Community Worker

**Position**: Community Worker

**Salary**: $48,880 to $51,934

**Schedule**: Full-time; M-F, 11am-7pm (F 9-5) or Tu-Sa: 11am-7pm

**Service Location**: SMHTO East Hub Day Program, Coxwell and Danforth

**Position Description**: The Community Worker works directly with program participants in the East Hub Day Program as part of a team of CWs who work together to facilitate access to services, complete intakes with new participants, maintain the security of the program, managing the door and external areas around the building, assisting participants with access to food, bathrooms and other basic needs, as well as providing accompaniment where needed to other Hub services. The Community Workers also work with their case manager, counsellor, and psychotherapist colleagues in the provision of day program services. The CWs activities are focused on safe access to the program, identification of participant needs and issues, provision of advice, referrals, support, life-skill building activities, and supporting service users in accessing opportunities for needed services.

The Day Program is part of The East Toronto HART Hub, which provides evidence-based healthcare, treatments, social services, and housing support for individuals struggling with drug use, mental health, housing and other related issues. The Hub is an initiative of East Toronto Health Partners Ontario Health Team (ETHP OHT) led by South Riverdale Community Health Centre and St. Michael's Homes with support from Anishnawbe Health Toronto, Gerstein Crisis Centre, The Neighbourhood Group, Michael Garron Hospital, Alpha House, Fontbonne Ministries, The Salvation Army, Woodgreen Community Services, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, Comprehensive Treatment Clinic, and The Neighbourhood Organization.

Among the key roles of the Community Health Worker are:

- Opening and closing the center to maintain a welcoming, safe and clean environment.
- Welcoming and supervising participants, including assisting new participants.
- Proactively engaging participants to provide counseling, crisis intervention and support.
- Preparing and implementing program activities.
- Intervening in times of conflict and modelling strong social skills at all times.
- Taking turns with other CHWs to, acting as the door person, manage the outdoor area around the program and in the building.
- Assisting participants with referrals via phone, in writing, and in-person.
- Occasionally accompanying service users who need to access Hub services in another location.
- Advocating on behalf of participants with external social service and health providers.
- Completing attendance and collecting statistical information.
- Helping service users with access to basic needs provided on site, such as food and bathrooms.
- Participating in maintenance and up-keep, such as tidying up, cleaning the facilities, etc. as a shared staff team responsibility.
- Contributing to a cooperative and effective team.
- Participating fully in community meetings, staff meetings and offer suggestions for program enhancements.
- Complete required organizational training as well as training specific to the CHW role.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**
- Knowledge and experience with issues related to mental health, substance use, concurrent disorder, trauma and recovery.
- Knowledge and understanding of low threshold/drop-in/day program services.
- Knowledge of the spectrum of supports for substance use and mental health recovery.
- Understanding and commitment to health equity, diversity and inclusivity.
- Skilled in managing individuals who are anxious or escalated, including strong crisis de-escalation skills.
- Experience and skills working with individuals affected by poverty, violence, homelessness, institutionalization (incarceration), stigma, racism and/or homophobia/transphobia.
- Knowledge of the impact of social/cultural/economic factors on the determinants of health.
- Knowledge, understanding and sensitivity to the complexity of issues arising for individuals who have experienced homelessness, mental illness, poverty and/or addictions.
- Ability to work collaboratively within and across interdisciplinary teams and community partners.
- Ability to work with clients presenting with a wide range of mental health issues.
- Demonstrated flexibility, sound judgment, initiative and creativity.
- Demonstrated capacity to thrive and engage in a dynamic and changing work environment.
- Experience working within an anti-oppression and trauma informed framework.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience working in a residential setting is an asset.

**Qualifications**:

- College Diploma in a related field OR equivalent education and related work experience.
- Demonstrated experience in mental health and/or addictions work, supportive counseling and brief intervention.
- Demonstrated experience in motivational interviewing.
- Demonstrated experience with cris