PROGRAM AREA: Harm Reduction
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: 13 Month Contract
HOURS/WEEK: 35 hours per week, full-time


Our Vision
A community without barriers to health and wellbeing.


Our Mission
We reduce health inequities by providing interprofessional primary health services and community programs, focused on the populations we prioritize, in collaboration with community partners.


Our Values
Innovation, Accountability, Person-Centred, Health Promotion, Excellence, Sustainability, Accessibility

Guelph Community Health Centre prioritizes people who face barriers to health and accessing services, and people who identify as:

• Homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Living on low income
• Newcomers to Canada with language barriers
• Having moderate to severe mental health and/or addiction issues
• Having moderate to severe disabilities
• Indigenous First Nations, Inuit and Métis
• Black, mixed race and racialized populations
• Experiencing intersectional oppression
• 2SLGBTQIA+
• Vulnerable children and their families experiencing conflict, isolation or attachment struggles

The Welcoming Streets Initiative (WSI) began as a pilot in the spring of 2018, as a partnership formed between the Guelph Community Health Centre, the Guelph Downtown Business Association, and the Guelph Police Service to address safety concerns identified by business owners and the public related to at-risk and street involved individuals frequenting the downtown core. The program deploys Outreach Workers to provide support to businesses, ensuring that street involved individuals are supported and linked with the services they need; and ensuring that downtown Guelph feels welcoming for everyone.


As a WSI Outreach Worker your role will provide outreach services to the downtown area of Guelph to engage at-risk and marginalized individuals identified by business owners, police, and the public. As a member of the Guelph Community Health Centre's (GCHC) HUB team, the WSI Outreach Worker's core responsibilities include building positive relationships with small businesses in downtown Guelph, having a consistent presence in the downtown core, respond to calls from businesses, and support equity-deserving individuals to de-escalate, build positive relationships, and connect them to the services they need.


This position will be required to work during evening and weekend hours.


The WSI Outreach Worker will have the required qualifications:

• At least 2 years of front-line experience with outreach provision, crisis management, and working with people who are experiencing homelessness, mental health and addiction challenges.
• Experience in a retail, small business, restaurant setting an asset.
• Completed post-secondary education in a related field.
• Skilled at developing positive relationships with all community members, building trust with ease, and working to assist people experiencing crisis.
• Demonstrated experience in applying a harm reduction and person-centered service philosophy to the provision of services for people with serious addictions and mental health issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of an integrated, inter-disciplinary team, and have good organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to the Mission, Vision and Values of the Guelph CHC.
• Understanding of self-care and awareness of personal and professional boundaries when working with complex issues.

PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES
Networking with Businesses/Community Resources

• Build and maintain positive relationships with businesses in the downtown core by responding to business calls in a timely way, connecting with businesses through regular outreach efforts, facilitating educational workshops on related topics (i.e., overdose education and prevention, addiction), and partnering with businesses to offer innovative community development initiatives
• Build and maintain positive relationships with the Downtown Guelph Business Association (DGBA) by attending monthly meetings, communicating regularly, and responding to requests.
• Visit targeted areas, such as downtown businesses, libraries, community services etc. to provide information about the program and encourage referrals.
• Assist in the development of educational materials for business owners / community agencies

Outreach Services

• Deliver outreach services, including support, de-escalation, connection, and referrals in the downtown core.
• Respond to concerns identified by business owners, police, and the public by providing support and connection to clients.
• Visit targeted sites to connect with at-risk individuals and begin to build rapport.
• Facilitate linkages and provide information to individuals regarding primary care, addictions and mental health supports.
• Provide assistance in accessing food, housing, and financial assistance resources, as well as addictions and mental health supports.
• Provide information on community resources, harm reduction, treatment, and care options, including food, housing, and financial assistance, for people affected by addictions and mental health issues.

Administration, Quality Improvement and Reporting

• Complete required documentation for client and business contacts in a timely manner.
• Complete Incident Reports as required.
• Follow GCHC policies and procedures
• Attend and participate in relevant team meetings and planning activities.
• Participate in quality improvement and evaluation activities.
• Work with the health and safety guidelines provided by the agency, which includes annual mandatory training requirements.

Please visit our website at www.guelphchc.ca and apply using the online application tool by end of day December 6, 2024.

Guelph Community Health Centre is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including individuals from priority populations who may identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis individuals, and members of Black and other racialized communities.

We thank, in advance, those who apply, but will contact only those who qualify for interviews.

If at any stage in the selection process you require accommodation, please let us know the nature of the required accommodation.

We require that all finalist applicants undergo a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screen through their local Police Services Branch prior to start date.
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