SPECIALIZED OUTREAH SERVICES (SOS)
SOS is an integrated team of professionals that offer flexible outreach supports to individuals experiencing homelessness or street-involved individuals with substance use, mental health, or concurrent issues by providing supportive nursing, counselling and support coordination, connections to primary care, and connection to other community services
SOS is a flexible and adaptive team that works from the perspective of unconditional positive regard to meet people where they are at. SOS provides flexible, low-barrier access to medical, mental health and substance use supports. SOS is committed to a trauma-informed, person-centered and harm reduction approach. SOS works from non-judgmental perspective with a commitment to relationship based work to bring clinical services to the streets, shelters and encampments. SOS works holistically to address social determinants of health by providing access to medical, mental health and addiction supports. The SOS program is based on the values of social justice, inclusion and hospitality.
The SOS team is integrated into the Inner City Health Alliance (ICHA), which offers intensive place-based, onsite supports as well as primary health care, shelter services, housing and social supports designed for individuals who are experiencing homelessness, precarious housing, poverty and complex physical and mental health needs.
THE INNER CITY HEALTH ALLIANCE
The Inner-City Health Alliance (ICHA) is a new responsive local village of health and social support agencies serving those living in vulnerable conditions, specifically those at risk of experiencing homelessness, suffering from mental illness and substance use. This sustainable and supportive model aims to provide wrap around services that meet people where they are at and where they wish to receive services.
To address these needs, the goal of the Inner-City Health Alliance is to improve people’s health through timely, coordinated, integrated health and social services. The Alliance’s approach is to walk alongside people, listening and learning while providing timely care that honours the person’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental state.
There are seven agencies in the ICHA including Sanguen Health Centre, The Working Centre, The Centre for Family Medicine (CFFM), House of Friendship (HoF), Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre (KDCHC) and Ray of Hope. Each of these agencies have their own unique set of services, and providers of care including physicians, nurses, volunteers, social workers and counsellors.
THE WORKING CENTRE
The Working Centre is a mature community-based organization, since 1982; creating access to tools for those without work, those without housing and the most vulnerable in the community. St. John’s Kitchen serves 400 people a day who experience homelessness/are at risk; Street and Specialized Outreach services help people to problem-solve issues of health care, income, housing, legal issues; our Housing/Shelter supports currently support 280 people; Money Matters offers financial problem-solving and income tax support; Job Search Resource Centre; Job Café offers creative minimum wage work; Community Tools Projects
THE NURSE ROLE
The Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse with Specialized Outreach Services will work as part of dynamic, multi-disciplinary team to offer clinical services including social support, health care and harm reduction services to people who are experiencing homelessness, mental health concerns and substance use challenges. Responsibilities include: direct patient care (assessment, treatment, consultation with providers, wound care and overdose response), outreach community nursing, system navigation and collaborative care provision.
Qualifications:
- Current certification as a Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse in the Province of Ontario required
- Current certification in CPR required
- Must be fully vaccinated
- Minimum 3-5 years of nursing experience is preferred
- Front line experience in outreach an asset
- Experience in mental health an asset
Responsibilities & Skills:
- Provide mobile medical care through Inner City Health Alliance locations (shelter and congregate settings, transitional and supportive housing, St. John’s Kitchen, drop in locations, motels)
- Provide primary care and mental health nursing support through a relationship and community based framework
- Perform nursing skills (wound care, injections, suture/staple removal, overdose response)
- Work collaboratively with the team and other system partners (medical providers, shelters, hospitals, treatment teams) to develop, coordinate and execute care plans
- Demonstrated knowledge of mental health, concurrent disorders, treatment modalities, and harm reduction practices
- Strong communication (verbal and written), organization, and time management skills
- Demonstrated ability in conflict management and interpersonal relations
- Understanding of anti-oppression principles and ability to work effectively with people of various cultural, age and economic backgrounds
- Ability to work collaboratively within and across teams, developing and maintaining positive relationships with service providers
- Ability to work independently and self-directed
Working Conditions:
- Able to work flexible hours primarily within a 5 day, Monday to Friday work week; some evening and weekend work
- Includes outdoor work and visiting homes
- Able to travel within the KW area
Please submit your resume and cover letter to the Indeed posting.
Salary:
RN: $37-$40 per hour
RPN: $30.00 per hour
Benefits: Generous benefit package after 3 months
COVID-19 considerations: Proof of COVID vaccination required
