Welcoming Streets Initiative Outreach Worker

**PROGRAM AREA**:Primary Health**:
**EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Regular, Ongoing**

**HOURS/WEEK: 35 hours per week, full-time**

**Our Vision**

Guelph CHC will be a leader in engaging the community to eliminate or reduce barriers to well-being resulting in improved health outcomes for all.

**Our Mission**

We reduce health inequities by providing inter-professional primary health services and community programs, focused on our priority populations, in collaboration with community partners.

**Our Values**

Innovation**, **Accountability**, **Person-Centred**, **Health Promotion**, **Excellence**, **Sustainability**, **Accessibility

Are you passionate about the Guelph CHC's Vision, Mission and Values and working with our priority populations who are: homeless or at risk of homelessness, low income, newcomers to Canada with language barriers, moderate to severe mental health and/or addiction issues, moderate to severe disabilities, without access to primary care, aboriginal communities, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, LGBTQ+ populations, other marginalized groups, and vulnerable children and their families experiencing violence, family conflict, social isolation and attachment struggles? If you are passionate about Guelph CHC's Vision, Mission, Values and priority populations and meet the below qualifications, we want to hear from you

The Welcoming Streets Initiative (WSI) began as a pilot in the spring of 2018, as a partnership formed between the Guelph Community Health Centre, the Guelph Downtown Business Association, and the Guelph Police Service to address safety concerns identified by business owners and the public related to at-risk and street involved individuals frequenting the downtown core. The program deploys Outreach Workers to provide support to businesses, ensuring that street involved individuals are supported and linked with the services they need; and ensuring that downtown Guelph feels welcoming for everyone.

As a WSI Outreach Worker your role will provide outreach services to the downtown area of Guelph to engage at-risk and marginalized individuals identified by business owners, police, and the public. As a member of the Guelph Community Health Centre's (GCHC) HUB team, the WSI Outreach Worker's core responsibilities include building positive relationships with small businesses in downtown Guelph, having a consistent presence in the downtown core, respond to calls from businesses, and support equity-deserving individuals to de-escalate, build positive relationships, and connect them to the services they need.

This position will be required to work during evening hours.

The WSI Outreach Worker will have the required qualifications:

- At least 2 years of front-line experience with outreach provision, crisis management, and working with people who are experiencing homelessness, mental health and addiction challenges.
- Experience in a retail, small business, restaurant setting an asset.
- Completed post-secondary education in a related field.
- Skilled at developing positive relationships with all community members, building trust with ease, and working to assist people experiencing crisis.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of an integrated, inter-disciplinary team, and have good organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Commitment to the Mission, Vision and Values of the Guelph CHC.
- Understanding of self-care and awareness of personal and professional boundaries when working with complex issues.

**PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES**
- ** Networking with Businesses/Community Resources**
- Build and maintain positive relationships with businesses in the downtown core by responding to business calls in a timely way, connecting with businesses through regular outreach efforts, facilitating educational workshops on related topics (i.e., overdose education and prevention, addiction), and partnering with businesses to offer innovative community development initiatives
- Build and maintain positive relationships with the Downtown Guelph Business Association (DGBA) by attending monthly meetings, communicating regularly, and responding to requests.
- Visit targeted areas, such as downtown businesses, libraries, community services etc. to provide information about the program and encourage referrals.
- Assist in the development of educational materials for business owners / community agencies
- ** Outreach Services**
- Deliver outreach services, including support, de-escalation, connection, and referrals in the downtown core.
- Respond to concerns identified by business owners, police, and the public by providing support and connection to clients.
- Visit targeted sites to connect with at-risk individuals and begin to build rapport.
- Facilitate linkages and provide information to individuals regarding primary care, addictions and mental health supports.
- Provide assistance in accessing food, housing, and financial assistance resources, as well as addiction