Independent Living Support Coordinator

Canadian Mental Health Association; Calgary; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Canadian Mental Health Association Calgary Region is seeking an Independent Living Support Coordinator to deliver services for clients with mental illness, focusing on building independent living skills and connecting them to community resources. The role involves coaching, advocacy, collaborative work with clinical teams, and liaison with community partners across Calgary.

A BSW or similar degree and 2+ years of relevant experience are required; ASIST and First Aid/CPR are preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong crisis de-escalation skills and experience handling high-risk situations.
• Commitment to recovery model, harm-reduction and trauma-informed care.
• ASIST certification.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training (or willingness to obtain).
• First Aid and CPR certifications.
• Valid Alberta driver’s license and reliable vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide coaching, support, and connection to resources for the development of independent living skills (home management, money management, self-care, relationships).
• Meet with clients at various community locations.
• Advocate for clients to ensure access to adequate care and information from CMHA and community providers.
• Assist clients in establishing peer, family, and community support networks.
• Collaborate with clinical support to communicate client needs and progress.
• Liaise with community partners regularly to support client goals.
• Participate in team meetings and maintain clear client documentation and progress tracking.

Skills

Crisis de-escalation

Recovery-oriented care

Trauma-informed care

ASIST certification

First Aid & CPR

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or related human services degree

Minimum 2 years experience with psychiatric disabilities/addictions

Job description

Position Title: Independent Living Support Coordinator

Program: Operations – Independent Living Support; Off-site at partnering Recovery Alberta Clinics

Position Type: Full-time, Temporary Contract ending on May 25, 2027

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week

Position Summary: This position will report to Off-site Team lead for the program. The Coordinator is responsible for delivering services in accordance with the CMHA Calgary Region service model. Through coaching and mentoring, you will support clients with a mental illness and/or concurrent diagnosis on their journey to wellness by connecting them to community resources and developing their daily independent living skills.

Reports To: Team Lead, Independent Living Support

Key Service Responsibilities and Specific Accountabilities

• Provides clients with the coaching, support, and connection to resources necessary for the maintenance or development of living skills in the areas of home management, mental health management, money management, interpersonal relationships, leisure/recreational pursuits, self-care and coping skills, medication management, problem solving, and psychosocial skill development and maintenance.
• Meet with clients at various locations in community.
• Advocates for clients when necessary and to ensure they receive adequate care, treatment services, and information from the community and CMHA.
• Assists clients in establishing peer, family, and community support networks.
• Assist clients with developing practical skills that will prepare them for independent community living.
• Collaborate with a client’s clinical support on a regular basis to ensure they are made aware of a client’s needs, progress, and any other identified issues that fall beyond the scope of both programs.
• Liaise with community partners on a regular basis to ensure collaborative efforts in assisting clients to meet their personal goals.
• Participate in clinical and community meetings as required.
• Maintain effective written and verbal communication systems necessary for client service delivery and program functioning.
• Other duties as required.

Documentation, Reporting & Accountability

• Maintain the highest standard of documentation accuracy, timeliness, and professionalism in accordance with CMHA Calgary policies and privacy legislation.
• Complete comprehensive and objective case notes, incident reports, logbook entries, communication updates, daily tracking logs, and accountability records.
• Maintain accurate and current client files including Service Plans, Outcomes Star assessments, safety plans, and progress tracking tools.
• Document behavioural observations, interventions, and outcomes clearly to support continuity of care and risk management.
• Communicate proactively with team members, supervisors, and interdisciplinary partners regarding client status, emerging concerns, and service coordination.
• Adhere to all internal documentation deadlines and quality standards as directed.

Safety & Environment

• Maintain the highest standards of physical, emotional, and psychological safety across all CMHA Calgary Supportive Living sites.
• Identify, report and document environmental, behavioural, or operational risks.
• Promote a culture of safety, respect, and inclusion within the sites.
• Support implementation of emergency preparedness procedures and agency safety protocols.

Advocacy & Collaboration

• Advocate for clients to ensure they receive adequate care, treatment, and information from community providers and CMHA services.
• Liaise regularly with psychiatrists, case managers, healthcare providers, guardians, families, and community partners to ensure coordinated, wraparound support.
• Support clients in establishing and maintaining peer, family, and community support networks.
• Participate actively in team meetings, case consultations, and program development discussions.

Professional Practice Expectations

• Apply trauma-informed practice principles in all service delivery.
• Demonstrate a recovery-oriented, person-centered approach in every client interaction.
• Use a harm reduction framework when supporting individuals experiencing substance use challenges.
• Maintain professional boundaries and ethical conduct at all times.
• Engage in ongoing learning to enhance knowledge related to complex mental health presentations, concurrent disorders, trauma, and supportive housing best practices.

Additional Team Responsibilities and Competencies

• Adhere to policies and practices related to working alone.
• Attend professional development opportunities and maintain any relevant certificates and trainings (ex. First Aid).
• Support collaboration and partnerships between CMHA Calgary, Recovery Alberta, and other community agencies.
• Be a resource to the community in the area of information and referral services.
• Able to represent self and the agency in a professional manner.
• An interest in lifelong learning along with empathy and insight.
• Approachable, accessible and facilitates cooperation.
• Demonstrated behavior consistent with organizational values.
• High level of initiative and self-motivation.
• Highly effective at conflict resolution, problem-solving and decision-making.
• Recognizes and adheres to professional boundaries.
• Sound judgement and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Contribute to the organization’s accreditation and continuous quality improvement efforts by engaging in mandatory training, adhering to accreditation standards, and supporting documentation and evaluation processes as required.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Bachelor of Psychology, or a recognized diploma or undergraduate degree in a human services field. Equivalent education and/or experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in working with persons with psychiatric disabilities, diagnosed mental illness and/or addictions along with experience in life skills.
• Demonstrate deep respect not only for clients but for the teams you support, your peers and community partners.
• Strong crisis de-escalation skills and experience managing high-risk or emotionally charged situations.
• Demonstrated commitment to the recovery model, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care.
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) certification.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training (or willingness to obtain).
• First Aid and CPR certifications.
• Valid Alberta driver’s license and a reliable vehicle.
• Experience working in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Flexible and adaptable.

Disclaimer

The above statements are not intended be a thorough list of all responsibilities, additional duties and tasks may be assigned.As a member of our frontline team, you will be exposed to emotionally charged and high-stress situations. This role involves emergency response, direct interaction with distressed individuals, behavioural crisis management, and critical incident response. You must demonstrate resilience, sound judgment, emotional regulation, and the ability to maintain composure and professionalism under pressure.CMHA Calgary operates CCTV equipment on its premises for safety and security purposes. All employees may be subject to video monitoring while on site.CMHA Calgary is a smoke-free work environment, there may be occasional exposure to secondhand smoke from designated smoking areas nearby.