Recovery Advocate

Fraser Health; Abbotsford; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health care organization in Fraser Valley is seeking a dedicated individual for a community recovery support role. This position involves providing advocacy and recovery-based support to clients in need of mental health and substance use services. The ideal candidate will have experience in community social services and a passion for promoting wellness. Join our mission to make a meaningful impact in our community.

Benefits

Inclusive work environment

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Two years' recent related experience advocating for community support.
• Personal experience accessing substance use services.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group psychosocial educational sessions.
• Advocate for clients and assist in accessing services.
• Coordinate recovery support programming and activities.

Skills

Knowledge of health concerns

Knowledge of substance use recovery

Facilitating supportive groups

Establish and maintain rapport

Effective communication

Ability to organize and prioritize

Adaptability

Indigenous Cultural Safety

Trauma-informed practice

Conflict resolution

Education

Diploma in a Community Social Services program

Job description

Detailed Overview

Within the context of a client and family-centered care model and in accordance with established standards of professional practice and vision and values of the organization, works as a member of a community recovery-based team to provide individual and group recovery support and information sessions to a designated client population / community. Provides advocacy for clients to access substance use recovery-based services free of discrimination, stigma, and barriers and supports clients and their support network with locating health, social and substance use services for the designated client population / community. Develops relationships based on respect. Provides outreach services, assists with coordinating recovery support programming, and organizes venues and materials for educational sessions and social and recreational activities. Performs word processing duties, assists with research and other special projects, maintains and compiles statistics, participates in committees, task groups, and / or corporate initiatives and engages in and assists the Clinical Coordinator with ongoing team planning, development, evaluation, and quality improvement activities. Conducts, utilizes problem‑solving, conflict resolution and collaboration by attending meetings and in‑services, reviewing team policies and procedures, providing input / recommendations to Clinical Coordinator and / or other team members regarding the efficiency of processes / procedures relating to work duties to ensure streamlined, effective and patient / family centred practices. Maintains and compiles statistics such as service delivery activities, correspondence reports and client statistics by recording information, summarizing and / or entering information into computerized systems, entering commands to generate reports, as required for review by designated team members and / or and forwarding data to appropriate team members for action. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

Provides and facilitates individual and group psychosocial educational sessions and conducts information sessions with members of the designated client population / community by interviewing clients to determine their needs. Provides recovery-based support and guidance to mental health and substance use clients including outreach services. Provides information sessions such as accessing substance use and medical services, income assistance and community resources consults and brings up concerns to the attention of the Clinical Coordinator, makes referrals to other community resources, as appropriate and follows protocols for obtaining assistance in an emergency / crisis. Facilitates client’s physical, recreational, educational and employment needs by arranging, planning, escorting and transporting / accompanying individuals to a variety of health care, community and outreach programs / services, as needed. Develops relationships based on respect with clients and their family, friends, partners, allies and members of the designated client community by encouraging informed decision‑making. Helps to create and support a non‑judgmental environment for the client and their support network, sharing experiences and insight, developing a social network and promoting clients in empowering themselves throughout their recovery journey. Advocates on behalf of the clients by speaking out on behalf of clients in settings such as substance use programs, the justice system, hospitals and the community. Assists clients and their support network with locating substance use, health, social and / or legal services that are relevant to their recovery journey by providing information on how to connect with service providers. Supporting, collecting and organizing a BC-wide resource list of recovery community-based services and maintaining electronic and paper-based up‑to‑date referral information. Creates linkages to other community resources and programs, contacts relevant organizations, businesses, and services and provides information on procedures to attain services and assistance with accessing services. Provides advocacy for client‑centered services free of discrimination and barriers for the designated client population / community by providing information regarding access to services to the client and the family members, partners, friends, and other loved ones. Supports the client with the development of their recovery capital including physical, social, emotional, and life skills. Develops educational materials to meet the client’s needs, as required. Attends meetings and workshops to represent the designated program and members of the designated client recovery community and assists clients in completing forms and letters concerning barriers to services. Notifies the Clinical Coordinator of systemic advocacy issues by receiving / documenting complaints or ideas for improved service and ensuring action steps are taken with issues raised. Assists with coordinating activities and recovery programs at the Recovery Community Centre. Provides training and support to contracted peers and volunteers by providing orientation and information, facilitating meetings, problem‑solving, providing input into peer support selection, administering the Peer Support consumer contracts, updating peer support educational material and discussing issues with the Clinical Coordinator. Participates in consumer development and workshop presentations, as requested by the Clinical Coordinator. Organizes the Recovery Community Centre’s programming schedule and materials for activities and educational sessions by liaising with contractors and service providers, booking venues, sending out education session notifications, creating slides, posters and overheads utilizing various software applications. Manipulates text and / or graphics to ensure intended message has been captured. Arranges for the printing of materials and ensures that appropriate notices are posted. Participates in committees, task groups, and / or corporate initiatives by providing representation, presenting relevant material, acting as an advocate for the goals and objectives of FHMHSU and promoting optimal support for clients and their families to improve access, integration and coordination of recovery & harm reduction services. Assists with research and other special projects by collecting data, researching for additional materials, liaising with a variety of personnel to obtain and distribute information, checking background information, entering data, making suggestions for computerized reporting and formatting objectives and preparing reports utilizing a variety of software applications. Transfers information from one database / report to another as required, summarizes information and prints documentation as requested. Performs word processing duties such as drafting / revising program forms, updating program policies and procedures documentation and preparing letters, memos, reports, posters, presentations, educational and funding proposals from rough draft, general instruction and / or recording devises. Composes and signs general correspondence such as appointment confirmations, referrals and information requests. Engages in and assists the Clinical Coordinator with ongoing team planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities that facilitate team goals. Utilizes problem‑solving, conflict resolution and collaboration by attending meetings and in‑services, reviewing team policies and procedures, providing input / recommendations to Clinical Coordinator and / or other team members regarding the efficiency of processes / procedures relating to work duties to ensure streamlined, effective and patient / family centred practices.Qualifications

Diploma in a Community Social Services program and two years’ recent related experience advocating and / or providing support to the designated client population / community, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Personal experience accessing substance use services in the designated client population / community. Valid BC Driver’s License with access to a reliable vehicle as local area travel may be required and will be noted on the posting.

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of health concerns for the designated client population / community.
• Knowledge of the substance use recovery and harm reduction system in British Columbia.
• Ability to facilitate supportive groups with attention to participants’ emotional well‑being and safety.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with a diverse range of community members, volunteers, and health, social and community service providers for the designated client population / community.
• Ability to communicate effectively / tactfully both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to work under the pressure of interruptions and adapt to changes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Demonstrated, knowledge of traditional healing practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of harm reduction in a health care setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of LGBTQ2S+ services and programs in the community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma‑informed practice.
• Ability to problem‑solve and take initiative.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to provide work direction.
• Skilled in conflict resolution, facilitation, and advocacy.
• Ability to compose business correspondence.
• Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.

About Fraser Health

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region. People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,+ staff, medical staff and volunteers. We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner. Together, we are the heart of health care.

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