Practical Assistance Worker

**Title: Practical Assistance Worker**

**Location**: Kingston

**Reports to**: Primary Care Clinic Manager

**Position Type**: Fulltime, Permanent

**Start Date**: As soon as possible

**Rate of Pay**: $23.06 - $27.13 per Hour

**Position Summary**

As part of a multi-disciplinary team, the Practical Assistance Worker (PAW) assists and advocates for/with individuals and families in meeting their practical needs and connecting to health and community supports. Focusing on the social determinants of health, the Practical Assistance Worker finds solutions that assists clients with their day to day living. The Practical Assistance Worker assists complex clients facing barriers to care and provides outreach to marginalized community members, as necessary. This position is rooted in establishing connection between the client and community resources and supports to help address unmet social health needs (e.g. housing, income security, food security, transportation, literacy, and social isolation).

**Key Responsibilities** & **Detailed Responsibilities**

**Client Care & Support**
- Assist clients to secure resources for utilities and rent arrears, housing, medication, cost, personal identification, food, dental, and other areas as identified.
- Support social prescribing efforts by making internal and external referrals, connecting clients to organization and community resources, especially group programming.
- Provide individual support, resources and referrals to clients.

**Program Support**
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to identify the services needed for the clients, utilizing social determinants of health lens.
- Identify community and systemic issues and advocate for complex clients and families.
- Network with internal and community partners to ensure an optimal continuum of health and social service support for vulnerable people.
- Support social prescribing within the clinic team.
- Work closely with KCHC Community Development team to deliver the Getting Ahead program and offer Bridges out of Poverty training.
- Maintain records and data as required. Routinely compile, enter and report confidential data at agency and funder’s request.
- Provide written reports that outlines frequency of issues addressed and number of community members assisted.
- Ensure that all necessary reports are completed and submitted to the appropriate sources, meeting set deadlines.
- Participate in the planning of program evaluation initiatives.
- Promote awareness of and participation in KCHC activities and programs.
- Participate as a team member in all team functions; program planning, team meetings case conferences, committees and staff meetings.

Organizational Responsibilities
- Complies with all relevant legislation and KCHC policies, including privacy laws
- Commits to acquiring an understanding of the importance of trauma responsiveness and the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Commits to demonstrating an ongoing commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization and Accessibility (EDIIA) by representing the diverse nature of our communities, promoting and practicing inclusion
- Supports KCHC’s student and volunteer placement programs
- Promotes awareness of and participation in KCHC activities
- Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and quality improvement
- On occasion, perform other temporary duties as required

**Basic Education and Experience Requirements**
- College Diploma in social services or related field plus 1-2 years practical experience in community advocacy work OR equivalent experience
- Knowledge of community resources
- Awareness of provincial and federal privacy regulations and child protection legislation
- Well-developed organizational skills and above average attention to detail
- Current CPR and First Aid

**Competencies**

**Organizational Competencies**:Accountability, Client Focus, Collaboration, Continuous Learning

**Position Competencies**:Communications, Problem Solving, Relationship Building, Teamwork, Time Management

**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well within an interdisciplinary team
- Ability to function independently and as a team, within scope of practice
- Sound problem solving, conflict resolution and decision making skills
- Strong understanding of the social determinants of health
- Knowledge of issues affecting marginalized communities and the community resources that provide services and support to marginalized persons
- Knowledge and understanding of the local health and social service sector, government programs and current legislation that may affect clients
- Ability to treat all individuals with respect and interact in a tactful and supportive manner while maintaining professional boundaries
- Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and quality improvement
- Strong oral and written communication skills (French Bilingualism or proficiency in another language an a