Employment Opportunity: Outreach Support Worker

Part-time Employment Opportunity

Community Outreach Support Worker

Mental Health & Addictions

17 hours/week – Kaslo and East Shore (including travel and reporting time)

The objectives of this position are to assist persons living in Kaslo and East Shore who are diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illnesses such as Bi-Polar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Chronic and Persistent Depression with life skills supports; to maximize the potential of these Clients thereby enhancing the quality of their lives, and reduce hospital admissions or shorten their length of hospitalization.

Preferred qualifications and skills:

• possess good communication skills;
• are not goal-orientated to the exclusion of the Client’s comfort level;
• have knowledge of the signs and symptoms of decompensation;
• will seek assistance and report in a timely manner if they are worried about the Client’s well-being;
• have a good working knowledge of the Client’s illness and its effects on everyday functioning.

Required Qualifications:

• Current first aid certificate (training provided if needed)
• Criminal Record Check and adherence to a confidentiality policy will be required.
• Possess a valid BC Drivers Licence and reliable vehicle for client transportation

Work Environment

• Community and/or client home-based support
• Applicants must be able to confirm they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or to provide proof of an exemption.

Wage

 $ 25.76/hr

Please submit cover letter and resume by e-mail to: administrator@kaslo.services

Detailed job description on our website below.

This position is open until filled. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.

Job Description:

Community Outreach Support Worker for Mental Health and Addictions Clients

The objectives of this position is to assist persons diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illnesses such as Bi-Polar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Chronic and Persistent Depression with life skills supports; to maximize the potential of these Clients thereby enhancing the quality of their lives, and reduce hospital admissions or shorten their length of hospitalization.

Principles of Life Skills Assistance:

1. Contribute to the overall health of the individual and stabilize the environment as much as possible
2. To encourage the clients to be actively involved in the design of their own service and supports

Goals:

Thoughtful care plans will play an important role in the provision of life skills. It is important that the Community Outreach Support Workers:

1. possess good communication skills;
2. are not goal-orientated to the exclusion of the Client’s comfort level;
3. have knowledge of the signs and symptoms of decompensation;
4. will seek assistance and report in a timely manner if they are worried about the Client’s well-being;
5. have a good working knowledge of the Client’s illness and its effects on everyday functioning.

The goals for life skills services are:

1. To improve integration and stability in the community by supporting individuals to access or remain in acceptable housing in their own communities, if they so choose;

2. To work with Clients to accomplish activities of living that they cannot do independently;

3. To improve hygiene by encouraging and supporting individuals to do laundry, shower regularly and maintain their housing in a socially acceptable manner. This may include reminders to remove household garbage. Outreach Workers will work with Clients to avoid eviction or health and safety concerns (kitchen, bathroom and stoves to prevent fires), will clean for the Clients when they are unable to clean for themselves, e.g. as in times of relapse.

4. To assist with transportation thereby enabling social integration to prevent isolation and decompensation. Outreach Workers will provide transportation as necessary for essential grocery shopping, appointments with doctors, mental health case managers and for other necessary appointments such as income assistance.   In communities where public transportation is not available, initial support may also be provided to assist Clients to access social events or peer support activities.  Independence is to be encouraged wherever possible.

5. Assistance with meal preparation for Clients who are decompensating, as there may be a lack of knowledge or skills to safely prepare food. Outreach Worker may assist Clients to shop for and prepare food and instruct in the safe storage of food. Budgeting assistance can be combined with meal preparation and shopping.

6. Monitoring of medication compliance, if necessary, including education regarding the importance of medication.  It is important to note that Clients’ levels of functioning will vary and abilities will depend on the severity of the illness as well as the skill levels they attained before becoming ill. The ability to role model and to build a relationship based on trust and respect, being non-judgmental, accepting, and encouraging is all skills that the Outreach Worker must possess. The Outreach Worker must have the ability to be flexible, patient and have knowledge of symptoms of the illnesses as well as signs of decompensation. They seek to contribute to the overall health of the individual, be aware of the importance of routine, nutrition, medication, and access to appropriate health care for our Clients. This Worker also needs to be able to write narrative reports, which will become part of the Client’s file and be able to review with the Client’s Case Manager

7. Reporting as required.