Health Navigator and Outreach Worker

City: Merritt
Program and Site Location: Merritt, 1-2196 Quilchena Ave
Reports To: Director of Operations, Merritt
Term: Temporary Full-Time (30 hours per week) starting ASAP up to and including March 31, 2025
Hours: TBD
Wage Range: $25.95 to $29.76 based on education and related experience.  

Position Summary: As a Health Navigator and Outreach Worker you will work directly with Program Participants and sometimes family members to advocate, educate, reinforce, and coordinate a care plan in order to improve knowledge and assist with self-management of chronic illness and other health issues. To raise awareness and provide sexual health and BBI education/supports, and health navigation to marginalized clients and communities. Service delivery is based on a client-centered, non-judgmental perspective.

What We Offer:

·        Competitive benefits including but not limited to dental, vision, physiotherapy, massage, and fertility upon eligibility

·        Municipal Pension Plan upon eligibility

·        On-site training and development opportunities such as Violence Prevention, Cultural Awareness and 2SLGBTQ+ training

·        A culture of equality, inclusion, and diversity including paid cultural sensitivity days

·        Accidental death insurance, Wellness plan benefit, Employee Assistance Program

·        Vacation entitlements for Part-Time and Full-Time employees

Typical Duties Include:

Health Navigator Responsibilities

-        Liaise with key community caregivers regarding necessary support systems for the Program Participants including health and life skills programming.

-        Engage with community stakeholders to build relationships and provide support.

-        Provide crisis support and assessment when required.

-        Assist and support Program Participants in offering information on sexual health, HIV, and other services that meet the needs of cis-and-transgender, gay, bisexual, queer, two-spirit in Merritt and surrounding communities.

-        Identify issues in HIV prevention and sexual health education.

-        Raise awareness and provide sexual health and BBI education/supports, and health navigation to marginalized Program Participants and community.

-        Participate in the assessment, goal setting and program planning for Program Participants when requested.

-        Provide supervision and support to mitigate individual and program risk to ensure safety, comfort, and wellness.

-        Work closely with identified community resources for each Program Participant.

-        Actively seek the views of Program Participants and involve them in decision making to improve their own identity, purpose, and self-esteem.

-        Complete wellness checks/room checks when required.

-        Monitor and move along community members who are loitering in and around the property.

-        Provide crisis intervention as required including overdose responses by ensuring immediate access to medical services and completing necessary incident reports when required.

-        Delivery of harm reduction supplies to community pharmacies.

-        Facilitate Naloxone training for Employees, Program Participants and community.

General Administrative Responsibilities

-        Conduct assessments of potential Program Participants using the BC Housing mandated Vulnerability Assessment Tool (VAT) when requested.

-        Complete accurate and up to date communication/case notes.

-        Maintain files and statistics as per accreditation standards.

-        Complete move in/move out documentation as required by the Property Services Department.

-        When requested, be a member of the Society’s Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) team.

-        Ensure compliance with all Society policies and procedures.

-         Other duties which may or may not be outlined within this job description.

Qualifications and Requirements

-         Bachelor of Social Work, Human Services Diploma, Support Worker/Care Aid Certificate, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or lived experience.

-         Strong ability to recognize and address difficult behaviors.

-         Good communication, documentation, interpersonal and conflict management skills.

-         Ability to work within a team-based environment involving multi-agency supports.

-         Strong working knowledge of community resources.

-         Understands and maintains professional boundaries.

-         Valid driver’s license, safe driving record and reliable/appropriate transportation with business use coverage.

-         VAT (Vulnerability Assessment Tool) training an asset.

-         Must pass an acceptable criminal record check for the vulnerable sector.

-         Occupational First Aid Level 1 required.

-         Readiness to complete in-house online training within the first month of employment.

-         Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, and Trauma Informed Practice an asset.

-         As Program Participants are allowed to have pets, it is noted that this is a pet friendly environment.

  If you self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) and/or would like assistance with the application process, job readiness, interview readiness or tips for resume and cover letter writing, we encourage you to contact us, and you will be redirected to careers@askwellness.ca.

The ASK Wellness Society is dedicated to promoting diversity/multiculturalism with inclusion as one of our Core Values.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.

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