Addiction Treatment Worker

At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun

Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is

Concurrent Supportive Housing (CSH) works to provide addiction counselling and support to individuals living in a supportive housing environment. Addiction Treatment Workers within this program can expect to meet with participants in their home or communal space and involves traveling to different locations within the Waterloo Region. A housing first model, this program aims to support those actively seeking to make change to their substance use, as well as support those whose substance use may be affecting their ability to remain housed. Time with participants may involve psychotherapeutic, supportive and skill-based counselling depending on participants stage of change and individual goals. Motivation interviewing and harm reduction approaches may frequently be used.

Moving Forward (MF) is a program designed to support individuals identifying as female who are pregnant or parenting children under the age of 6. The Addiction Treatment Worker will support program participants by working collaboratively with the staff team to facilitate program related activities including the facilitation of groups.

The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub is a newly funded program aimed at addressing critical health and social needs in our community. The HART Hub will support individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction, offering services that include addiction treatment, housing support and collaborate care. The Addiction Treatment Worker will support program participants by working collaboratively with the staff team to facilitate program related activities including the facilitation of groups.

The HART Hub Supportive Housing team will operate a 12-bed transitional housing program where the focus is short-term housing and tailored support plans for individuals experiencing housing loss, with the goal of fostering addiction recovery and housing stability.

**Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) required.**

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Supervise the residence to ensure program guidelines are being followed (some programs)
- Establish and maintain a helping relationship with program participants while upholding appropriate professional boundaries
- Facilitate psychoeducational and Recreational Groups
- Provide support to program participants when accessing external providers including medical interventions as required
- Assess complex situations and make appropriate decisions independently and as part of a team including crisis intervention, risk assessment and safety planning
- Complete administrative and household tasks
- Maintain confidentiality in compliance with Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)
- Complete documentation and data entry in accordance with agency and legislative requirements
- Support with medication processes including communication with pharmacies and doctor’s, reviewing and creating necessary medication documents, and providing access to medication (some programs)
- Schedule and conduct random urine screen drug testing
- Work as part of a team including attending the team meetings, trainings and regular supervision meetings
- Participate in other program activities as required
- Support onboarding and training of new team members
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and training

**Job Specific Knowledge/Skills**:

- Sensitivity to and knowledge of issues relating to and impacting on all genders and marginalized populations
- Strong understanding of interpersonal skills and the ability to engage in meaningful conversations to develop rapport with individuals who use substances using a strength-based approach
- Knowledge of and training in substance use including associated health risks;
- Demonstrated capacity for accurate and efficient documentation and computer data entry
- Demonstrated ability to calmly problem-solve in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment;
- Strong communication and listening skills
- Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team
- Commitment to work with and support training of students, volunteers and new employees as required
- Group facilitation and management skills
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and training

**Education/Experience**:

- Minimum College Diploma or University Degree in Related Field of Study required (i.e. social services, social work, addictions, mental health, community development etc.)
- Knowledge and understanding of the complexities