Veteran Outreach Worker

**About the organization**:
The John Howard Society of Victoria is a dynamic, innovative social service organization that strives to create safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all. Our goal is to help individuals achieve greater independence by providing support with housing, life-skills, education, employment, and community-based services.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Outreach Worker will help develop, implement, maintain, and evaluate a support program for Veterans experiencing homelessness or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. The Outreach Worker will act as the main point person for the program and will be responsible for the creation, intake, processing, evaluation, and monitoring. The Outreach worker will ensure that the goals of the program are met while providing a high level of customer service.
- Identify, work with and secure housing for veterans.
- Provide veterans with wrap-around services.
- Provide effective support and assistance to Veterans needs as identified.
- Support Veterans as a direct source of information, check-ins and problem-solving, and ongoing case management.
- Assist Veterans in completing Veterans Affairs forms, connecting them with existing mental health, legal, and cultural support services and any additional needs.
- Being able to adapt to new changes and pivot when needed.
- Conduct outreach activities, such as organizing and participating in community events, workshops, and presentations to raise awareness for veterans to other agencies.
- Build relationships with community agencies/ members, stakeholders, and service providers to foster collaboration and support for veterans.
- Maintain accurate records and documentation of case management, outreach activities, including contact information, referrals, and outcomes.
- Able to maintain case management including case notes on digital case management system.
- Someone with a passion for and interest in working with vulnerable veterans.
- Work closely with the veteran’s counsellor to ensure collaborative care.

**Skills and Abilities**:

- Ability to effectively manage a caseload.
- Work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
- Outcome driven to ensure organizational and contractual requirements are met.
- Proven communication and conflict resolution skills.
- Outstanding organizational, coordination, administration, and time management skills.
- Demonstrated experience collecting program statistics and delivering reports, utilizing software and tools when appropriate.
- Ability to develop and maintain rapport with internal and external stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with computer programs including Excel and Word.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information, possessing strong integrity.

**Qualifications**:

- Post-secondary education, preferably in the human/social service field.
- Two (2) years of experience working in the community social services sector.
- Demonstrated knowledge of income assistance and affordable housing programs for Veterans.
- Knowledge or experience working with Veterans Affairs is an asset.
- Lived experience as Veteran is an asset and/or able to demonstrate awareness of military culture and understanding of the unique challenges veterans experience after release.

**Work Expectations**:
This job description provides an overview of the duties and responsibilities for this role but does not list every task within it; all tasks and job requirements will be within the framework and context of this job overview.

Hours of work will be **37.5 hours per week**, Mon to Fri and can vary between 8:00 and 16:00. Most tasks for this position are completed during the workweek, however occasional evening, weekend work may be required.

**How to Apply**: