Outreach Worker for Primary Care (0.8 FTE)
We are seeking an individual who is passionate about promoting health and wellness equity in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) to join the Kilala Lelum Health Centre as an Outreach Worker in Primary Care. Kilala Lelum aims to provide access to primary care and Elder-led cultural care to new and existing members of the Health Centre through an outreach-based, culturally-safe, trauma-informed, member-centered, and harm reduction approach.
Job Summary:
The Outreach Worker (0.8 FTE) is an integral part of KL’s interdisciplinary healthcare team, working in conjunction with primary care providers (Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners), the Mobile Outreach Program (MOP), Chronic Pain Program, and the Cultural Wellness team, to support members’ access to and experience of primary care and Elder-led cultural care in the DTES. The Outreach Worker’s role is to establish and maintain positive and engaging relationships with people living in the DTES, collaborate and communicate across KL’s programs to ensure team-based, patient-centered care, and connect members with community supports and services.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct outreach, including wellness checks, to members in the community.
- Help facilitate the use of community services and resources and liaise with outside agencies as needed
- Communicate with and coordinate services with KL’s integrated care team and community partners.
- Participate in case planning.
- Assist members with medication access (facilitating delivery, phoning pharmacies, etc.); participate in conversations about life skills development as makes sense based on relationship with members and within scope of role.
- Accompany members to appointments as needed, including to and from Kilala Lelum, other clinics, hospital, and outside support services; provide advocacy and accompaniment for members’ emergent needs (eg. Emergency room); adhere to Kilala Lelum outreach policies and protocol.
- Act as an advocate for members’ health, psychosocial, and spiritual needs.
- Establish, maintain, and enhance therapeutic relationships based on trust and respect.
- Provide referrals and connections to other community services and supports; distribute harm reduction and other supplies.
- Record/chart member encounters in EMR and communicating with appropriate care team members as needed.
- Check in proactively with members of the Primary Care team (Nurses, Physicians, MOAs) to support emergent member needs whenever possible.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Experience with OSCAR EMR an asset.
- Minimum of one year of experience in an environment (ex: outreach, housing support, community services) that serves Indigenous community members and/or communities with multiple barriers to health and wellness equity, preferably within the DTES.
- Ability to deal effectively with conflict, manage aggressive behaviour, and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Flexible, team-oriented, and committed to respectful, collaborative problem-solving with team members.
- Demonstrated commitment to culturally-safe, trauma-informed, member-centered, harm reduction and recovery-oriented practices.
- Ability to navigate and perform risk assessments of outreach locations to support personal and member safety.
- Experience and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous culture would be extremely beneficial. Completion of a cultural competency course or willingness to participate required.
- Overdose response training and/or willingness to be trained right away.
Working Conditions:
- Outreach duties will occur in the DTES in hotels, SROs, and private apartments following the safety guidelines outlined by the PC team and VCH.
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position including helping members who use mobility devices, lifting up to 15lbs, and walking up to 5-10km per day.
- Driver’s license an asset.
Supervision Provided:
This position is supervised by and will receive support from the Primary Care Co-Leads, the Administrative Lead, and the Indigenous Health Lead.
Additional Information:
- Successful candidates will be required to complete a Criminal Record Check.
- Hourly wage of $29.00/hour.
- Hours of work will be agreed upon to meet requirements of 0.8 FTE (32 hours/week).
- This role includes robust extended health and dental benefits.
- Ideal start date is August 2023.
To Apply:
Please send a resume and cover letter by Friday, July 28, 2023 to lauren.leslie@uihhc.ca. Your cover letter should clearly articulate why you are interested in this role and working with Kilala Lelum, how your background is a good fit for this specific role and our organization, and your current availability and desired schedule. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
