Unsheltered Support Worker

**Our Story**:
Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect and innovation.

This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.

**The Role**:
Provides client-centred, community-based crisis and system navigation services to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness who are street-involved, sleeping rough, or urban camping in Waterloo Region, to ensure connection to services and that basic needs are met. Provides supports following psychosocial rehabilitation, trauma and violence-informed care, and harm reduction models, while also prioritizing inclusion and support for diversity to create a safe, welcoming experience for clients.

Meets with people where they are at, and builds rapport and trust with individuals experiencing homelessness within the community. Provides client assessments, direct assistance/support, supports for housing, crisis intervention and stabilization, advocacy, and appropriate community linkages to clients accessing services.

**Duties/Responsibilities**
- Protects and promotes the welfare, dignity, and individual rights of participants at all times, understanding trauma and violence and the impact these have on participants’ lives and behaviours.
- Works with individuals who have acute/chronic addiction and/or concurrent issues. Provides triage, mental health and/or addiction assessment and screening, and counselling on site. Completes intake and risk assessments for crisis.
- Collaborates with and works alongside community agency staff and other support providers who are involved with the client to facilitate a coordinated approach to service. Acts as a direct liaison with primary care to facilitate withdrawal and supports as required.
- Coordinates and facilitates with participants to link them to recommended services and supports in the community. Advocates for, connects, and refers clients to appropriate housing services, supports, and resources (formal and informal), based on their needs. Accompanies clients to appointments.
- Facilitates counselling and psychoeducational interventions that support clients’ progress towards identified goals and enhanced overall health and wellbeing, particularly in relation to addiction and mental health. Follows program support guidelines and works collaboratively to develop and implement individualized client care plans to reflect client goals and help clients work towards them.
- Guides clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems. Helps clients identify their stage of change and goals for service. Has focused interactions and sessions on harm reduction, modification of behaviours, maintenance of change, or better management of conditions.
- Engages in crisis intervention as required. Provides health teaching and information on coping techniques and strategies (e.g., grounding, breathing techniques, self-care, nutrition, sleep hygiene) to enhance overall wellbeing, and completion of crisis plans.
- Evaluates clients’ progress on a regular basis and adjusts interventions as necessary. Engages Emergency Services when additional intervention is required.
- Has a p-card to purchases basic supplies as needed (e.g., food, bandages, blankets, water).
- Maintains timely, detailed, accurate records in electronic client management system, including the mapping and location identification of known and visited encampments.
- Assists in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of educational and outreach materials.
- Attends and participates in staff and group meetings, and case conferencing. Provides peer support and encouragement to other staff as needed, (e.g., assistance with challenging participants, coverage, sharing workload).
- Performs related duties as assigned.

**Knowledge, Skills & Abilities**
- Knowledge and skill acquired at a minimum through completion of a 2-year related post-secondary diploma training program (e.g., specific to mental health and social services, addiction counselling diploma or equivalent education) at a recognized college or university.
- Minimum 3 years of field experience (preferably including housing related experience) in mental health crisis support, individual and group counselling in addictions and mental health, and working with individuals experiencing homelessness and vulnerable populations.
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system and/or addictions services sector.
- Demonstrated knowledge