Iom Navigator

Are you a strong collaborator, interested in a dynamic and inspiring role? Join our HELP Team_

The Mustard Seed is seeking a Social Navigator to join the HELP (Human-centred Engagement and Liaison Partnership) team. The Navigator will be responsible for supporting and working directly with clients, in collaboration with the Edmonton Police Services Detectives to develop appropriate case management strategies for each individual. This position is an essential position that will assist the offender with their willingness to participate in desistance of criminal behavior in the Edmonton community.

Position Type: Full time
Schedule: Rotational
Reporting to: HELP Manager
Location: Edmonton
Number of Positions to Fill: 1

***PROGRAM**:
The Human-centered Engagement Liaison Partnership (HELP) is an initiative by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) to partner with social agencies to reduce the overrepresentation of vulnerable and marginalized community within the judicial system. The program works by having frontline social agency workers (navigators) partner with uniformed EPS members, deploying to calls for service within a fully integrated model.

The overarching goal of HELP is to divert the vulnerable and marginalized community members away from the justice system by first identifying the absent basic needs of that individual and to then navigate them to the appropriate resource. This will help reduce the likelihood of them coming to police attention again whilst increasing their well-being, quality of life and social determinants of health.

**ROLE OF A NAVIGATOR**:
Working in tandem with their EPS partner, navigators will assess referrals made by frontline police officers and assist them in supporting vulnerable people, either through information sharing and problem solving with the police member, or by directly working with the vulnerable person on a case plan and assisting with service coordination and system navigation.

Navigators work intensively in a small team consisting of a variety of social service workers and EPS members; engaging regularly with both government and non-government agencies. These include: Edmonton Crown Prosecution Service, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton Remand Centre, Government of Alberta, and a multitude of non-government (social) agencies.

**Primary Areas of Responsibility**:
**Offender Case Management (65%)**
- Integrates Diversion & Desistance’s mission and vision into the development and implementation of client-centered case management plans.
- Collaborate with the unit’s RSW and sworn members to complement EPS’s case management/supervision strategies for social support and resources for high-risk clients by identifying the clients Risk Need Responsivity and Criminogenic Needs.
- Ongoing case management with the clients to foster coordinated and timely services that meet the client’s basic needs.
- Ongoing response along with consultation and collaboration with multiple professionals and agencies within the community to develop effective safety and support systems for clients as well as the public.
- Work with clients who are incarcerated to implement reintegration plans to ensure smooth transition back into the community.
- Engage directly with clients both in person and/or via telephone, on and off-site.
- Attend daily meetings to discuss various clients, locate clients, and provide client updates to Detectives on a timely basis.
- Provide regular reports on progress and case management.
- Ensure ongoing follow up for clients by connecting with various agencies to ensure completion of tasks
- Report to Diversion and Desistance Admin Sergeant and Team Lead on daily activities and whereabouts.
- Provide support during crisis intervention should a client be in distress and report immediately to Detective or Patrol.
- Prioritize tasks, take initiative and maintain flexibility in case plans with timely documentation of same
- In collaboration with the assigned EPS Detective, the Navigator would be responsible for the execution of social case management decisions that would relate to the client’s housing, education, employment, addictions treatment, mental and physical health status while following basic RNR principals with respect to the clients specific criminogenic needs. These decisions would be in considerations of the client’s needs and be balanced with public safety concerns.

**Documentation & Reporting (20%)**
- Document assessments, services rendered, client outcomes, so that records are accurate and adequate.
- Ensure documents and client files are complete, organized, and up to date, as per Diversion & Desistance business rules.
- Prepare and maintain accurate, timely and complete file documentation on the designated EPS system and submissions in the professional community, in accordance with the EPS file expectations.
- Submit weekly highlights and/or reports as required.
- Provide input into program evaluation upon request.
- Improve overall syste