Job Description

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. Consistent with the inter-professional setting, the Outreach Social Worker provides social work services, including psychosocial assessments and intervention, service utilization and access to resources for patients such as designated/marginalized HIV positive women and/or youth and their families who are receiving care at Oak Tree Clinic. The Outreach Social Worker will liaise extensively with community resources and healthcare providers, and provides consultation to team members and relevant community agencies regarding child welfare concerns. This position reports to the Program Manager, Oak Tree Clinic, for administrative/support issues and the Professional Practice Leader, Social Work for clinical and practice issues.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Conducts psychosocial and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the patient and family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the patient and family and formulation of assessment and plan of intervention, in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies.



2. Provides consultation to team members and relevant community services by assessing child welfare concerns, being knowledgeable of risk indicators and helping the identification of risk situations, provides consultation from a psycho-social perspective, and make appropriate referrals accordingly.



3. Facilitates attendance of patients to the Oak Tree Clinic by escorting or accompanying them to appointments as necessary, and by offering psycho-social support. The Outreach Social Worker may assist HIV positive youth and/or marginalized women and children (including patients living in the Downtown East Side) to access other resources such as education, recreation, social supports, food and housing and provides on-going advocacy and counselling

4. Assist patients in accessing benefits or assistance as appropriate and provides assessment and planning on issues related to HIV, social determinants of health such as income security, housing, social networks, self-efficacy and self-care.



5. Acts in an advocacy role with government agencies (MEIA, MCFD), health care providers and landlords.



6. Acts as a liaison and advocate between various agencies by acting as an inter agency link. Keeps Oak Tree employees current on services available and informs other agencies and clients on services Oak Tree Clinic provides.



7. Provides liaison, and advocacy with community agencies. Identifies patients' needs for services and makes appropriate referrals, or develops alternate strategies for patient support, education and follow-up care.



8. Provides basic health-promoting information to patients such as crisis counselling/prevention/intervention around issues such as new diagnosis, violence, loss, harm reduction, disclosure, pregnancy and sexual health.



9. Provides HIV information to community groups and health care providers regarding the sensitivity needed when working with HIV+ women and/or youth.



10. Promotes development of life-skills in patients by providing them with information/referrals and practical assistance to meet their basic needs and encourages client empowerment and capacity to exercise choice and actively participate in decisions affecting their own health and healthcare.



11. Attends Oak Tree team meetings and participates in patient care planning and co-ordination.



12. Maintains an accurate record of outreach activities and provide regular reports.



13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience



Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work. Minimum one year's recent related experience working with the relevant patient population such as HIV positive women and/or youth as well as experience working with marginalized populations and First Nations people or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. Valid BC driver's license and be eligible for membership in car sharing.

Skills and Abilities



Comprehensive knowledge of Social Work theory and practice. Demonstrated ability to conduct and document a comprehensive psychosocial assessment. Demonstrated ability to work with marginalized and culturally diverse populations including those with chemical dependency, mental illness, and HIV. Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within a multidisciplinary setting. Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with women and/or youth and families in order to explore issues that are beyond the initial presented concerns. A working knowledge and familiarity with health and social service programs for women and/or youth and families. Working knowledge of harm reduction principles Women and family-centred philosophy and an understanding of anti-oppressive practice. Crisis prevention/intervention and conflict resolution/de-escalation skills. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment as well as capacity to work in partnership with other community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques and First-aid. * Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.