SCOPE AND LEVEL DEFINITION

Union: BCGEU Community Sub-Sector, Client Services Benchmark 81502

Reporting to the Homelessness Services Coordinator or designate the Homelessness Outreach Worker will function as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to provide outreach based community support. Employees on this team are expected to participate in multi-agency outreach with community partners in various efforts to support vulnerable individuals in the Mid-island region.

Major activities include: providing intake and vulnerability assessments (VAT) to determine housing criteria eligibility and assisting individuals to connect with community resources including but not limited to mental health and addiction services. Providing life skills training, coaching, advocacy, advice and general engagement within the community.

Employees will encounter and engage with individuals who are actively using or have used substances in varying degrees and have or are experiencing significant challenges related to poverty, homelessness as well as limited access or engagement with the traditional system of care.

TYPICAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- Engages positively with individuals who are homeless using a trauma-informed lens with demonstrated ability to engage clients in holistic strengths based wellness and promoting hope and connection as citizens in their community.
- Builds rapport, provides support and advocacy for a diverse range of individuals, meeting them where they’re at who are experiencing homelessness.
- Applies sound judgement, stays grounded and uses creativity, exibility and assertiveness when working through often unpredictable situations and emergencies.
- Responds to changeable and sometimes volatile behaviours utilizing non-violent communication and deescalation techniques.
- Uses Harm Reduction focus and approach when engaging with all individuals. Provide harm reduction kits and/or naloxone.
- Participate in collaborative service planning with clients and/or healthcare providers by performing duties such as client interviews to identify barriers and needs, collect required information from various sources such as families and care providers, document client needs and wants, assist clients to determine appropriate programs.
- Administrate housing subsidy program within identified criteria, managing full-cycle process and continued client engagement including internal documentation and tracking maintaining data integrity and documentation requirements externally and internally.
- Complete VAT assessments and supportive housing applications for individuals that qualify.




- Supports clients in navigating complex systems by participating in collaborative engagement, including Community Response Tables. Assists clients to connect with community resources, provides information to support landlord-tenant discussions, and helps explore financial support options as identified and requested by the client.
- Observes clients to identify and assess potential emergency situations. Develops short-term strategies to navigate challenging scenarios. Reports medical, behavioural, and other concerns or changes as required. Provides feedback and input regarding clients’ needs, performance and progress.
- Contributes to a safe work workplace by performing ongoing field risk assessments during community interactions to support personal and team safety. This includes maintaining situational awareness, following established Safetyline protocols, identifying environmental hazards, and maintaining awareness of ingress and egress routes. Responsibly reports safety concerns, near-misses, and incidents while adhering to organizational safety policies and universal precautions.
- 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.
- Provides supportive and collaborative service coordination, counseling, demonstrates and and models interpersonal skills and positive coping strategies to clients, their families and their personal networks to assist with the development of physical, social, and emotional life skills such as maintaining personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, meeting financial obligation, making and keeping appointments and interpersonal skills among others.
- Identifies available social, economic, recreational and educational services and resources in the community that will meet clients’ needs and provides clients with related information.
- Completes and maintains related records and documentation such as HIFIS intake information, care plans, progress reports, statistics and daily logs.
- Receives clients feedback, inquiries and complaints and responds as required.
- Works professionally and ethically in a team setting, including the ability to maintain condentiality,



and stay focused on the client’s needs.
- Communicates and collaborates with other CMHA staff and programs.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS Typical Education, Training and Experience
- Post-Secondary certification in Community Social Service, or related program including but not limited to addiction counselling, or Human Services
- Minimum of 2 years recent community outreach related experience working with individuals with substance use and/or mental health including IDALs
- Extensive knowledge of community resources and programs
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle
- First Aid Certificate, CPR, Foodsafe
- Indigenous cultural sensitivity training
- Comfortable observing people using substances and working knowledge of chemical dependency
- Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NCVI) or equivalent
- Naloxone Training
- Valid Criminal Record Check
- Must have the physical, mental and emotional competencies and psychological stamina to perform the duties of the position

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

- Knowledge of current social issues related to homelessness, mental health and substance misuse
- Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation principles
- Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships
- Comprehensive knowledge of community resources and advocacy skills
- Comprehensive interpersonal skills including the ability to display tact and diplomacy
- Ability to interact with people of all ages, identities and cultural backgrounds
- Ability to problem solve and deal with conict effectively
- Ability to work constructively as a part of team
- Comfortable working independently, and in cooperation with others
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position including but not limited to walking, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling, bending and navigating difficult terrain
- Ability to operate related equipment including but not limited to iOS, OS X, file sharing, scanning and file management, word processing software and spreadsheet software
- Ability to organize and prioritize client demands, care needs and daily tasks
- Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients
- Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills
- Demonstrated ability to set and maintain boundaries

____________________________________________________________________________ Please note that this is a BCEU union position which also been posted internally

📌 Homelessness Outreach Worker (Nanaimo)
🏢 Canadian Mental Health Association
📍 Nanaimo