Addiction Support Worker

Addiction Support Worker- Full Time
Cambridge, ON - 143 Concession St

Salary: $47,700 - $57,530

Position Description:  Reporting to the Program Supervisor, as the Addiction Support Worker you will be responsible to provide tenants with supports that help achieve health and housing stability. Working within the context of a collaborative interdisciplinary team reflecting the principles of person-centered and evidence-based care by assisting with coordinating and delivering mental health and addiction services to tenants. Providing or supporting in the treatment, rehabilitation, and support for individuals living in supportive housing. This program serves individuals who have experienced long term housing instability and/or long stay hospitalizations. This position will require a high level of resilience and a willingness to work in close proximity to challenging situations.   

What matters to you?  Being in a work culture that operates out of their core values of DIGNITY, LOVE and HOPE- embracing diversity, promoting equality and inclusion. Moved by your compassion and empathy to walk alongside others, hearing about their unique life journey to provide them with client centered care in developing their coping skills.  A place that sees you as a LEADER contributing your individuality to champion the vision of creating communities that TRANSFORM lives. 

About Indwell:   Founded in 1974, Indwell is a Christian charity that continues to thrive and grow exponentially as we serve people impacted by poverty and homelessness through our vision of HOPE and HOMES for All.   We are the fastest growing developer in Ontario creating affordable high quality efficient housing communities coupled with supportive programs to over 1,300 tenants to meet their needs of health, wellness, and belonging.   To learn more, go to: indwell.ca/our-model 

Hours of Work:  Full time- 40 hours per week- including evenings, weekends and some public holidays. Hours will be scheduled based on the support needs of individuals living in supported apartments.  As the program operates 7 days a week, being on-call for 1 week every 4 to 5 weeks is required to support the tenants and each other on the team. The on-call rotation consists of carrying a work cell phone 24/7 for that one week, responding to urgent matters.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:
 
Direct Support to Tenants

• Skilled in building therapeutic relationships with tenants with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, promoting hope and trust 
• Comfort and familiarity with a harm reduction approach
• Develop, contribute to, and carry out individual tenant support plans, including any relevant assessment tools as appropriate and ensuring consistent follow-up to treatment and recovery plans
• Hold responsibility for a primary case load under supervision of Program Supervisor
• Work individually with tenants to identify and achieve substance related goals as it relates to their individual support needs and recovery
• Support tenants to connect with community resources and supports, including both clinical and informal supports
• Encourage tenant connection to community-based, culturally meaningful programming
• Support tenants in issues related to maintaining their health and housing
• Reinforcing tenants’ life skills, including spiritual, social and coping skills
• As a representative of a faith-based organization, recognize and promote the role of spirituality and provide support and guidance as required
• Confident in utilizing crisis management and intervention skills
• Respond to tenant complaints/concerns with care, compassion, and efficiency
• Develop and facilitate relevant group programming to meet the needs of the community
• Assist with meal preparation and delivery as needed. Participate in dinner alongside tenants
• Assisting with admission and orientation of new tenants
• Maintaining a safe and healthy environment

Support, Direction, and Commitment to Interdisciplinary Team

• Support and build capacity within the interdisciplinary team around substance use and relevant tenant-centered approaches
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to assess specific program needs regarding substance use and other addictions
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide direct and indirect support to tenants, encouraging housing stability. These supports may include: medication administration, apartment checks, community events, and other supports as necessary
• Work with tenants to maintain a safe apartment; engage in life skills training as needed,
• Keep interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends related to best practices in addiction support for tenants
• Support and collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator to integrate program volunteers into addiction support activities. Complete volunteer logs as required
• Assist in the orientation and support of staff, students and volunteers
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and other agency meetings as required
• Maintain positive written and verbal communication
• Demonstrate positive relationships within the Indwell team
• Promote and demonstrate the vision, mission and values of Indwell within the workplace and community
• Keep apprised of new research and developments relevant to your role, through workshops, journals, websites, and literature. Transfer knowledge back to the team and tenants in the most effective manner available
• Follow applicable regulations, policies and procedures
• Work collaboratively with Facilities, reporting maintenance needs to ensure upkeep of buildings/ground
• Complete regular environmental checks, including requirements of the building’s Integrated Pest Management plan   

Health, Welfare and Safety Practices

• Use appropriate procedures when responding to emergency situations
• Ensure your own health & safety, that of tenants and co-workers by adhering to health & safety standards.
• Complete required safety checks and inspections as assigned
• Attend and participate in all required training to maintain and develop new skills

Documentation

• Complete required reports in a timely manner in accordance with policy and procedures
• Perform administrative tasks as assigned, such as rent collections and financial records
• Complete required documentation in a thorough and timely manner with a focus on maintaining and protecting tenant health records

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

• College diploma or bachelor’s degree with a focus on addictions
• Certification with CCACF is considered an asset
• Recent Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) with the information therein acceptable by Indwell to meet the operational requirements of the program- at one’s own cost
• Current Standard First Aid & CPR Certification from an approved provider that meets Ontario provincial standards or willingness to register for the training within 30 days of employment-reimbursement by Indwell
• Experience working in mental health and/or addictions, with harm reduction approaches to substance use
• Knowledge of concurrent disorders and of various addiction treatments/theories is required  

• Experience working within a case management framework with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use, or other special needs

• A client centered approach, using trauma-informed strategies to support residents
• A warm, sensitive and caring approach with a genuine interest in supporting a diverse population of people living with mental illness
• Demonstrated ongoing learning and experience around supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice, etc.)
• Strong communication, listening, interview and assessment skills, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving abilities

• Effective crisis intervention and conflict management skills
• Ability to work effectively in a high stress environment, work independently, be flexible, organized, responsible and take initiative
• Excellent written, verbal, time management and organizational skills
• A commitment to interpersonal collaborative teamwork and care and continuous professional development
• Familiarity with SPDAT/ the Ontario Common Assessment of Need is an asset
• Committed to upholding and modeling the standards set out in the organization’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, Code of Conduct and other operating standards and policies  

 We want you to thrive: 

• Vacation: 3 weeks paid with 8 HEAL days (sick and personal appointments) per year
• Extensive Benefits paid: Extended health (100% medication coverage- some exceptions may apply), dental and vision care.  Life Insurance and long term disability
• Employee Assistance Program- primary care and professional consulting services 
• Group RRSP: Indwells contributes 5% of salary

• New Staff Orientation Days
• Professional and Personal Development- annual Leadership Conference (themed with guest speaker) + Spiritual Ranch Retreat (reflection and recharge with various outdoor activities).  Cliffs Strengths Finder Assessment facilitated by People Developer for mentoring opportunities, Lunch and Learn Webinars, Indigenous Cultural Competency and 2SLGBTQ Awareness + more 
• Social Events:  Indwell’s Hope and Homes Banquet yearly to celebrate the important work we do + team gatherings

As Indwell works to support diverse tenant populations, we are seeking to create a diverse work culture that closely matches the diversity of our communities with qualified individuals who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives.  Our supports, services and employment are open to people from every creed, race, ethnicity, sex, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.  And we especially invite applications from Black, Indigenous peoples, members of racialized communities and intersectionalities.  Indwell’s leadership are motivated by the example of Jesus Christ as reflected in Indwell’s statement of faith.  

Inspired to JOIN OUR TEAM, we invite you… 

To APPLY:  Please forward your cover letter and resume to our website: www.indwell.ca/careers. We thank all for your interest; however, only those applicants that are being considered will be notified.  

Indwell uses AI-assisted tools in the hiring process with human oversight where final employment decisions are made by people. We are committed to using these technologies in a manner that is fair and transparent.  

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 to applicants who make their needs known in advance for the duration of the hiring process as required under Indwell’s Employment policy.