THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION
The Community Outreach Coordinator, Support House Response Team, will be responsible for providing one-to-one community-based support, housing & service navigation across the Halton region supporting people who are unhoused and who experience mental health and substance use concerns. The team will work within the community meeting people where they are at, including shelters, supportive housing and street level outreach.
This position is a part of an assertive outreach team where communication and team building is paramount to support positive outcomes for the people we support. You will work closely together to respond quickly to community homelessness support needs, including crisis and distress.
Areas of support will include: building trusting relationships, crisis intervention, mediation and de-escalation; urgent housing placements, connection to health care resources, harm reduction supports and resources, and individually defined holistic needs and goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Internal Role
- Connecting with people 16+ within the unhoused population who experience mental health and substance use concerns and require urgent housing.
- Emphasis on building relationships/rapport with individuals using creativity and patience
- Attending shelters, community spaces, and any other location where people may be in need of mental health / substance use and housing support
- Working alongside community partners to address immediate support needs including crisis, housing, and/or justice
- Focus on preventing, de-escalating, navigating and stabilizing crisis situations including supporting individuals experiencing social and physical harms associated with chronic substance use, ongoing suicidal ideation and other harmful emotional or behavioral situations
- Providing support and resources for harm reduction and prevention in order to improve people’s wellness.
- Promoting a decrease in justice system participation and possible incarceration through in-depth assessments and collaboratively creating individualized care plans considering justice involvement and ensuring intentional pathways to other relevant justice supports
- Supporting individuals around their complex housing and tenancy needs, including but not limited to supportive housing placements, rent supplement options and landlord relationship building
External Role
- Work in close collaboration with Halton Housing Help, shelter, and any other relevant organization’s staff to ensure wrap around supports for individuals.
- Represent Support House’s values and philosophies.
- Be knowledgeable around Support House’s services and supports.
- Understand how various social locations or identity factors impact access to, and experiences with, mental health, housing, and substance use supports.
- Promote every door is the right door and provide warm connections to appropriate partners.
Professional Development
- Aligning your practice with your professional discipline code of conduct and ethics as relevant to your role
- Remain current with trainings and learning opportunities.
- Participate in regular supervision, annual reviews and debriefs with supervisor and team.
- Demonstrate a commitment to applying the principles of intersectionality to the work of Support House
- Participate in relevant Communities of Practice
Personal Development
- Regular personal reflection and awareness around how you are showing up to work and recognizing self-awareness strategies to inform your work.
- Be open and share any work-related needs to the appropriate staff, for the purpose of accommodation, support, and clarity.
- Participate in regularly scheduled breaks and other wellness activities to maintain your work and practice.
- Maintaining your personal wellness through ensuring your own supports and balance
- Understand how your own positionality and identities impact and influence your ability to exert power and privilege, particularly as it relates to individuals who face multiple forms of systemic oppression.
- Disclose and navigate dual relationships within the organization and with individuals, as needed.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE
- Strong ability to build genuine connections with people through curiosity and interest in getting to know who they are
- Relevant Undergraduate Degree required.
- Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is an asset.
- 5+ years of relevant experience in supporting people who are unhoused and who experience mental health and substance use concerns.
- Strong understanding of the Housing First philosophy and extensive knowledge of the unhoused population
- Experience in harm reduction best practices and overdose prevention
- Trauma-Informed training and experience
- Confidence and experience in crisis intervention, mediation and de-escalation including non-violent crisis/suicide intervention skills.
- Risk assessment skills and relevant experience is an asset.
- Demonstrated complex problem solving in crisis-based work.
- Able to mediate and negotiate situations.
- Working knowledge of the justice system
- Experience with the LOCUS / OCAN / VI-SPDAT assessments is an asset.
- Must possess a broad knowledge of community resources and the ability to strongly advocate for clients and make professional referrals.
- Understanding of intersectionality principles and practice, and how it may impact an individual’s experience with systemic oppression and support systems.
- Excellent verbal communication and comfort with one-on-one dialogue
- Excellent written and documentation skills.
- Working knowledge of PHIPA is an asset.
- Able to work independently and co-operatively in a busy multidisciplinary environment.
- Self-motivated, comfortable working with minimal oversight
- Proven ability to work on an Electronic Healthcare Record
- Proven computer proficiency to facilitate the use of automated assessment tools and Microsoft products.
- A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle
- Current First Aid & CPR certification, Naloxone and ASIST training is an asset.
Linked-in
Google