Homelessness Outreach Worker

Homelessness Outreach Worker 2

Permanent Full-Time 1.0 FTE x2

Open Date: May 14, 2025

Close Date: May 24, 2025

Job Title:

Homelessness Outreach Worker 2

Classification:

Support Worker 2

Grid/Pay Level:

Grid 34

Collective Agreement:

Community Sub-Sector

Wage Range:

$31.56 - $33.28

Union:

BCGEU

Job Family:

Client Services

Program:

Homelessness Services

Benchmarks:

81502

Reporting To:

Homelessness Services Coordinator or designate

Facility/Site:

Multiple CMHA Mid Island Sites, Mid-Island Homelessness Encampments, Parksville and Oceanside Region 

Shift Times:

Tuesday - Saturday 09:00-17:00

Sunday - Thursday 09:00-17:00

Days off:

Rotating

Date Reviewed: April 24, 2025

SCOPE AND LEVEL DEFINITION

Reporting to the team lead or designate, as a member of a multidisciplinary and multi-agency outreach team, the Homelessness Outreach Worker provides outreach based community support. Provides intake and assessment to determine housing criteria and eligibility and assists in connecting with mental health and addiction services. Provides life skills training, coaching, advocacy and advice to a population of individuals with substance use/addiction issues with or without a mental illness that have experienced significant challenges related to poverty and homelessness as well as limited access or engagement in with the traditional system of care. 

Six primary philosophical perspectives guide the development of the model of care. These include: 1) health equity; 2) social justice; 3) strengths-based including empowerment; 4) lifespan development; 5) community collaboration; 6) systems integration. This position may operate under the direction of professional staff who sign-off on the individual care plans.

Transportation arrangements must meet the operational requirements of the CMHA Mid-Island in accordance with the service assignment and may require the use of a personal vehicle.

TYPICAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Engage with individuals who are homeless through a trauma informed lens with proven ability to engage clients in holistic strengths based wellness and rehab planning.  Promoting hope and connection as citizens in their community.
2. Engage with individuals who are homeless in the community and meeting them were they are at including helping identify encampments and being willing to hike in to them
3. Harm reduction focus and approach when engaging with all clients. Provide Harm reduction supplies / kits and naloxone.  
4. Administer housing subsidy program with members of the team. Provide any followup documentation that is required for the program such as monthly reports on individuals housing placements.
5. Participates in case planning with clients and/or healthcare providers by performing duties such as interviewing clients to identify problems and needs, obtaining required information from a variety of sources such as families and care providers, documenting client needs and wants, and assisting clients to determine appropriate programs. Assess and determine eligibility for rental subsidy and, or SAFER subsidy programs.
6. Complete VAT assessments and supportive housing applications for individuals that qualify for supportive housing.
7. Advocates for clients by problem solving in areas such as landlord-tenant disputes, financial assistance, accessing community resources, and obtaining volunteer placements. 
8. Observes clients, identifies and assesses potential emergency situations, and develops short-term strategies to deal with such situations. Reports medical, behavioural, and other problems as required. Provides feedback and input regarding clients’ needs, performance, and progress. 
9. Ensures a safe and healthy work environment by observing  universal precautions and infection control procedures, removing obvious hazards. Reporting faulty equipment, accidents, injuries and near misses and adhering to and enforcing rules regarding to safety.
10. Participates in staff meetings, quality improvement initiatives, committees and in-services, and maintains up to date knowledge through involvement in work related continuing education as required by the employer.
11. Provides supportive counselling, demonstrations, modelling, and behaviour management to clients, their families, and their personal networks, to assist with the development of physical, social, emotional, and life skills such as maintaining personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, meeting financial obligations, making and keeping appointments, and interpersonal skills. 
12. Identifies available social, economic, recreational, and educational services and resources in the community that will meet clients’ needs. Provides clients with related information. 
13. Completes and maintains related records and documentation such as HIFIS intake information, care plans, progress reports, statistics, and daily logs. 
14. Receives client feedback, and inquiries and complaints, and responds as required. 
15. Provides direction to volunteers and peer support staff as required.
16. Performs limited food preparation such as, cooking basic meals, heating prepared food, making tea, coffee, salads, and sandwiches.
17. Performs other related duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Typical Education, Training, and Experience 

• Post-secondary certification in addiction counselling, or a diploma in community social services
• Two years' recent street outreach related experience working with persons with substance use and/or mental health including teaching life skills;
• Working knowledge of chemical dependency. 
• Valid Class V BC Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle. 
• NVCI (Non Violent Crisis Intervention) or equivalent training.
• Extensive knowledge of community resources.  
• Certification in First Aid and CPR (level C).
• Indigenous Cultural Sensitivity Training 
• FoodSafe Certification.

Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience;

Or other Qualifications determined to be reasonable and relevant to the level of work

Typical Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients
• Ability to deal with individuals who are experiencing mental health and substance use challenges and their families;
• Ability to observe and recognize behavioural and/or health status changes in clients;
• Ability to facilitate supportive and educational groups;
• Ability to promote positive change and independence.
• Ability to set and maintain boundaries;
• Ability to effectively use technology, iOS, OS X, file sharing, web based collaboration, software programs such as word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others including multiple stakeholders;
• Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills;
• Ability to prioritize and organize client demand and care needs.
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems
• Ability to teach life skills.
• Sound judgment and good observation skills.
• Ability to demonstrate an appropriate level of initiative and independence.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Physical and emotional ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Advocacy skills
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation principles

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