Addiction Support Worker – Full Time
Kitchener – St. Marks
Salary: $47,700 - $57,530
Closing Date for Applications: 2nd, 2025
Position Description: Reporting to the Program Supervisor, the Addiction Support Worker, will be responsible to provide residents with supports that help achieve health and housing stability. The Addiction Support Worker will work within the context of a collaborative interdisciplinary team reflecting the principles of person-centered and evidence-based care by assisting with coordinating and delivering mental health and addiction services to residents. Providing or supporting in the treatment, rehabilitation, and support for individuals living in supportive housing. This program serves individuals who have experienced long term housing instability, and/or homelessness, and may/may not have mental health and/or substance use disorders. At times, this position will require a high level of resilience and a willingness to work in close proximity to challenging situations. You will have the ability to have a highly positive impact on people who have experienced marginalization.
What matters to you? Being in a work culture that operates out of their core values of DIGNITY, LOVE and HOPE- embracing diversity, promoting equality and inclusion. A place that sees you as a LEADER contributing your individuality to champion the vision of creating communities that TRANSFORM lives.
About Indwell: For over 50 years, founded in 1974, our Christian charity continues to thrive and grow exponentially as we serve people impacted by poverty and homelessness through our vision of HOPE and HOMES for All. We are the fastest growing developer in Ontario creating affordable high quality efficient housing communities coupled with supportive programs to over 1200 tenants to meet their needs of health, wellness, and belonging. To learn more, go to: indwell.ca/our-model
Hours of Work: 40 hours per week. The program operates 7 days a week. This position includes working evening and weekend hours, including some public holidays. Participation in the on-call schedule rotation is required which consists of carrying a work cell phone 24/7 for that one week, responding to urgent needs. At times, this position will also require flexibility to meet program needs.
Direct Support to Residents:
- Skilled in building therapeutic relationships with residents with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, promoting hope and trust and engagement in addiction related programming and supports
- Develop, contribute to, and carry out holistic support plans, including any relevant assessment tools and ensure consistent monitoring and follow-up to treatment and recovery plans
- Assist residents in developing and practicing the skills defined in their service plans in consultation with resident and interdisciplinary team
- Knowledge and deep understanding of psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery models, including harm reduction strategies around substance use
- Demonstrate understanding and ability to assess the addiction support related needs of residents
- Support residents to connect with community resources and supports, including both clinical and informal supports and community-based, culturally meaningful programming
- Coordinate, lead and/or participate in case conferences with outside supports
- Proven advocacy skills to ensure residents receive the support and referrals they need to carry out their individual support plans and access appropriate resources
- Confident in utilizing de-escalation strategies and crisis prevention and intervention skills
- Reinforce residents’ life skills, including spiritual, social, and coping skills
- Assist with intake and orientation of new residents
- Develop and facilitate relevant group programming related to substance use, community building, and social inclusion and other topics to meet the needs of the community
- Competent utilizing motivational interviewing techniques with residents to identify and achieve substance use and housing stability related goals as it relates to their support needs and recovery
- Complete required documentation in a thorough and timely manner with a focus on maintaining and protecting health records
- Hold responsibility for a primary caseload (using a team model and/or case management model)
- As a representative of a faith-based organization, recognize and promote the role of spirituality and provide support and guidance as required
- Other duties as required
- Support and build capacity within the interdisciplinary team around substance use and relevant resident-centered approaches
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to assess specific program needs regarding substance use and other addictions
- Demonstrate ongoing commitment to learning and supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice).
- Interdisciplinary supports provided by all team members to residents will include medication administration, apartment checks, community events, group programming, and other supports as necessary
- Engaging and establishing unique community partnerships to meet and improve addiction support for residents
- Keep interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends related to best practices in addiction support for residents
- Support and collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator to integrate program volunteers into addiction support activities. Complete volunteer logs as required
- Assist in the orientation and support of staff, students and volunteers
- Attend and participate in all required training to maintain and develop new skills
- Comfort and familiarity with landlord responsibilities such as pest management and rent collection
- Promote and demonstrate the vision, mission and values of Indwell within the workplace and community
- Participate and contribute to relevant team meetings, organizational cross-regional teams, and community tables
- Reinforce a positive workplace culture and tone through your skilled verbal and written communication
- Keep apprised of new research and developments relevant to your role, through workshops, journals, websites, and literature. Transfer knowledge back to the team and residents in the most effective manner available
- Maintaining a safe and healthy working environment
- Upholding organizational policy and procedures
- Using appropriate procedures when responding to emergency situations
- Complete required safety checks and inspections as assigned
- Attending and participating in all required training to maintain and develop new skills
- Other duties as required
- A commitment to upholding and modeling Indwell’s mission, values and other operating standards and policies, reflecting them in all interactions and decisions
- College diploma or bachelor’s degree with a focus on addictions.
- Certification with CCACF is considered an asset
- Experience working in mental health and/or addictions, with harm reduction approaches to substance use
- Knowledge of concurrent disorders and of various addiction treatments/theories is required
- Experience working within a case management framework with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use, or other special needs
- A client centered approach, using trauma-informed strategies to support residents
- A warm, sensitive and caring approach with a genuine interest in supporting a diverse population of people living with mental illness
- Demonstrated ongoing learning and experience around supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice, etc.)
- Strong communication, listening, interview and assessment skills, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Effective crisis intervention and conflict management skills
- Ability to work effectively in a high stress environment, work independently, be flexible, organized, responsible and take initiative
- Excellent written, verbal, time management and organizational skills
- A commitment to interpersonal collaborative teamwork and care and continuous professional development
- Familiarity with SPDAT/ the Ontario Common Assessment of Need is an asset
- Vacation: 3 weeks (15 days) paid with 8 HEAL days (sick and personal appointments) per year
- Extensive Benefits paid: Extended health (100% medication coverage- some exceptions may apply), dental and vision care. Life Insurance and long term disability
- Employee Assistance Program- primary care and professional consulting services
- Group RRSP: Indwells contributes 5% of salary
- New Staff Orientation Days
- Professional and Personal Development- annual Leadership Conference (themed with guest speaker) + Spiritual Ranch Retreat (reflection and recharge with various outdoor activities). Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment facilitated by People Developer for mentoring opportunities, Lunch and Learn Webinars, Indigenous Cultural Competency and 2SLGBTQ Awareness. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), First Aid/CPR/Naloxone, Therapeutic Relationships and Applied Suicide Intervention (ASIST)
- Social Events: Indwell’s Hope and Homes Banquet yearly to celebrate the important work we do + team gatherings
Inspired to JOIN OUR TEAM? We invite you…
To APPLY: Please forward your cover letter and resume to our website: www.indwell.ca/careers. We thank all for your interest; however, only those applicants that are being considered will be notified.
Personal information submitted will be used only for employment opportunities within Indwell in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.
Accommodation will be provided to applicants who make their needs known in advance for the duration of the hiring process as required under Indwell’s Employment policy.