Outreach Support Worker, Integrated Homelessness

Why Fraser Health?:
If you are someone who empowers individuals to engage and connect within their communities, we want you to consider our challenging opportunity that is equally as rewarding. We are currently looking for a **Casual Outreach Support Worker **to join our dynamic Integrated Homelessness Action Response Team (IHART) and provide services in the Fraser East region including the areas of **Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission and Hope.** We hire great people for outstanding jobs and need your help to expand the ability to deliver prompt and professional service.

The
**IHART (Integrated Homelessness Action Response Teams)** provide integrated, coordinated health services to members of our population who have inadequate or unstable housing. Utilizing a hands-on and direct approach of meeting individuals where they are currently situated means that IHART connects with individuals who are unsheltered, in shelters, in homeless encampments, and/or supportive housing environments. IHART is comprised of multidisciplinary teams capable of responding to health, mental health, and substance use issues including health promotion and prevention. Teams will also support continuity of care by providing cohesive linkages to primary care, and Specialized Community Services Programs (SCSP) such as Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams and specialized care services focused on seniors. IHART addresses a broad spectrum of health care concerns, including new and chronic conditions, by enabling supportive wrap-around care for those greatest in need and who have, historically, had the least access to services due to inadequate or unstable housing.

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations, and is home to six Métis Chartered Communities. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

Effective October 26th 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

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Detailed Overview:
Reporting to the Manager or designate, as a member of the Integrated Homelessness Action Response Team, the Outreach Support Worker provides outreach community-based support services, assists in mental health and substance use treatment, provides life skills training, coaching, advocacy and support to clients experiencing mental health, behavioral, and developmental problems and to their caregivers/families, in accordance with an established plan of treatment/care. Motivates, assists, and instructs clients with the activities of daily living, reports clients' progress and condition, including reactions to medications.

**Responsibilities**:

- Observes the client during interviews and assesses their behavior to identify problems and needs, solicits client feedback, inquiries, and complaints; responds to client needs as appropriate.
- Encourages and promotes independence and self-sufficiency for clients and their caregivers/families; develops short-term strategies to deal with various situations.
- Provides feedback and suggested recommendations to the treatment plans within established guidelines.
- Documents the care requested and progress made in the communications books; maintains client records.
- Reports regularly to the multidisciplinary team on the condition, behaviour, performance, progress, and care needs of clients and their caregivers/families.
- Provides support services, coaching and behavior modeling for the client and their caregivers/families to assist with the development of physical, social, emotion and life-skills, including all activities of daily living, interpersonal skills, meal planning and preparation, and household and budget management.
- Consults and works cooperatively with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the service and treatment process.
- Acts as an advocate for the client in dispute situations by responding to and/or coordinating response to problems regarding landlord-tenant issues, financial assistance, or accessing community resources and housing, and developing workable solutions that meet the needs of the client.
- Observes and supports individuals in appropriate medication management, in accordance with the plan of treatment/care and established policies and pr