Job Description

Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) is a not-for-profit Society serving the Renfrew-Collingwood (RC) neighbourhood of East Vancouver. CNH's mandate is to promote the well-being of the Renfrew-Collingwood community by providing leadership and working collaboratively with individuals, families, agencies and other groups to develop and support inclusive, innovative, sustainable initiatives and services that respond to the community's social, educational, economic, health, cultural and recreational needs.

JOB OVERVIEW

A Social Prescribing Community Connector plays an integral role in bridging the gap between healthcare and social care. As a Social Prescribing professional, you partner with community organizations to provide non-medical support to improve the overall health and well-being of older adults in your community.

The Social Prescribing Community Connector will work with older adults who are referred from Health Care Professionals and community partners to connect them with community support and services through referrals, applications, advocacy, and introductions. This role includes a diverse range of responsibilities from conducting assessments and co-developing personalized care plans, to providing practical support to older adults and their families, to establishing and maintaining relationships with people and organizations in the community offering supports to older adults. Your experience, training and interpersonal skills help you to make meaningful connections as you discern their unique needs. Through your work with local agencies and professionals, you will make a positive impact on the lives of older adults and the community.

The Social Prescribing Community Connector will work in collaboration with health care referrers and other Community Connectors in the province to create an environment where seniors at-risk of frailty will be able to access resources and support. The goal of this position is to assist older adults to age safely in the right place, providing them with the social connections they require, and maintaining partnerships and connections with local community-based seniors services.

RESPONSIBILTIES

Community Development

Builds and maintains networks within community and strengthen relationships withing the community-based senior serving sector.

Uses an asset-based community development approach to identify and mobilize individuals and organizations to support older adults.

Engages and participates in learning opportunities such as in community of practices, planning tables or networking events.

Coordinates NEVAAN meetings and annual Seniors' Health Fair with community partners.

Assessment and Management of Referrals

Connects, liaises, and establishes partnerships with local health care professionals to create and maintain referral pathways.

Maintains an active caseload of seniors with short-term needs through referrals from health care professionals and community agencies.

Prioritizes referrals to meet individual participant's needs.

Understands hospital discharge procedures and assists with supporting seniors transitioning back home following a discharge.

Implements safety precautions when visiting seniors in the community, including their personal residence.

Completes intake processes to assess strengths, needs, abilities, and risks using motivational interviewing techniques, such as active listening, conflict resolution and observing behavior.

Uses various assessment tools to determine challenges, needs and risks related to healthy aging and develop routines, structures, and resource referrals to reduce risk of frailty.

Interprets participants' complex physical requirements and social needs.

Maintains a high level of confidentiality in all matters related to clients and community partners.

Wellness Plan Development

Supports seniors to access appropriate activities and suitable community resources by developing individual wellness plans.

Uses a "what matters to you" approach and refers seniors to community-based services, observes and assesses the participants' engagement with resources, including emotional, psychological, and physical status, and modifies activities to meet participants' changing needs.

Provides information regarding community resources to socially support participants and their families.

Effectively collaborates within the CNH, Frog Hollow and other community-based seniors services to provide multidisciplinary care for the best interest of the senior.

Assists with connection to a primary care provider.

Engages and participates in educational training for seniors on healthy aging and other relevant topics.

Documentation of Referrals

Documents participant's interactions, creates wellness plans and reports, and completes other administrative duties as required.

Provision of follow-up notes to continuing community health care provider if requested.

Evaluation

Participates in evaluation of programs including collection of participant data and reporting at regular intervals.

Administration & Finances

Accurately tracks program expenses, including submitting cheque requisitions and petty cash reimbursements.

Reviews budgets monthly and adjusts as needed.

Assists in completing annual funding applications and budgets.

Communications

Creates and coordinates distribution of materials promoting the Social Prescribing program.

Works with CNH Communications Manager to keep CNH website and social media information up to date.

Other Duties

Work as part of CNH's Older Adults Programs & Services Team to assist with development and implementation of team-based initiatives and programs.

Plan and lead Seniors Advisory Meeting with teammates throughout the year.

Assist with team events as needed such as Holiday Lunch or Collingwood Days.

Collect participant feedback using qualitative and quantitative methods twice a year and adapt.

Collect volunteer feedback once a year and adapt the program accordingly.

Attend biweekly team meetings, plan and lead meetings quarterly.

Attend monthly management meetings.

Provide guidance and supervision to junior team members such as Canada Summer Jobs students and practicum students as requested by your direct supervisor.

Other duties as required by Program Director, supervisor or funder.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in social service or related human services field, or a combination of relevant education and experience.

Two years of recent related experience with vulnerable populations providing community outreach, group facilitation, and social support, or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.

Fluency in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English required.

Experience working with seniors and diverse peoples from different cultures and socio- economic backgrounds.

An egalitarian philosophy and non-judgmental attitude (i.e. gender, age, culture, race, sexual orientation, language, ability and more).

Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and life situations.

Previous experience providing culturally safe, trauma-informed care to marginalized populations.

Experience working with interdisciplinary, culturally diverse teams.

Respects diversity and promotes inclusion in the workplace.

Knowledge of relevant community resources, services and networks within Renfrew-Collingwood.

Demonstrated ability to connect with and support seniors.

Demonstrated skills in the areas of crisis intervention and conflict resolution.

Demonstrated ability to recruit and supervise volunteers and practicum students.

Strong collaborative skills and ability to establish and maintain relationships with internal and external contacts.

Excellent listening, written, and oral communication skills and ability to clearly explain instruction to others.

Financial management and budgeting skills.

Ability to work independently with strong time management and organizational skills.

Strong computer and admin skills.

Valid driver's license and reliable vehicle with appropriate insurance.

Successful applicants will be required to provide a Criminal Record Check (CRC). Note that a previous conviction(s) not related to this position may not exclude applicants.

JOB DETAILS

Salary

: $32.68 to start with progression.

Schedule

: 35 hours/week, weekdays.

Location

: Work from home, in office (5288 Joyce St, Vancouver) and in the community.

Start Date

: ASAP

Anticipated End Date

: March 31, 2026.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. If you are not currently authorized to work in Canada, CNH will not consider your job application. As per the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Human Resources Policies and Procedures, all factors being equal, priority will be given to qualified local and internal applicants. We encourage applicants with lived experience of structural inequity to apply, and in particular those who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQ2IA+, and those living with a visible or invisible disability.

PLEASE SUBMIT A COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO:

Sanjeev Karwal

Director of Community Services

Collingwood Neighbourhood House

5288 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC

Email: skarwal@cnh.bc.ca

Please quote reference #CS01-25-01

CLOSING DATE: Friday August 29, 2025, at 5 pm.

We thank everyone who applies for this position. We will contact shortlisted candidates only. No calls please.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $32.68 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Dental care Disability insurance Discounted or free food Extended health care Flexible schedule Mileage reimbursement On-site parking Paid time off Vision care Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Vancouver, BC V5R 6C9