Job Description

Organization

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta South Region's (CMHA, ASR) mission is to support individuals in their unique mental health journey. We do this by making connections, delivering programs, being an advocate, improving systems and sharing our expertise.

Program Information

Adaptive Case Management (ACM) program offers client directed, flexible support and financial assistance to secure and sustain market housing and support overall health and wellbeing. ACM receives referrals through the Integrated Coordinated Access (ICA) system and the Integrated Coordinated Access Partnership (ICAP) to help individuals and families who are actively seeking shelter or have a pending eviction notice, arrears, or living in unsafe/uninhabitable housing.

ACM provides information and referrals for wrap-around support to access other service providers in Lethbridge in order to meet the needs of clients including the development and ongoing support for completion of individualized service plans with short and long-term goals towards self-sufficiency.

Position Summary

The Adaptive Case Manager is responsible for assisting participants to find and maintain suitable housing and achieve an optimum quality of life. Primary roles of the Adaptive Case Manager will include the development of support plans, enhancing life skills, addressing physical health and mental health needs, identifying meaningful daily activities for all participants served.

The Adaptive Case Manager will also assist individuals to identify barriers to housing, housing stability and engage in goal planning that aims to link individuals to the resources and skills that they need in order to achieve long-term housing stability. Adaptive Case Managers will support both low/moderate and high acuity individuals and include a rapid rehousing component.

Reporting to:

Adaptive Case Manager Team Lead

Job Type:

Full Time - 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday 8am - 4pm with some evening and weekend work required.

Starting Wage:

$22.00

Essentials Duties / Responsibilities

Using a multi-disciplinary skill set, the Adaptive Case Manager must be able to exercise the following skills: Locate and access housing based upon service participant preferences as well as affordability and appropriateness, assisting the service participant in signing the lease, and providing direct assistance in helping the service participant move into the apartment with furnishings and basic needs in place; Safely accompany service participants to appointments in community and regularly conduct home visits; Broker and advocate for service access amongst mainstream services including but not limited to: physical health, mental health and addiction services; income supports; social, recreational activities; services to persons with development delays and/or cognitive functioning issues; cultural, spiritual, and/or religious services; Create person-centered case plans with tangible goals related to housing stability, timelines and explicit accountabilities; Establish crisis and risk assessment plans with each individual being supported in housing, and cater housing supports relative to the information gleaned from these plans; Engage in motivational interviewing, assertive engagement and active listening; Organize and promote a range of meaningful daily activities for service participants to engage within, especially as it relates to accessing mainstream services; Interact effectively and professionally on tenancy matters with the landlords of the service participants; Re-house service participants if they are required to move, while maintaining services and supports during the interim period; Teach and model skills and strategies for increased independence including but not limited to: setting up appointments; attending appointments; budgeting and money management; payment of rent; shopping; food preparation; cleaning; laundry; using the transportation system; engaging with other professionals. This should be performed using a range of adult learning strategies. Great attention to detail, excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task. Works with initiative, commitment and enthusiasm. Ability to solve problems with clients quickly, creatively and ethically. Proven ability to work in a respectful and person-centered manner. Able to communicate effectively and have excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrates commitment and innovation to their work. Able to plan and make decisions in a timely, organized and appropriate manner. Able to work effectively as a team member as well as independently Flexible and adaptable to change. Experience of networking with a range of partners and stakeholders. Experience of working at all levels across teams and/or departments within an organization. Attend weekly case management meetings and other specified meetings/trainings as required. Effectively use SPDAT tools and ensure compliance with data standards and record-keeping as required by CMHA and our funders. Facilitate and assist with participant move-in process. Facilitate and assist with moving out participants and cleaning units. Be an effective mediator and advocate for all housing participants

The Adaptive Case Manager must be able to fulfill their duties in accordance with the service orientation of a Housing First approach, including:

Housing as the first essential step, without any requirements for sobriety, participation in treatment, medication protocol, compliance, or demonstrated "housing readiness"; Recovery orientation related to mental wellness and cognitive functioning; Reducing harm to the individual and broader community; Remaining non-judgmental in behaviors, practices, beliefs and actions of service participants; Promoting and empowering meaningful choices and service access options, as well as allowing the service participant to influence the type, duration, frequency and intensity of supports; Expressing empathy and positivity; Balancing the needs of the client, community and landlord in each situation;

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

The Adaptive Case Manager should have a working knowledge of:

Homelessness, especially chronic homelessness; Dependency on substances; Aboriginal culture and legacy impacts of residential schools, colonization, cultural compromises and impacts on cultural identity; Harm reduction; Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; Self-care Co-occurring mental illness. A passion for ending homelessness Excellent knowledge and understanding of poverty related issues, trends and services particularly within, but not limited to the urban aboriginal population is essential. Knowledge of Landlord and Tenant Legislation. Understanding and appreciation of the history of Canada's Indigenous people, and their culture. Understanding of current housing market and trends, vacancy rates, and rental amounts. Basic understanding of risk management, and continuous quality improvement. Operate proficiently a personal computer, fax machine, printer, and copier.

Education & Experience

Undergraduate degree in relevant field or comparable experience. Experience working with similar populations, including people who are homeless, people with mental illness, chronic health, and/or addiction disorders Work with high risk populations Knowledge and experience in harm reduction strategies, crisis intervention, and therapeutic communication Work with a variety of addiction and mental health services and supports across the continuum of care

Conditions of Employment

Current First Aid CPR Current and clear Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector (Less than 6 months old) Current Youth Intervention Check (Less than 6 months old) Possession of or ability to obtain valid Alberta Driver's license Must own or have access to reliable vehicle
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From $22.50 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Application question(s):

Do you have access to a reliable vehicle for work purposes?
Education:

Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Experience:

Working with Vulnerable Populations: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:

Drivers License (required) First Aid CPR (or the ability to provide within 3 months) (required)
Work Location: In person