Life Skills Worker

Job description:

About Us:

The Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) is a rapidly growing Indigenous community-based organization, serving BC's largest urban Indigenous population of children, youth, families & Elders. Our Vision is to build a community of strong, healthy, successful Indigenous people connected to each other and to their roots by fostering their health & well-being through culturally relevant services, support, and advocacy

Why FRAFCA:

• Opportunity to work alongside cultural knowledge keepers & Elders;
• Chance to obtain program specific certifications;
• Holistic, culturally safe, approaches to serving our clients and community;
• Freedom to share and observe own cultural practices (i.e. smudging in the office);
• Parking available on-site;
• Extended Health Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Travel) and Employee Assistance Plan after 3-month continuous employment;
• Paid sick/personal leave days;
• Paid vacation days;
• Offices located along main transportation routes; main office by the Skytrain station.

while gaining valuable experience in the field of life skills training. If you are compassionate, patient, and dedicated to helping others reach their full potential, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding position.

Job Summary:

In accordance with the established vision and values of FRAFCA, reporting to the Wellness Program Manager, this position is a member of a multi-disciplinary Mental Health and Substance Use Team in a Complex Care Housing setting providing a comprehensive array of services within a psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) framework to adults with serious and persistent mental illness and/or within a harm reduction framework for those with substance use problems/disorders and who experience severe challenges in daily living as a result. This position will provide these services offering a variety of rehabilitative and treatment modalities inclusive of outreach, community and residential care.

As this position serves woman in need of support, who may have specific cultural and gender-based needs, preference will be given to female applicants,

Job Description

Role and Responsibilities:

1. Collaborate with the counsellors in the program to ensure additional support for clients, along with risk assessment and crisis intervention for individuals who experience severe challenges in daily living as a result of their mental illness and/or substance use problems/disorders. Reports sudden or unexpected changes in client status to coordinator / primary therapist / counsellor.

2. Participates in the development, coordination, implementation of a treatment plan via a PSR methodology for assigned clients as a member of the multidisciplinary team. Participates in a process of establishing priorities and outcome evaluation in case reviews by attending meetings, client care conferences and providing input on the individuals progress in achieving established goals, standards and outcomes in their mental health care.

3. Provides support that is inclusive of: access to food, housing, medical care, social/recreation activities, supported work and employment opportunities. Assists residents to develop skills related to personal care, nutrition, household management, money management and communication/interpersonal skills.

4. Participates in psychosocial rehabilitation and/or addictions recovery activities in the residence and/or in the community. Provides support and assistance to clients to develop natural supports in their community such as arranging for clients to be transported to programs/services, assisting clients to attend appointments, and implementing programs.

5. Supports, develops and maintains positive working relationships with all agencies and service sectors that provide services for those with mental illness and/or substance use problems/disorders.

6. Provides support and advocacy services, such as supporting clients in the legal system, refers clients to services and follow-up to ensure they are receiving the care that is required.

7. Maintains current records of clinical outreach activity, documents client perspectives, observations and activities that support client priorities by maintaining complete and accurate records as per established policies and procedures.

8. (Guide the clients to connect with the appropriate counsellor / therapist who would administer medication in accordance with the established policy

9. Identifies and assesses potential emergency situations and develops short-term strategies to handle appropriately, including actions such as applying suicide alertness and prevention skills, responding to overdose in accordance with established procedures, using first aid, assisting a client to access drug checking services, and assisting a client to access overdose prevention services.

10. Actively participate in FRAFCA events and team building

11. As part of a multidisciplinary team, and as outlined by procedural guidelines, provides support and follow–up services as part of the Opioid Agonist Therapy, Safe Supply, and Managed Alcohol programs.

12. Participates in "on-call" and "call-out" schedules to enhance and extend support activities for residents and families in the Complex Care Housing program.

13. Schedules clients visits according to established guidelines

14. Receives client feedback, inquiries and complaints and responds as required.

15. Attends team and staff meetings and education sessions as requested by FRAFCA

16. Contributes to the mentorship services for students as part of the curriculum for established and recognized institutions and schools offering programs and training in the field of Mental Health services.

17. Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training and Experience:

• Mental Health Worker Certificate or Human Services Worker Certificate or Addictions Worker Certification, two years recent, related experience working with individuals living with mental illness, and/or substance use problems/disorders; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Indigenous studies and cultural safety awareness
• Food Safe Level 1 Certificate, Basic First Aid Certificate, Non-violent crisis intervention training, Narcan training and Valid BC Driver's License.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to understanding and interpret the Canada Food Guide

• Ability to show sound knowledge of best practices in the areas of Mental Health, Addictions and Concurrent Disorders

• Ability to show sound knowledge of community resources and a willingness to work with a culturally diverse population.

• Ability to show sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Adult Guardianship, Patient Property Act and other relevant legislation pertaining to the needs of the Priority Population; knowledge of Addictions practices and of application of Mental Health and Addictions elements to concurrently disordered individuals.

• Experience working with indigenous organizations and an understanding of indigenous culture, traditions and lived history

• Strong practical goal/task, advocacy and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, to work independently with minimal direction, to take initiative, to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to establish/maintain satisfactory work relationships with the public and other employees (including the mentoring of students), to deal tactfully and effectively with co-workers, public and staff from other agencies.

• Demonstrated experience/willingness to learn how to work with multi-diagnosed individuals (addictions, mental illness, etc.).

• Knowledge of universal precautions to drug use.

• Personal suitability includes flexibility, openness, genuineness, resilience and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Ability to use intervention processes that are sensitive to age, income, gender, racial, and ethnic cultural issues, and disabilities.

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

• Demonstrated ability and competency in computer literacy.

• Ability to carry out the physical and mental demands of the position.

*Pursuant to S. 41 of the BC Human Rights code, preference may be given to Aboriginal Applicants.

We are committed to the National Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. FRAFCA is engaged primarily in promoting or serving the interests of Indigenous peoples, FRAFCA prioritizes employment to Indigenous peoples. Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants, unless that preference or employment would constitute a discriminatory practice under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent, Casual

Pay: $27.50-$28.74 per hour

Work Location: In person