nanaimo; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Island Crisis Care Society is seeking a Community Outreach Worker to connect with individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the wider community. The role involves gathering information, assessing needs, and developing short-term intervention plans within program guidelines in consultation with a supervisor.

You will provide support, guidance and problem-solving to address housing access and related supports, while building life and social skills.

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Services or equivalent education/experience.
• Two years of experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Familiar with Housing First model and related community resources.

Responsibilities

• Identifies individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness and connects them to services.
• Gathers information about client needs and risks using interviews and inventories.
• Develops and implements short-term intervention plans within guidelines.
• Provides support and problem-solving to address housing access and supports.
• Offers life and social skills training and self-management techniques.
• Participates in integrated case management meetings and reports progress.
• Evaluates intervention effectiveness and communicates concerns to supervisor.
• Outlines services and referrals to community providers and professionals.
• Provides emotional support and client feedback.
• Liaises with landlords and service providers; accompanies clients to meetings.
• Maintains records and statistics; prepares supervisor reports.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Skills

Compassion

Integrity

Planning

Client orientation

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Social Services or equivalent education/experience

Job description

The Community Outreach Worker supports the work of Island Crisis Care Society by providing outreach services to individuals within the wider community who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Key Responsibilities

1.Identifies and makes connections with individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

2.Gathers and assesses information relevant to the client’s concerns, needs and risks by interviewing, observing behaviour, meeting with service providers and using a variety of inventories, checklists and questionnaires.

3.Develops and implements short-term, issue‑specific intervention plans within program guidelines in consultation with the supervisor.

4.Provides support, guidance and problem‑solving to clients to address issues related finding or maintaining housing and accessing supports using techniques such as active listening, conflict resolution, basic counselling techniques and psycho‑educational methods to resolve the identified problems, needs and risks.

5.Provides skill building in areas such as life and social skills, anger management or self‑management techniques.

6.Participates in the development, modification and evaluation of client service plans with the integrated case management team. Participates in integrated case management meetings on a regular basis to report clients’ activities and progress.

7.Evaluates the effectiveness of the intervention plan, reports on clients’ progress, and discusses related concerns with the supervisor in order to resolve identified problems and move towards defined objectives.

8.Outlines services provided by the program and/or organization. Provides information on and referral to other community service providers, resources and professionals as required.

9.Provides emotional support and feedback to clients.

10.Liaises with and/or promotes the interests of clients with other community service providers, professionals and landlords as required. Accompanies clients to meetings and appointments as required.

11.Maintains related records and statistics and provides reports to the supervisor.

12.Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Education

• Degree in Social Services or equivalent education/experience

Training and Experience

• Two (2) years experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

CORE COMPETENCIES

HEARTCOMPASSIONINTEGRITY

SPECIALIZED COMPETENCIES

PLANNINGCLIENT ORIENTATIONINTERPERSONAL SKILLSCOLLABORATIONPROBLEM SOLVING

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Possesses a high level of knowledge regarding substance use disorders, mental health challenges, treatment, and recovery and is familiar with and understands the "Housing First" model and the importance of bio‑psycho‑social‑spiritual support in addressing these challenges.
• Follows and practices protocols and procedures consistently and faithfully and maintains effective routines;
• Has a firm awareness of and maintains healthy boundaries and practices and demonstrates self-care.
• Is able to understand and contribute to the therapeutic culture of ICCS within their own position and team.
• Has a demonstrated ability to manage and balance role responsibilities and interpersonal dynamics in a fast paced, high‑pressure environment