Our Housing Always Program is committed to promoting and supporting participants with experiences of homelessness, mental illness and addictions to live independently in the community. Participants are offered permanent independent living in individual apartment units with supports that match their presenting needs. This program aims to achieve recovery and housing stability through the provision of supports onsite, and in the community. Initially, the Housing Stability Workers will be primarily supporting participants on site, but caseloads are expected to eventually expand to include participants living in the larger community as well.

Job Summary:

The Housing Stability Worker (HSW) will perform duties and responsibilities consistent with providing a psychosocial environment to assist with the rehabilitation and community integration of participants. The HSW will support participants who experience persistent and chronic homelessness with a focus on supporting them to achieve housing stability.

We are currently recruiting for:

• 3 x full-time, 11-month contract positions; the positions will be eligible for optional enrollment in HOOPP and a partial (20%) prescription drug benefit

Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months. In order to avoid delays in beginning a position, interested applicants who reside in the City of London and are in need of a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible as PVSCs in the City of London are currently taking approximately 2 weeks to be delivered and offers of employment may be delayed without receipt of a PVSC.

Job Description and Primary Responsibilities:

Designated Primary Worker for 10 participants:
– Ensure Electronic record and paper file is complete and up-to-date
– Ensure participant’s needs are being met and that each participant is supported to maintain housing
– Provide updates at Team Meetings

In addition to the responsibilities of the Primary Worker, HSW’s will fulfill the following with all participants;

Housing Stability:
• Provide support based on presenting need of the participant
• Use assessments to base goals based on their strengths, abilities, needs and preferences
• Motivate and support participants to work towards achievement of their needs and/or goals
• Assist and coach participants in the learning and management/achievement of activities of daily living such as personal hygiene, chores, budgeting, socialization, etc. alongside them in their apartment
• Advocate, refer and connect participants with appropriate services, supports, and resources (formal and informal) based on their needs
• Support participants with physical and mental health concerns, and liaise with clinical staff
• Coordinate recreational community outings and activities to enhance participants’ quality of life and further connect participants to their community
• Champion each participant’s individual capacity for independent community living
• Provide health teaching about mental illness and symptom management
• Assist participants to successfully remain in the apartment, providing prevention and diversion strategies to avoid homelessness
• Crisis prevention and intervention; reducing the utilization of EMS, ER visits, days in hospital, days incarcerated

Assessment and Goal Planning:
• Assess participants’ strengths, abilities, needs and preferences as well as social and environmental factors impacting the participant, and any vulnerability and risk factors
• Ensure ongoing assessment are completed and reviewed according to policy
• Include and encourage participants’ natural supports (e.g. Family, significant friends) in goal planning, clarifying the roles each plays towards each participant’s rehabilitation
• Regularly solicit feedback from the participant and relevant community supports regarding the participant’s mental health and progress towards his/her goals

Communication and Decision Making:
• Maintain open communication with participant’s professional and natural supports in regards to participant’s rehabilitation
• Make decisions both independently and collaboratively
• Complete required documentation related to participants as per CMHA Middlesex standards
• Complete other required documentation (e.g. monthly time sheets, vacations requests, education requests, travel claims, expense claims) within the required time frames
• Provide input into decisions with team concerning operations of the program, policies of CMHA Middlesex and accreditation standards
• Professionally liaise with community workers and agencies regarding the Housing Always Program
• Ensure effective communication with Director, Manager, staff team, and external treatment teams concerning each participant’s progress
• Identify, promote resolution, and management of all emergency situations concerning participants, staff, and property
• Knowledge of issues pertaining to confidentiality, such as the shared Common Client Record (CCR) and consent to release personal information process to ensure participant’s confidentiality is maintained at all times
• Other duties as required

Job Specifications:

Required Qualifications

• University/college degree or diploma in the social science field
• Minimum of one year work experience in the mental health and addictions field
• Experience working with homeless/marginalized populations
• First Aid and CPR
• Valid Driver’s License
• Access to a vehicle
• Insurance adequate for transporting participants
• Current, clear Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Ability to attend work regularly

Preferred Qualifications / Experiences / Qualities

• Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation
• Knowledge of psychiatric medications
• Knowledge of community resources
• Knowledge of computerized documentation methods
• Health and safety knowledge
• Crisis intervention and prevention
• Applied Suicide Interventions Skills and Training
• Bilingual in both official languages is an asset

Additional Requirements

• Ability to recognize and diffuse potential conflict situations
• Knowledge of safe food handling procedures
• Knowledge of WHMIS, fire, health and safety procedures

Hours of Work:

• 70 hours over two week period
• Day shifts including some weekends

How to Apply:

Our recruitment process allows us to learn about your previous work experience, your qualifications and your commitment to fulfilling our vision. Interested applicants are invited to submit a cover letter and resume by April 14, 2021, by email to:humanresources@cmhamiddlesex.ca
While we appreciate the interest of all applicants, only those individuals being considered for a position will be personally contacted by someone from the interview team.