The Health Centre provides a broad range of services aimed at improving the health of individuals and the wider community. Our services include medical and dental care, health promotion, illness prevention and outreach programming. Our expertise and resources are focused on working with those who experience health inequities and barriers to accessing health services. Collaborating as an interdisciplinary team, we provide services and supports that address the social determinants of health including factors and barriers such as poverty, inadequate housing, food insecurity, substance use, language and culture, as well as stigma and social exclusion.
The Health Centre works with the most complex client population served by primary health care professionals within Waterloo Region. Our highly skilled and diverse team works from a strength-based approach with individual clients as well as the broader community. We collaborate with many partner agencies and organizations within Waterloo Region. Our team consists of Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Dietitians, Chiropodists, Pharmacists, Psychiatrists, Health Promoters, Community Health Workers, Administrative Staff and Volunteers.
We invite you to consider this opportunity to join our team and contribute to this important work.
The Health Centre is currently recruiting for the following position:
Job Title: Community Health Worker - Outreach
$54,519.14 to $65,685.62 per year
Full-time Permanent – 1.0 FTE
Job Summary:
The role of the Community Health Worker position will be to support the Primary Care Outreach team and HART Hub clinics and will have an additional focus on supporting Palliative Outreach and the Outreach Attachment Clinic. Primary Care Outreach teams serve individuals who are homeless and precariously housed. Often, these individuals are more complex due to mental health and addiction issues. In addition, our Outreach teams work with other partners of the Inner-City Health Alliance that serve the same clients.
Responsibilities:
- Work with clients using a Determinants of Health framework, building trust-based relationships and aligning with clients' goals. Ensure the approach is rooted in anti-oppressive practice and harm reduction, respecting clients' autonomy and addressing social and systemic factors affecting their well-being.
- Participate in direct client service and service coordination as appropriate in cooperation with other members of a person’s circle of support.
- Support the development of client care plans by providing case management and system navigation, working collaboratively with both the client and their primary care providers.
- Provide support to clients both in community agency settings and through mobile outreach services.
- Maintain accurate health records and up to date notes in the Electronic Medical Record in a timely manner and adheres to all CHCKW policies and Privacy legislation.
- Act as a point person for client support as determined in specific client care plans or in emergent situations.
- Act as a resource to, and advocate for individuals and groups who are homeless or precariously housed and their community. Support the client in accessing resources including accompaniment and advocacy when necessary.
- Establish and maintain up-to-date knowledge of local community resources and build strong relationships with external agencies and partners to connect clients with relevant support services.
- Facilitate the transfer of knowledge across the team to foster growth and development.
- Work during both regular and extended hours (evenings/weekends) and in Outreach locations within Kitchener as determined by Community Healthcaring KW.
- Partner with health wellness team to develop and potentially facilitate groups that are relevant to our unhoused/ precariously housed community
- Support the ID clinic as needed.
- Represent the agency/outreach team at the WR Connectivity Table as required.
- Maintain a valid driver’s license, access to a reliable personal vehicle and adequate insurance for work-related travel in accordance with Community Healthcaring KW.
- Participate in team and staff meetings and other meetings and committee work as appropriate to support both service delivery and organizational goals.
- Work individually and collaboratively in the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives and activities
- Work in a manner that preserves privacy and confidentiality.
- Work in a manner that ensures client safety and minimizes risk to clients, volunteers and the Centre.
- Work in a manner consistent with the Health Centre’s Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles
- Work in a manner consistent with the Health Centre’s policy and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all processes and practices.
- Work in a manner that demonstrates self-reflection and personal accountability for work performance.
- Adhere to all Health Centre policies.
- Build strong interpersonal relationships across the organization to effectively support program delivery and enhance client care.
- Adhere to appropriate infection control practice.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
Accountability
This position reports to: Manager, Outreach.
Qualifications
- Post-secondary education in a related field or social services, social work, mental health, community development, recreation therapy, adult education, or relevant discipline.
- Minimum of three years of community development experience.
- Experience in program planning and evaluation, community organizing techniques, and group facilitation.
- Awareness of the Index of Well-Being and the impact social isolation has on the health of clients and community participants.
- Exemplary emotional intelligence, communication, conflict management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to set appropriate limitations and boundaries with clients as needed.
- Experience with volunteer management is considered an asset.
- Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
- Experience and strong interest in working with culturally, economically, and socially diverse populations.
- Familiarity with social service and health programs, services, and systems in Waterloo Region.
- Proficiency in Canva or other design software and social media platforms an asset.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.
- Proven experience leveraging community partnerships and collaborative projects.
- Ability to work collaboratively.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
- Excellent English written and oral communication skills. Second language is an asset.
- Commitment to working within client-centered, social determinants of health framework.
- Proficiency in the use of computers and various software programs including Microsoft Office, email, and Internet.
- Ability to obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the Health Centre.
- The Health Centre requires that all staff be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 at the time of hire and maintain vaccination ongoing as boosters become available. Official proof of Covid-19 vaccination status is a mandatory requirement unless an exemption document is provided.
Hours:
37.5 Hours per week
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday 9am-5pm
Wednesday 9am – 5pm or 12 pm – 8pm based on clinic requirements
Fridays 8am – 4pm or 9am – 5pm
Benefit package:
- Paid Vacation Leave: 3 weeks to start; 4 weeks after 1 year
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan (through HOOPP)
- Extended health and dental insurance
- Life, Accidental Death, and Long-Term Disability insurance
- Employee Assistance Plan
Application Deadline: September 10th, 2026
The Health Centre values the diversity of its staff and welcomes applications from people of all races, ethnicity, religions, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity and those with disabilities.
Individuals with a disability requiring accommodation during the application and/or the interview process should advise the recruitment contact noted above so that suitable arrangements can be made.
Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of this recruitment process.
We appreciate all expressions of interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. This job posting is for an open position within the organization.
