Job Description
Peer Support Worker/Support Worker
Community Mobile Crisis Response Team
12-month Contract | Full-Time
(Possibility of extension based on project funding)
What we do and why we do it:
The Alex Community Health Centre is a not-for-profit organization that is changing how we look at health care in Calgary. Our health, housing and food programs support our most vulnerable neighbors, tackling tough health and social issues head-on. Using a multi-disciplinary team approach, we focus care on assessment, intervention, and promotion of all aspects of health. We embrace a model of health care that is accessible, responsive, and participatory. In addition to the Community Health Centre, we run a Seniors Health Centre, a Youth Centre, three Mobile Community Health Buses, one Dental Health Bus, four Housing First Programs, and a Community Food Centre.
The Community Mobile Crisis Response (CMCR) pilot has been developed in partnership between Calgary 911, the Distress Centre (211) and Calgary Police Service in response to the identified need to improve support for Calgarians experiencing crises related to mental health, psychosocial and addiction concerns. The goal of this pilot is to reduce the need for police where a mental health response is the most appropriate way of addressing a crisis. This will reduce unnecessary engagement with law enforcement agencies and will provide persons in crisis with a response rooted in community needs. This pilot represents an integrated, client-centered, trauma-informed, value-based approach to crisis response for those experiencing a non-emergency behavioral or mental health crisis, difficult psychosocial factors, substance use disorders and/or domestic situations where there is no threat to safety or need for police response. It will address barriers to accessing Calgary’s current crisis response system, including perceived lack of cultural awareness by those living in racialized communities, and systemic stigma, frequently expressed as the primary reason for emergency service refusal. It will also address service fragmentation, informational discontinuity across organizations and lack of differentiation between mental health and other crisis responses, through improved and cost-effective service coordination. This community-based crisis response intervention will address the lack of situational support and effective coping mechanisms of community members, with a key element being the connection to Alex services for integrated follow up, case management and provision of wraparound support, promoting future crisis prevention.
Reporting to the Team Lead, the Peer Support Worker will respond to non-violent crisis situations in the community utilizing the fundamentals of crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and harm-reduction principles. The Peer Support Worker is sufficiently flexible and dynamic to meet the needs of individuals in crisis who may experience a variety of barriers to accessing services, is guided by client-centered decision-making and ensures appropriate follow-up care is provided.
What you will do:
- Work collaboratively with members of the Community Mobile Crisis Response Team, including Calgary 911, the Distress Centre, Alberta Health Services, and Alpha House
- Provide crisis outreach services to individuals with significant mental health and addiction concerns
- Ensure assessment and service plan incorporates clients’ goals, values, skills, resources, strengths, and service requirements
- Participate and collaborate in follow-up case management support as needed; Provide community members with general information, contacts, referrals services and support as needed to facilitate access to various health, mental wellness and other social services opportunities that promote the social determinants of health.
- Refer to and collaborate with appropriate follow-up services
- Complete required documentation, including data collection and entry as required
- Complete monthly data reporting
- Manage urgent situations that arise with timely communication with all parties involved
- Collaborate with internal Alex programs to ensure continuity of care
- Attend community meetings, operational committees, and working/focus groups as required
- Offer culturally sensitive services where indicated
- Engage in supportive conversation with clients to explore, coordinate, advocate and connect to internal and external services and resources designed to meet the client's needs
- Offer client-centered and culturally informed services
- Assist with group programming for participants and staff relevant to lived experience
- Assist with and complete data collection and required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures
- Maintain client confidentiality and clear boundaries
- Other duties as required
What you bring:
- Completion of the CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support program, relevant post-secondary education or equivalent years of experience required
- Demonstrated commitment in peer support context working with individuals with health concerns, which may include and focus on mental health, substance use, poverty, homelessness and food insecurity
- Lived experience navigating the health and social care systems is an asset
- Superior engagement skills and excitement for new opportunities
- Base level computer skills
- Comfortable working independently and as a part of a team
- Ability to contribute to a positive work environment and team culture
- High level of initiative and self-motivation
- Flexible and adaptable
- High level of self-awareness
- Determined and committed to excellence
- Training in any of the following is considered an asset: Applied Suicide Intervention Training, Mental Health First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and Motivational Interviewing
- Working knowledge base of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
- First Aid (either Standard/Intermediate or Emergency/Basic) - Level C CPR within 30 days of hire date certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire
- A Class 5 nonGDL driver’s license, a clean driver’s abstract, and a personal vehicle that can be used for work purposes with $2 million liability insurance is an asset
- A vulnerable sector criminal record clearance and child welfare intervention check are required
- Knowledge of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC) 94 Calls to Action is an asset
- Willingness to work within anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks and actively engage in ongoing learning about these frameworks.
Working Environment:
- FTE (40 hours/week)
- Shift work that may vary throughout the pilot project, combination of 10 and 12-hour shifts (program service hours are 7 days a week, day and evening shifts (but may change to 24/7 service provision)
- This is a 12-month contract with a possibility of extension based on project funding.
- Work environment is split between in-office and community
- Continuous extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking
- Frequent driving as part of work duties.
Driving on Behalf of The Alex:
This position is required to use your own vehicle for work-related use or drive Alex vehicles for work purposes. Where required, candidates must show proof of a class 5 non-GDL driver’s license, a personal vehicle, a clean 5-year drivers abstract, and $2 million liability insurance to meet our insurance providers requirements.
How to apply:
If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people’s lives, please visit our career centre: Jobs at The Alex | The Alex.
This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will make every effort to accommodate candidate’s schedules and needs in all parts of the hiring process.
The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.
In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).
- The term “racialized” is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms “racial minority, “visible minority”, “person of colour”, or “non-White”.
For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website at www.thealex.ca
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