Outreach Worker

**Outreach Worker**

Regional Programs - Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO)

**Collective agreement title**: Outreach Worker

**Program**: Niagara Assertive Street Outreach - NASO

**Reports to**: Program Leads

**Work hours**: 0-35 hours

**Wage**: $24.60 - $27.90

**Terms**: Multiple positions available (P/T positions and F/T temporary contract to October 31, 2024)

About Gateway Residential & Support Services

At Gateway we believe in a community where all are offered respect, dignity, and hope for recovery. We believe in enabling people with mental illness to achieve the highest quality of life possible. The philosophy of Gateway Residential and Community Support Services of Niagara Inc. is rooted in a desire to serve others. We support and encourage the individual's right to independence, personal decision-making, and involvement in all aspects of planning, implementation, governance, and evaluation.

**Job Summary**

The Weekend Street Outreach Worker will establish a presence and build rapport with clients who are chronically homeless or at urgent risk of becoming homeless in the Niagara Region. Working in partnership with the Niagara Assertive Outreach Team, they will provide outreach case management which increases the effectiveness of a street-based response to facilitate engagement with individuals when and where they are most likely engaged; truly meeting the client where they are at. Focusing on weekend support, the weekend worker will provide support to the Niagara Region, focusing on the St Catharine’s and Niagara Falls Areas. Based on need through 211 calls, the weekend worker may be required to provide support in other cities in the region.

**Responsibilities**
- Street-based assertive outreach services, engaging people experiencing homelessness in locations they frequent
- Creative; meaningful engagement with people experiencing primary homelessness
- Assessment (including risk, needs, goals, and strengths)
- Case planning, implementation, evaluation, and review (to include relapse prevention, crisis resolution/contingency planning)
- Monitor, respond and address 211 calls over the weekend
- Referrals to appropriate accommodation resources and housing providers
- Facilitating access to physical and mental health support services
- Consideration for cultural and spiritual well-being
- Collaboration with substance-use harm reduction services and healthcare providers
- Collaboration with criminal justice system
- Collaboration towards social inclusion
- Person centered advocacy
- Reconnecting people with family, friends, and social support
- Ensuring the client is informed of Housing First philosophy
- Work in collaboration with the Niagara Assertive Outreach Team
- Provide coordinated case management to clients
- Attend, participate in all team/staff meetings or training as required

This position description reflects the general duties of the position, but it is not intended to be a detailed description of all duties that may be inherent in the position. The Street Outreach Worker may also be asked to perform other duties as required or assigned.

**Requirements**:

- Degree or diploma in social science or in Social Service Field
- One-year experience working with people experiencing homelessness
- One-year experience in the community mental health field and/or addictions
- Must be available to work a minimum of four (4) shifts per month
- Must have a valid G drivers’ license with a reliable vehicle and permission to carry rider attached with 2-million-dollar liability
- Valid First Aid/CPR Certificate and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training
- Knowledge of homelessness service system and outreach community resources
- Good organizational, problem solving, time management and prioritizing skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent interpersonal skills with good oral and written skills
- A well-defined sense of diplomacy, including solid negotiation, conflict resolution, and people management skills
- Computer literacy, including effective working skills of HIFIS, MS Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, and Outlook Calendar
- Understand and work within a person-centered approach, maintaining political and cultural sensitivity
- Strong morals and ethics, along with a commitment to staff and client privacy
- Demonstrated ability to function within and contribute to a fast-paced team environment
- Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional education
- Ability to monitor financial accountabilities
- Physically able to perform all assigned tasks
- Ability to work under mínimal supervision

**Work Conditions**
- Working directly with individuals living in poverty
- Working directly with individuals experiencing crisis, living rough or living in public spaces
- Working in a stressful environment where there are mental and emotional demands - a high level of unpredictable work that could include life threating situations
- Interacts with residents, family m