FT Social Worker

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) is a diverse, dynamic, multiservice Indigenous health and wellness agency.  We strive to provide quality, wholistic health services by sharing and promoting traditional and western health practices to enable people to live in a more balanced state of well-being. SOAHAC provides services to Indigenous people including those who live on and off reserve, status, non-status, Inuit, and Metis within the Southwest, Waterloo Wellington and Erie St Clair regions. SOAHAC has a mandate of ensuring that health services are accessible, of high quality, and are culturally appropriate. It is SOAHAC’s objective to build health care capacity within Indigenous communities.  Currently, we are seeking the services of a Social Worker to join our interdisciplinary staff team to work at our London Site.  

Reporting to the Integrated Care Manager, this position is suited for a compassionate, creative, problem-solver who works comfortably with both culture-based and western services. As part of the Mental Health Team, the Social Worker will be a front-line position with the primary responsibility to support individuals and families requiring assistance with a variety of wellness needs and who are accessing Primary Care services at SOAHAC. The successful candidate will be involved in a wide range of social work services with a focus on supporting individuals and families to improve wellness, achieve stability, and increase resilience.

Requirements

· Professional membership (RSW) required as well as master’s level education and/or at least 3 years’ direct experience as a social worker

· Direct experience working with Indigenous families and familiar with cultural-based services, social work, or in crisis intervention, child welfare, justice or other health settings

· Experience working with FNIM people in community-based settings is necessary

· Fluency in a local language is an asset

· Community work experience with families to improve wellness, coping skills, and empowerment in the following areas: poverty issues, housing, legal, social assistance, education, family violence, substance abuse assessment and treatment, crisis intervention, mental health

· Some training or certification in mental health and substance abuse screening, relationship violence screening, crisis intervention/assessment, counseling techniques, trauma/abuse, life skills, supporting people living with disabilities

· Knowledge of FNIM Culture, Values, and History

· Awareness of Health and Wellness issues pertaining to FNIM People

· Willingness to participate in Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, teachings and ceremonies

· Computer proficiency including proven ability to use relevant technology (i.e. computer-based data collection)  

· Travel within the London-Middlesex area, as well as SOAHAC sites as required

· Valid Driver’s license and proof of current automobile insurance, as well as access to a reliable vehicle. A clean driver’s abstract may be required

· Obtain/ maintain a current and satisfactory police check as a condition of employment

· Up-to-date immunizations and records

Responsibilities

· Support individuals and families accessing the Primary Care Team with social work requests which may involve paperwork/ forms completion, screening and assessment of needs, referral, and advocacy, linkages to appropriate services, brief counseling, and crisis support

· Improving wellness goals and increasing empowerment of FNIM individuals and families at SOAHAC by providing professional social work services that are culturally appropriate

· Report to the Site Integrated Care Manager and work closely with the Mental Health Educator, Mental Health Team and other internal programs

· Manage and meet targets for caseload and maintain direct service requirements

· Manage indirect services, administrative duties, client statistical reporting systems as per funding requirements

· Attend and actively participate in team meetings, case review and case conferencing as needed

· Actively participate in the Mental Health Team processes

· Attend SOAHAC staff meetings 

This job may require additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre.

SOAHAC values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer; however, hiring preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants. SOAHAC is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please advise Human Resources.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward your cover letter and resume to careers@soahac.on.ca.