Full-time Navigator - EPS HELP Team
George Spady Society
The George Spady Society is recognized as a leader in the development and delivery of effective services for the care, treatment, and support of individuals with substance-related disorders and dual diagnoses. People who come to us find dignity, hope and healing as they set a new path towards health and well-being. George Spady Society provides a continuum of support services supporting people with complex life circumstances associated with substance-related and concurrent disorders and homelessness, empowering them to improve their lives through client-centered, evidence-based best practices.
The HELP Navigator is committed to helping people experiencing homelessness and poverty transition toward and maintain sustainable and healthy lifestyles. The purpose of this position is to work with the George Spady Society (GSS) in collaboration with the Edmonton Police Service’s (EPS) HELP (Human – Centred Engagement Liaison Partnership) initiative. The successful candidate will be a part of GSS team.
Program
The Human-centre Engagement Liaison Partnership (HELP) is a new initiative by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) to partner with social agencies to reduce the overrepresentation of vulnerable and marginalized community within the judicial system. The program works by having frontline social agency workers (Navigator) partner with uniformed EPS members, deploying to calls for service within a fully integrated model.
The overarching goal of HELP is to divert the vulnerable and marginalized community members away from the justice system by first identifying the absent basic needs of that individual and to then navigate them to the appropriate resource. This will help reduce the likelihood of them coming to police attention again whilst increasing their well-being, quality of life and social determinants of health.
Role of the HELP Navigator
Working in tandem with their EPS partner, navigators will assess referrals made by frontline police officers and assist them in supporting vulnerable people, either through information sharing and problem solving with the police member, or by directly working with the vulnerable person on a case plan and assisting with service coordination and system navigation.
Navigators work intensively in a small team consisting of a variety of social service workers and EPS members; engaging regularly with both government and non-government agencies. These include: Edmonton Crown Prosecution Service, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton Remand Centre, Government of Alberta and a multitude of non government (social) agencies.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
- Engage directly with clients via telephone, on-site, and at HELP location
- Facilitate provision of services by delegating tasks to various agencies
- Work collaboratively with HELP constables and community partners to develop and manage individual case plans.
- Case planning requirements including documentation and reporting shall adhere to EPS protocols and procedures.
- Meet, transport, and attend (as required) client meetings and appointments (medical appointments, housing appointments, professional appointments, etc.)
- Visit clients in jail/hospitals and implement transition plans to ensure smooth transfer back into the community
- Provide crisis intervention should a client be in distress
- Ensure ongoing follow up for clients by connecting with various agencies to ensure completion of tasks
- Attend daily meetings to discuss various clients, locate clients, and provide client updates
- Advocate for clients when appropriate
- Report to the HELP Supervisor, HELP Staff Sergeant and HELP Sergeants on daily activities and whereabouts
- Provide regular reports on progress
- Participate in educational presentations to public and other stakeholders
- Improve overall system performance by identifying and addressing system gaps, overlaps, and redundancies
- Prioritize tasks, take initiative, and maintain flexibility as the day may change
- Assist the HELP Staff Sergeant, Sergeants, Analysts, Constables and fellow Navigators as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Administration
- Build a comprehensive library and knowledge base on community resources
- Share and disseminate community resource information
- Track assigned community participants’ progress with external resources
- Communicate relevant information to involved caseworkers and staff about interactions with community participants and observed behavior when appropriate
- Document community participants interactions, community participants referrals and community participants progress on ETO
- Track statistics and prepare reports, as required
- Attend meetings and training, as assigned
- Serve on internal and external committees, as requested
- Provide input into the development of policies and procedures for designated programs
- Keep community participants’ records and information confidential, updated and secure
Position Requirements
- Experienced Social Worker, Nurse, or Recovery Coach
- Minimum 3 years experience in a similar position
- Must have a driver’s license in good standing
- Passes the EPS security clearance
- Must have current CPR and First Aid certification
- Competent in use in all Office365 applications
- Must have excellent boundaries and sound self-care practices
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent administrative, time management and organizational skills
- Self-motivated and ability to work independently
- Willing to submit to vulnerable sector and criminal record check
- Has a good understanding of trauma-informed care, and must be able to operate within a harm reduction model of care
- Must have received at least two doses of a Health Canada licensed COVID-19 vaccine (the second of which must be received a minimum of two weeks prior to start date)
Working Conditions
- Time schedule varies in relation to the HELP initiatives operating hours.
- The position will be working within an integrated team setting with competing demands and ever-changing environment
- This position will work closely with paramilitary organizational culture while building effective relationships within the communities served.
- Work collaboratively and in unison with Navigators from other social agencies, who are embedded with the HELP team.
George Spady Society thanks all applicants for their interest, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Equal Opportunity Employer: George Spady Society is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse team benefits and enriches our work and is essential to our operational excellence. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity to confidentially self-identify at time of application should you wish to. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $61,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Flexible language requirement:
Schedule:
- 12 hour shift
- Day shift
- Weekends as needed
Application question(s):
- Do you have a good understanding of trauma-informed care, and are able to operate within a harm reduction model of care?
- Must pass the EPS security clearance.
Education:
Experience:
- Social Worker, Nurse, or Recovery Coach: 3 years (required)
- working in addiction and mental health field: 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driver's License (required)
- Social Worker Certification (preferred)
- Recovery Coach Certification (preferred)
- current Police with Vulnerable Sector check (required)
- First Aid/CPR/AED Certification (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 2024-10-29
Expected start date: 2024-11-01
