Outreach Support Worker, Community Mental Health

The salary range for this position is CAD $29.83 - $32.31 / hour

Why Fraser Health?

We invite you to apply today and find out why more than 95% of new employees recommend Fraser Health to their friends as an exceptional place to work. As a 2022 BC Top Employer, we value diversity in the work force and seek to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring & Trust.

Are you looking for that job that will allow you to help people while demonstrating excellent organization and communication skills? Do you take responsibility for your own performance and aim to model integrity, resilience and confidence? If you have answered yes, we want you to keep reading to discover our Casual Outreach Support Worker, Community Mental Health opportunity. In this role, you will join our Mental Health and Substance Use Services team located in Abbotsford/Mission B.C.

We are looking for a bright, pleasant person with an eye for detail to juggle numerous tasks in a busy environment and conduct business in a professional manner. With a thorough, hands-on approach to deliver high quality and precise work, you will carry a high level of integrity, discretion, and confidentiality. A focused approach is needed to complete routine day-to-day tasks and handle changing calendars, priorities, and timelines.

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

Effective October 26th 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to 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.

Curious to learn what it’s like to work here? Like us on Facebook (@fraserhealthcareers), follow us on Twitter & Instagram (@FHCareer), or connect with us on LinkedIn (fraserhealthcareers) for first-hand employee insights.

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

• Participates in providing substance use treatment, home finding and general housing support (moving, packing, cleaning), individual and personal care services.
• Encourages and promotes independence and self-sufficiency for clients and their caregivers/families; develops short-term strategies to deal with various situations.
• Provides direction to volunteers and assists with orientation of new staff and education experiences of students, as well as sharing expertise with other members of the team, 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.
• 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.
• Observes, interviews and assesses client behavior to identify problems and needs, soliciting client feedback, inquiries, and complaints; responds to client needs as appropriate.
• Participates in staff meetings, quality improvement initiatives, committees and in-services, and maintains up-to-date knowledge through involvement in work-related continuing education, as required.
• Reports regularly to the multidisciplinary team on the condition, behaviour, performance, progress, and care needs of clients and their caregivers/families.
• Documents client progress to maintain permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Provides individual vocational supportive counseling and other work related supportive services.
• Observes and supports individuals in appropriate medication management, in accordance with the plan of treatment/care and established policies and procedures.
• Documents the care requested and progress made in the communications books; maintains client records.
• Provides feedback and suggested recommendations to the treatment plans within established guidelines.
• 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.
• Consults and works cooperatively with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the service and treatment process.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Grade twelve (12) plus successful completion of the Community Mental Health Worker Certificate or Social Services Worker Diploma and two (2) years' recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Current CPR certificate. Current Food Safe certificate. Valid Class 5 BC Drivers Licence and access to personal vehicle with appropriate business insurance coverage.

Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of available programs, their interrelationships, and their function in delivering care in the community.
• Physical and ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to prioritize and organize client demands made and care needs.
• Ability to promote positive change and independence.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to teach life skills.
• Knowledge of legislation such as the Mental Health Act and the Guardianship Act.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Advocacy skills.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Sound judgment and good observation skills.
• Ability to problem-solve.
• Ability to demonstrate an appropriate level of initiative and independence.