Outreach Worker

**Overview**:
All Outreach Workers at Squamish Helping Hands form a core team that provides support, information, crisis intervention, and ensures the safety of program participants at Under One Roof. Outreach Workers employ best practices to reduce harm associated with substance use and engage with individuals to inform, refer, and support. Workers use a non-judgmental trauma-informed approach to enhance the knowledge, skills, resources and supports for individuals to be safer and healthier. All Outreach Workers work in accordance with the mission, values, and philosophy of the Squamish Helping Hands Society. Ultimately, we want to end homelessness and hunger in our community, and we feel we can only do that by meeting people where they are and helping them to create capacity building plans for themselves leading them to where they want to go. We are a community where we believe that everyone has something to contribute, and that consequences help inform our choices. Outreach workers help people to create an environment of choice toward improving health and wellness outcomes.

**In all focus areas outreach workers must be able to**:

- Build trusting and safe relationships with vulnerable community members through compassionate understanding and honesty.
- Provide tools, programs, opportunities, mentorships which support a capacity building approach where participants can be the drivers of their individual service plan and choices.
- Safely support people in crisis without judgement or personal bias.
- Provide Harm Reduction education and support.
- Provide emergency responses when needed.
- Meet folks where they are through authentic curiosity and understanding.
- Encourage folks to become active Peer Mentors and Witnesses.
- Provide information, referrals, support services, crisis intervention when needed.
- Maintain healthy boundaries while always taking a ‘how can I help?’ approach.

**Working with us you can enjoy**:

- An amazing, friendly, and emotionally intelligent team.
- A great community - Squamish is for the adventurous.
- Participation in Pension Plans.
- Extended Health and Dental Plan including disability insurance.
- Free meals on site.
- Casual dress policy.
- A well-developed training pathway.
- Ongoing clinical and training support.
- Lots of room for career growth.

**WHAT YOU NEED - EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE**
- Diploma level in Social Work, Community Social Services, or relevant discipline.
- Minimum two years previous experience working with homeless and at-risk individuals
- Valid Driver’s License.
- Preferred assets: Training in Housing First, Harm Reduction, Trauma Informed and Capacity Building Approaches; Crisis Intervention Skills; Conflict Resolution; Hostile Interactions/De-escalation skills. Current certification in First Aid/CPR mandatory.
- An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

**Skills and Abilities**
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team environment and with volunteers.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrated experience working with disadvantaged adults who are experiencing homelessness, substance use, mental health, or other barriers to independence.
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships within the community that will facilitate a continuum of care that is client-centered and that mobilizes resources to support agency programming.
- A working knowledge of community resources and the ability to liaise with service providers such as government agencies and community organizations to help others access support.
- Willing to work a flexible schedule to best meet the needs of the clients.
- Demonstrated ability to be open-minded and non-judgmental.
- Strong computer skills, working knowledge of common computer programs.
- Strong understanding of issues facing people with barriers and related knowledge of relevant services and programs available both locally and provincially.
- Demonstrated ability to take direction from others.
- Demonstrated ability to understand and maintain client/ worker boundaries.

We thank and acknowledge all applicants and will proactively contact those selected for an interview.

**Note that Squamish Helping Hands workplace currently falls under a Provincial Health Order that requires workers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19**

We offer competitive compensation based on experience.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

**Job Type**: Part-time

Pay: From $29.17 per hour

Expected hours: 32 per week

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule

Flexible Language Requirement:

- French not required

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift

**Education**:

- AEC / DEP or Skilled Trad