Do you have a passion for working with those who are going through significant substance use and/or mental health issues? Do you want to work with a multidisciplinary team that offers support services in evidence-based Assertive Community Treatment? If so, this position may be for you!
Job Overview: Reporting to The Clinical Team Lead, the Registered Nurse (RN) is a key member of the Pathways ACT Team. The RN is responsible for providing medical interventions to support program participants to achieve health and housing stability while reintegrating into the community. Some of the interventions provided by the RN include assessment, treatment, education, orientation, referral, urgent response, and triage for program participants. Furthermore, the RN contributes to a wide range of needs and is responsive to ACT Team duties. This is a permanent, part time position.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Philosophy
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Offer culturally sensitive services where indicated
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Uphold the principles of ACT Model, Harm Reduction, Housing First and Trauma Informed Care
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Understand the Residential Tenancy Act, Mental Health Act and Community Treatment Orders
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Understand and follow program policies and procedures
Administrative
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Complete monthly evidence-based assessment tools with program participants and required data entry
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Create, implement and update participant-centered service plan goals, safety planning, housing support plans
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Complete administrative tasks, workflow processes, and task tracking to ensure the timely and effective completion of nursing responsibilities
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Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and respective of professional college requirements
Participant Care
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Provide single-staff, assertive outreach services to individuals with significant mental health and addiction concerns (predominantly Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective and Bipolar Disorder)
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Support program participants who experience acute, severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders
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Provision of nursing care (e.g., nursing assessments, management and administration of medication, adherence to Community Treatment Orders, etc.) in collaboration with the Housing First Medical Clinic
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Perform assessments, offer health education, engage in illness prevention, and connect participants to health resources
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Perform laboratory procedures and prepare specimens for transfer according to policies and procedures
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Maintain a comprehensive understanding of crisis management and the impact of trauma on mental health and addiction issues
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Willingness to teach and support participants in their suites and community settings with daily living skills (e.g. cooking, cleaning, financial literacy, grocery shopping, budgeting, laundry, etc.)
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Help identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and work alongside program participants to reduce the likelihood of eviction, including supporting with regular unit inspections
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Accompany and/or provide transportation support to external appointments and assist with activities of daily living as required
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Advocate for the rights of program participants
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Aid participants with systems navigation, including justice, financial, and health care system(s)
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Assist participants with obtaining and maintaining income supports
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Assist program participants with rent payment and rental arrear payment plans as needed
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Understand and support participants with medication assistance as required
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Demonstrate strong crisis support and de-escalation skills
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Facilitates staff naloxone training
Team
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Demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills, including active listening skills
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Actively participate in daily team meeting, medical meetings and case planning meetings
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Demonstrate initiative and an ability to work as an influential member of a team under minimal supervision, supporting colleagues as needed
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Display a high degree of professionalism as well as collaborate with partner agencies
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Welcome and provide ongoing feedback to promote a healthy workplace environment, strong team cohesion and exceptional program delivery
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Commitment to contributing positively to team culture
Qualifications and Experience:
Required:
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A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
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Current active practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA)
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Minimum two years of experience as a Registered Nurse
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Comfort meeting individually with participants in the community, in a broad variety of settings, with a safety-first mindset
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Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills
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Willingness to support participants with housing needs (e.g. safely lift household items within your ability, support with teaching independent living skills, etc.)
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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
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Class 5 driver’s license and personal vehicle for business use, clean drivers abstract, plus $2 million liability coverage
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A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance
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Knowledge of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC) 94 Calls to Action is considered an asset
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Willingness to work within anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks and actively engage in ongoing learning about these frameworks
Preferred:
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Specialized training (e.g., wound care, phlebotomy, administering depot injections, knowledge of addiction medicine, familiarity with Community Treatment Orders, etc.)
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Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, substance use disorder, etc.).
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Strong knowledge base of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
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Understanding of Housing First and Harm Reduction
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Knowledge of evidenced-based interventions (e.g., motivational interviewing, de-escalation skills, crisis intervention, etc.)
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Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility
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Strong initiative in times of limited supervision
Working environment and hours:
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Location: Main Building (2840 2nd Ave SE)
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Predominately outreach; single staff visits in program participant homes
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0.6 FTE (22.5 hours/week)
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Standard hours 8:30 – 4:30, Monday to Friday, the possibility of participating in rotating 24/7 on-call support
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Continuous extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking (sometimes up or down stairwells)
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Frequent driving as part of work duties
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Occasional physical action requiring the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (up to and over 20Ibs.) throughout shift
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Frequent time outside in all weather conditions
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.
Driving on behalf of The Alex:
This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes. Candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract. Candidates must also agree to maintain $2 million liability insurance on their personal vehicle, and consent to the possibility of an annual driver's abstract review to meet our insurance provider’s requirements. Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with the CRA guidelines. Driving a fleet vehicle at The Alex also requires that candidates are at least 25 years of age.
About The Alex: 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.
Program Overview: Pathways to Housing is an evidence-based Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program guided by Housing First and Harm Reduction principles. Pathways to Housing supports participants with a primary psychotic illness (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, and bipolar II disorder with psychotic features), a history of chronic homelessness, and capacity for independent living in scattered site housing. Our interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, physicians, nurses, mental health therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, recreation therapists, housing, and administrative staff collaborate to support program participants to achieve stable housing, pursue greater overall health and wellness, reintegrate into community, and to move towards recovery.
Benefits:
Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:
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3-weeks’ vacation
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Sick/Wellness Days
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Personal Days
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Floating Holiday
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Medical and Dental Coverage
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Employee Family Assistance Plan
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Health or Wellness Spending Accounts
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RRSP and/or Student Loan Repayment Program (up to 5% match)
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 at www.thealex.ca
