Outreach Support Worker, Community Mental Health

Salary range: The salary range for this position is CAD $31.56 - $33.28 / hour Why Fraser Health?:
Fraser Health is the second largest health system in Canada with over 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers, and is the largest of five regional health authorities in British Columbia, providing hospital and community-based health services to nearly 2 million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

All new hires to Fraser Health must have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

Detailed Overview:
Reporting to the Care Coordinator, as a member of a Mental Health & Substance Use Services (MH&SUS) multidisciplinary team, the Outreach Support Worker provides outreach community based support services, assists in mental health and substance use treatment, provides life skills training, coaching, advocacy and support to clients experiencing mental health, behavioral, and developmental problems and to their caregivers/families, in accordance with an established plan of treatment/care. Motivates, assists, and instructs clients with the activities of daily living, reports clients' progress and condition, including reactions to medications.

**Responsibilities**:

- Observes, interviews and assesses client behavior to identify problems and needs, soliciting client feedback, inquiries, and complaints; responds to client needs as appropriate.
- Encourages and promotes independence and self-sufficiency for clients and their caregivers/families; develops short-term strategies to deal with various situations.
- Provides feedback and suggested recommendations to the treatment plans within established guidelines.
- Documents the care requested and progress made in the communications books; maintains client records.
- Reports regularly to the multidisciplinary team on the condition, behaviour, performance, progress, and care needs of clients and their caregivers/families.
- Provides support services, coaching and behavior modeling for the client and their caregivers/families to assist with the development of physical, social, emotion and life-skills, including all activities of daily living, interpersonal skills, meal planning and preparation, and household and budget management.
- Consults and works cooperatively with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the service and treatment process.
- Acts as an advocate for the client in dispute situations by responding to and/or coordinating response to problems regarding landlord-tenant issues, financial assistance, or accessing community resources and housing, and developing workable solutions that meet the needs of the client.
- Observes and supports individuals in appropriate medication management, in accordance with the plan of treatment/care and established policies and procedures.
- Observes and monitors clients in accordance with plan of treatment/care, assesses and responds in potential emergency or crisis situations in accordance with established procedures i.e. call 911. Provides feedback and recommendations to the treatment/care plan, including strategies to resolve situations, and referring for professional intervention, as required.
- Documents client progress to maintain permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.
- Participates in providing substance use treatment, home finding and general housing support (moving, packing, cleaning), individual and personal care services.
- Provides individual vocational supportive counseling and other work related supportive services.
- Maintains an awareness of community resources, including health care services, social, economic, recreational, employment, and educational services and resources, and other agencies and shares that information as required.
- Facilitates client attendance at appointments, programs, and services including escorting or accompanying client to appointments, and for shopping and leisure activities, including driving a vehicle. Participates in and supervises social and recreational activities as required.
- Teaches, demonstrates, models, and supports home maintenance and household management methods. Provides basic information to clients related to activities of daily living, e.g. housekeeping, yard maintenance, meal planning, and preparation, grocery shopping, and managing monthly living expenses.
- Ensures a safe and healthy working environment by observing universal precautions and infection control procedures; removing obvious hazards; reporting faulty equipment, accidents, injuries, and near misses; and adhering to and enforcing rules regarding safety.
- Participates in staff meetings, quality improvement initiatives, committees and in-services, and mainta