Community Outreach Worker

**Title**: CAP Worker

**Hours**: Full-time: 35-44 hours per week

**Location**: 962 Bloor St West

**Supervisor**: Case Support Supervisor

**Sistering **is a multi-service agency for at-risk, socially isolated women and trans people in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed.** **Our harm reduction philosophy is a core element of all the work we do. We operate on a trauma-informed and relationship-based model.

Our programs include a low-barrier 24/7 Drop In, Housing and Case Support, Harm Reduction, Peer Outreach, on-site Medical Clinic, On the Path to Employment and Spun Studio social enterprise. During COVID our 24/7 Drop In runs as one of the City Respite Centres, providing essential services.

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The CAP Worker will provide support in recovery, outreach and accompaniment services. They will serve in a supportive role and provide information and peer support for the drop-in and community. The incumbent will provide a wide range of tasks to assist individuals in regaining control over their own lives and over their own wellness and recovery process.

The CAP Worker will have understanding and knowledge of mental health, homelessness and poverty. The incumbent should have a personal belief in recovery; a genuine hope and optimism that their peers will succeed and a sincere interest in the welfare of their peers. Furthermore, it is imperative to see each person as a unique individual; have a willingness to share their own recovery experience and an ability to engage people based in their level of receptivity and individual needs.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Program:_
- Accepting referrals from drop-in, housing, case support and harm reduction teams within the organization of individuals with mental health and addiction issues who require and desire on-going support in the community.
- Providing individual support to the most vulnerable clients and preparing the Drop-In for its daily activities as needed.
- Notifying staff of crises or conflicts between members.
- Working with staff team to identify members requiring individual support by developing strong relationships within the drop-in.
- Providing information, assistance and referral to members on issues affecting their daily lives, such as housing, welfare, health, employment and issues related to substance use.
- Advocacy and Community Building:_
- Advocating on behalf of the client group for issues faced by low income or homeless adults.
- Providing support to members through home visits.
- Accompanying individuals to a wide range of appointments, e.g. court, medical appointments, prison visits, etc.
- Administrative:_
- Referring and linking individuals to appropriate community resources.
- Working as part of the overall Sistering staff team, attending meetings and training as directed.
- Assisting in orientation of new employees to help staff understand and accept the concept of recovery and be supportive of a peer culture that promotes recovery.
- Compiling and maintaining statistics, records and other documentation as required; gathering anecdotal information for reports and proposals and assisting with report preparation.
- Recommending and creating policies and guidelines related to of mental health, homelessness and poverty that take into account legislation, best practices and organizational needs; Working with relevant departments to implement recommendations

**Other duties as assigned**

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Mandatory:_
- Knowledge is required of the types of issues facing a diverse population of disadvantaged adults in a multi-cultural community, including: anti-oppression, anti-discrimination, anti-racist, and harm reduction efforts
- Understanding of life skills coaching, crisis intervention, trauma informed counselling and group facilitation sufficient to facilitate program activities.
- Knowledge of mental health, homelessness, poverty, social isolation and First Nations issues, as may be obtained through education and training in Human Services in addition to “lived” experience and/or two years’ experience in front line community work with the client population.
- Experience working from a harm reduction model, with specific experience related to mental health and addictions
- Other Qualifications:_
- Interpersonal, and verbal skills in order to interact with participants with an ability to assess and deal quickly with issues or situations which may be volatile particularly if the member is under the influence of intoxicants or illnesses.
- Knowledge of the community based services available and of how to work with these services in order to refer members of the Drop-In.
- Ability to facilitate accompaniments & advocacy is required.
- Ablity to prioritise a number of multiple tasks in order to provide a quick response.
- Strong team building skills;
- Basic administrative and computer skills
- Knowledge of database and word processing software,
- Weekly travel for outside meetings, visits and accompaniments and occa