Support Worker

Have you worked with individuals experiencing mental health barriers, homelessness, and poverty in the past? Are you a person with lived experience looking to contribute to the learning and growth of another? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment? If so, this role may be for you

Who We Are

The Alex is a beacon of hope for Calgary's most vulnerable citizens, offering wrap-around health care, housing, social, and wellness programs. With a patient and client-centered approach, we envision a community where every individual is valued and empowered to thrive. Our mission is to improve quality of life through accessible and integrated health, housing, and social services. With five decades of experience, we have earned a reputation for tackling tough health and social issues, guiding individuals on their journey from crisis to wellness, and from challenge to change.

Abbeydale Place is a 24/7, low-barrier Place-Based Supportive Housing (PBSH) program that provides safe and stable housing to adults with a history of homelessness and a high level of vulnerabilities due to concurrent health disorders. Our philosophy is that everyone is entitled to appropriate housing and the supports they need to sustain that housing. We deliver our services within an Intensive Case Management model and adhere to the principles of harm reduction, housing first and strength-based practice. Our residents range from 18 – 70+ years, with tri-morbidity, polysubstance use, and cognitive barriers to independent housing (such as brain injury, dementia etc.).

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Support Worker plays an integral role within the team and contributes to the program's success by promoting resident wellbeing, meaningful engagement, skill building, and independence within our PBSH program.

This is a permanent, full-time position. Standard hours are 10:00 pm to 6:00 am, Monday to Friday.

What You Will Do

Resident Care and Engagement

• Support residents with their daily needs, including care plans and service plan goals.
• Support and engage residents to develop/strengthen independent living skills in one on one and group settings.
• Support residents with transportation needs to medical appointments, meetings with service providers and other social outings as required.
• Design and facilitate group and individual programming for residents focused on areas such as recreation, harm reduction, skill building, cultural connection and wellbeing, including creating documents and resources as needed.
• Provide ongoing support to residents, including crisis management, de-escalation and conflict resolution.
• Complete hourly checks of the building to ensure the safety of all residents and respond appropriately.
• Support with new intakes by ensuring that vacant rooms are cleaned and set up for new residents, as needed, including submitting maintenance requests and ordering supplies as required.
• Adhere to the code of ethics.

Administration

• Write clear, concise, and objective case notes.
• Adhere to the standards set out in the program procedure manual.
• Complete program supply orders and program purchases as needed with the support of the Team Lead.
• Assist with completing online grocery orders for meal services as needed.
• Assist with data collection and entry as directed.
• Act as a support to the case management team by assisting with administrative tasks.
• Complete additional administrative duties as required.

Shift Responsibilities

• Ensure daily cleaning and shift duties are completed to ensure safety and cohesive program delivery.
• Assist with maintaining a clean and organized office space.
• Provide medication assistance to residents as needed.
• Complete medication deliveries.

Team

• Participate and engage in training and team meetings as needed.
• Collaborate with community partners in a positive and professional manner as required.
• Maintain staff and resident confidentiality and clear boundaries at all times.
• Represent the program and the agency in a professional manner.
• Work collaboratively with all team members to achieve excellent service outcomes for participants.
• Model professional behaviour and positive communication with residents, volunteers, staff, and partners.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• Degree or Diploma in a related field of study (ex. social work, psychology, recreation therapy) is an asset, or equivalent work experience.
• Excellent group facilitation, interpersonal, communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience with place based supportive housing and crisis intervention is an asset.
• Experience working with residents experiencing mental health barriers, homelessness and poverty is an asset.
• Demonstrated effective communication, organizational, advocacy, teaching, and rapport building skills.
• Non-judgmental, patient, friendly, and professional.
• Ability to multi-task in fast-paced environment.
• First Aid (either Standard/Intermediate or Emergency/Basic) - Level C CPR within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is preferred.

Work Environment and Hours

• Primarily works out of Abbeydale Place in Calgary, AB.
• 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours/week)
• Standard hours are 10:00 pm to 6:00 am, Monday to Friday.
• Continuous extended periods of sitting, with some standing and walking.
• Occasional physical action requires the ability to climb and carry objects up flights of stairs throughout the shift, and to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel, and carry objects (more than 20Ibs).
• Occasional time outside in all weather conditions.

What We Offer

Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:

• 3-weeks' vacation
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Health / Wellness Spending Accounts
• RRSP, Student Loan Repayment and/or Mortgage Accelerator Program (up to 5% match)
• Personal Days
• Floating Holiday
• Sick/Wellness Days
• Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
• Professional Development

Working Conditions

This position requires frontline staff, in some cases, to be exposed to emotionally disturbing events, such as medical distress, threatened/actual serious injury, violence, abuse, and death. There may also be exposure to situations where clients may be experiencing fear, terror, hopelessness, rage, self-harm and conflict. It is understood and accepted that this position will be working in distress/high-stress situations, which may include emergency response where resiliency, stress tolerance, and the ability to maintain composure is imperative. This position may also be exposed to bodily fluids. The health and safety - both physical and psychological- of our employees is a priority. The Alex is focused on providing a safe, supportive and healthy work environment.

How to Apply

If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people's lives, please visit our career centre: Jobs at The Alex | The Alex.

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will make every effort to accommodate candidate's schedules and needs in all parts of the hiring process.

The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.

In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

• The term "racialized" is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms "racial minority, "visible minority", "person of colour", or "non-White".

For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website

Monday to Friday: 10:00 pm to 6:00 am