Summary of Duties

The position is part of the Halton Housing Help team and provides outreach services to clients who are experiencing difficulty accessing or maintaining housing. The Program uses a mobile service provider model, and is responsible for Encampment Response for all of Halton Region. The Outreach Service Integration Worker will work in the community and provide outreach services to clients where needed, as well as through centralized hubs throughout Halton region. The Outreach Service Integration Worker will provide a multi-disciplinary needs assessment to clients, develop an individualized and integrated case plan and coordinate access to these services including sharing case plans, monitoring service delivery and acting as a client advocate. The program works alongside key stakeholders in the encampment space, including mental health and addictions, shelter providers, HRPS and municipal staff.

General Duties

• Provide support for Halton’s unsheltered population connect to integral housing supports and wrap around services, through a completely mobile service model meeting clients where they are at in the community.
• Provide clients support to access emergency shelter services and eliminate barriers and risks through improved service integration and access to additional support services.
• Host community drop-ins across Halton Region, ensuring easy service access and information sharing, including knowledge of various programs within Halton Region.
• Conduct a multi-disciplinary needs assessment that encompasses the SPDAT assessment tool.
• Provide clients with one to one support to develop and implement an individualized and integrated case plan.
• Work directly with community service providers to support client transfer and develop and monitor integrated case plans.
• Engage with HRPS, municipal staff and private property owners to navigate encampment matter, including client support in response to Trespass Notices, or other enforcement action.
• Ensure any enforcement or removals are aligned with Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which offers certain rights and protections to people living in Encampments.
• Coordinate clients’ access to support services identified in case plan. Assess clients’ situation to determine if they may qualify for priority status with Halton Access to Community Housing (HATCH) and complete necessary documentation.
• Maintain client records, reports and statistics, including up-to-date records of individuals experiencing homelessness, which will impact Halton Region’s By-Name List.
• Act as an advocate for clients on issues relating to service integration.

Qualifications

Education

• Post secondary degree (B.A., B.Sc., B.S.W.) or Approved Equivalent Experience

Experience

• 2-5 years community based experience

Skills

• Administrative and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks.
• Ability to maintain accurate and clear client records.
• Communication skills (verbal and written) in order to clearly and concisely exchange information with a wide variety of contacts.
• Interpersonal skills to effectively liaise and consult with clients, families, other team members and community contacts.
• Interviewing, assessment and objective observational skills.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment.
• Manage and prioritize housing case management for active caseload, while also balancing the ongoing needs of community outreach and encampment visits.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of community and housing resources, Knowledge of housing, poverty issues and other social issues.
• Knowledge of issues related to mental health, physical disabilities, homelessness or seniors is an asset
• Knowledge of computer based word processing and database entry
• Knowledge of encampment policies in relation to Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, property laws, and Trespass to Property Act.