Psychosocial Support Worker

Psychosocial Support Worker – Full Time

St. Thomas, ON (The Station- Queen Street)

Closing Date for Applications: June 2nd, 2023.

Position Description:  

As the Psychosocial Support Worker, you will come alongside tenants who have experience with mental health and/or substance use to optimize housing stability.  Offering support services that help individuals to flourish within their community.  Using a service plan, you will assist tenants to learn skill sets needed for independent living within community. Engage in a collaborative assessment process of tenant’s progress, helping them achieve their social inclusion and community development goals, focusing on purpose-filled planning and intervene in crisis situations. As part of an interdisciplinary team, you will also enhance community engagement, tenant-led initiatives, and develop a safe environment for our tenants to thrive.  This position will require a high level of resilience and willingness to work in close proximity to challenging situations.    

About Indwell:  We are a Christian not-for-profit charity that creates affordable housing communities and supportive programs to people seeking health, wellness, and belonging.  Founded in 1974, we continue to grow and thrive to build high quality energy efficient housing and inclusive living, uplifting our society.  Our belief is that every employee is a leader contributing to transform lives through HOPE and HOMES.  Being a part of our amazing team, you will be fulfilled working together with others who are genuinely invested in Indwell's mission to serve people impacted by poverty and homelessness.   
To learn more, go to: indwell.ca/our-model
 

Hours of Work:   40 hours per week.  Program hours expected to fall between 8am-11pm. Flexibility is required to meet program demands.  The program operates 7 days a week, including public holidays. Participation in the on-call schedule rotation is required.

Job Summary:  To utilize a variety of approaches and interventions to promote recovery within a site-based program as well as provide successful community integration experiences.  Provide individualized support and skill teaching in the community to encourage independence and facilitate community belonging.  Assist individuals in gaining access to needed psychiatric, medical, social, residential, financial, and other services appropriate for the individual. Support awareness and knowledge sharing with coworkers as part of an interdisciplinary team.  

Specific Duties for Indwell:  

• Attend trainings on recovery; psychiatric rehabilitation, trauma, supported employment practices, substance use and cultural competency.  Keep apprised of new research and developments in these areas through journals, web sites and literature to transfer knowledge to the team and tenants in the most effective manner available.  
• Assist tenants in gaining access to needed psychiatric, medical, social, residential, financial, and other services appropriate for the individual. Actively engage tenants in services including visits, appointments, programming, and activities within the community.  
• Connect tenants to community resources and peer supports to promote community integration and inclusion. Provide education on available treatment or support models available in the community, completing referrals when needed and preparing individuals for such connections.    
• Ensure all required documentation is completed in a timely, comprehensive, and legible manner and that health records are protected. 
• Consult and collaborate with all team members on a regular basis. The goal of the Psychosocial Support Worker role is to holistically support a tenant within an interdisciplinary team. Therefore, team approaches should always be considered. 
• Complete required assessment tools according to appropriate timelines.
• Coordinate, lead, and/or contribute to service planning for tenants.
• Take responsibility for a primary case load (either within a team-model or individual case-manager model) under the supervision of the Housing Support Team Lead and/or Program Supervisor  

Psychosocial Support Duties:  

• Assist tenants in developing and practicing the skills defined in their service plans in consultation with tenant and interdisciplinary team.  This may include accompanying tenants to appointments, leisure activities or other activities of interest including religious, educational, or vocational opportunities to provide support and encouragement. 
• Providing support with identifying early warning signs of mental health decline, developing coping, crisis, and safety plans and developing and facilitating psychoeducational, self-help groups through a biopsychosocial and psychosocial rehabilitation lens: facilitating tenants’ learning of coping skills to help handle stressful situations / environments and developing resources that reduce future stressors. 
• Championing the importance of skill development as part of an interdisciplinary team. This involves coming alongside the tenant in their goals; coaching independent living skills, coaching through appointment coordination, maximizing abilities to promote community independence, encourage tenants in maintaining good personal hygiene, self-confidence, and work with their social inclusion goals.  
• Strive to help reduce bias and stigma, while fostering social inclusion within program communities through program development and implementation.  
• Assist tenants to build relationships with external partners and supports. Facilitate referrals as needed to connect tenants to clubs, employment, vocation programs, and more. Focused on Informal partnerships and interest groups, the role will include supporting the tenant through participation, coordination, or other levels of support to assist with social inclusion in the external community. Coaching tenants to independently participate in their chosen communities.  
• Support will also address relationships with family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers. Examples of this could include conflict resolution education and coaching around how to be a good neighbour. 
• Participate in quality improvement and data gathering as assigned. Consult on effective service plan and assessment tool development when necessary.  
• Monitor, review and update the tenants support plans on a scheduled basis and revise the plan, as necessary, ensuring flexibility to meet the tenants’ needs.  
• Foster tenant-led initiatives within the program to encourage inclusion and purpose for tenants and the Indwell community.   
• Educate tenants on conflict resolution techniques that will develop skills for neighbour conflicts and further social inclusion within the Indwell program and larger community.  Working with tenants to improve the capacity of the community so that it becomes “physically, mentally healthier and a better-prepared community.” 
• Develop initiatives, programming, and support mechanisms to promote the value of safety within a community for tenants and for staff.     

Qualifications: Degree/diploma; lived experience.  

Salary:  $45,000-$53,500 annually based on education and experience. Indwell offers a competitive benefits package and RRSP contribution.  
  

To Apply: Please apply online with resume and cover letter at www.indwell.ca/careers. We thank all applicants, however only applicants that are being considered will be contacted. 

Personal information submitted will be used only for employment opportunities within Indwell in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act. 

Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under Indwell's Employment Accommodation policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.  
  
Indwell exists to provide hope and homes for all. Our supports, services, and employment are open to people from every creed, race, ethnicity, sex, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Indwell's leadership are motivated by the example of Jesus Christ as reflected in Indwell's statement of faith. Indwell engages with diverse communities; we actively identify and remove barriers that prevent people from accessing and participating in our services and organization.