Are you a Social Working Professional looking to make an impact in your community? Do you have endless optimism, ready to move and create change in the community? Through the vision to eliminate poverty in our community and guided by a passionate concern for the dignity and well-being of each individual, Bissell Centre's work is based on building relationships, hope and trust. Our community comes from all walks of life and so do we.

Through our programs we work to empower people from meeting their own basic daily needs to having sustainable livelihoods, secure housing, and feeling hope for the future and make plans for a prosperous life. By joining Bissell Centre, you will become part of a fast-paced and dedicated team that works together to realize our vision.

Currently, Bissell Centre is looking for an individual wanting to join the Family Services team. Are you ready to be our FASD Adult Advocate and make an impact in our community?

Job Purpose

The Adult Advocate works with adults diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and their immediate social networks to improve their life circumstances by providing case management support, advocacy, and system navigation. The Adult Advocate is responsible for working with the participant to build and navigate goals. The Adult Advocate provides extensive role-modeling, practical assistance and connects participants to a comprehensive variety of services in the community. The Adult Advocate utilizes case management through a client centered, strengths-based model that is rooted in harm reduction. The successful candidate requires successful working relationships with participants that support their ability to reach their goals and a solid understanding of FASD and trauma informed practice.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Delivery

• Provide ongoing supportive case management for up to 15 adults with or who may have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Assist FASD Justice Advocate with caseload support.
• Work with participants regularly to collaboratively build goal plans, develop a plan of action, evaluate success, and revise plan accordingly.
• Assist participants with implementation of the plan through role-modeling, teaching, information, brokering, and/or advocacy.
• Assess and enhance participants' readiness to make positive changes and increase self-reliance.
• Provide crisis intervention support to individuals.
• Collaboratively assess and ensure participants complete the FASD or functional assessment to identify their strength, resources, needs and aspirations to provide greater opportunities for enhanced support to the participants.
• Work with participants to access their basic needs and assist them to obtain critical necessities such as, access to financial support/budgeting, housing, legal and psychological/mental health/addiction treatment, or referral and enrolment through other agencies/service providers.
• Make active connections between participants and community resources and advocate for realistic and appropriate service plans for the participants.
• Facilitate referrals and support through warm transfers to medical, wellness and recovery appointments.
• Demonstrate to service providers effective ways of working with participants that are often considered difficult and incapable of change.
• Interact with participants in a non-judgemental way, using de-escalation and rapport building techniques.
• Transport participants to appointments as necessary until participants are stabilized and able to organize a reliable system themselves.
• Transport participants with children using safety procedures.
• Conduct participant surveys and submit within deadlines.
• Assist team to facilitate group programming with the intention to strengthen daily living skills and reduce isolation and loneliness.

General and Administrative

• Maintain accurate written file notes, computer records, program information, WCB and critical incident reports within established time standards.
• Maintain a current and accurate file for each participant.
• Utilize ETO, ADP, Teams, and Outlook.
• Provide latest program information and updated statistics as required.
• Maintain and submit accurate mileage and expense logs for reimbursement.
• Participate in probationary and annual performance reviews.
• Participate in ongoing learning and training opportunities as identified on annual performance review.
• Attend scheduled staff, supervision and case management meetings.
• Participate in Community Safety Walks on rotating schedule as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Social Science or related field and/or comparable experience with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, disabilities
• Employees with Social Work Diploma/Degree/Master's are required to provide and maintain ongoing registration, in good standing, with Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) as per Alberta Health Professions Act
• Minimum of one-year related employment experience e.g., high-risk populations, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or community development

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Commitment to a strength-based, client centered, and harm reduction approach.
• Knowledge of the roles, functions, and activities of case management.
• Conflict resolution and problem solving
• Ability to work under pressure, handle multiple priorities, and tight timelines independently.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule.
• Ability to maintain strong professional boundaries.
• Effective, clear, written, and oral communication skills
• Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, history, current issues, and marginalized communities who have experienced trauma.
• Direct experience with issues of poverty, homelessness, and Edmonton's urban core is required.

Conditions of Work

• Some evening and weekend work may be required.
• Operation of personal vehicle with required insurance
• Working closely with participants who are experiencing complex life situations.

Personal Characteristics

The FASD Adult Advocate should demonstrate competence in all the following:

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure own behavior is consistent with these standards and aligns with the mission and core values of Bissell Centre.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen, and write in a clear, thorough, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Participant Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of participants and the community to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Foster, sustain and role model productive team management practices, and contribute to a positive team environment. Share expertise and knowledge to support, coach and develop others.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency, and risks, and make clear decisions that are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organizational Skills: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create, and implement action plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Screening Requirements

• Criminal Record Check
• CWIS Check
• Valid Driver's License
• $2 Million Liability Auto Insurance

Training Requirements

• Standard First Aid and CPR
• Conflict Into Calm Training
• Drug Poisoning & Naloxone
• Foundations in FASD
• Financial Basics Level 1 and Level 2
• WHMIS
• Harm Reduction

The above-noted training must be completed during the first three months of employment.