The Agency

The Calgary John Howard Society (CJHS) is a charity that reduces crime and makes Calgary communities safer by helping youth and adults make positive changes and move away from criminal behaviour. We do this by addressing the root causes of crime through housing, education, employment programs and support so that individuals have alternatives to breaking the law. CJHS is committed to restorative justice and an organizational environment that recognizes the dignity and worth of each person. CJHS values diversity and inclusion and welcomes qualified applicants from all walks of life.

The Program

The Roofs for Youth program is a Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) funded program that operates within the Calgary Homeless Serving System of Care (CHSSC) to provide support for homeless youth or youth at risk of homelessness aged 15 to 24 years old; helping them successfully develop their living skills, transition to adulthood, and meet their self-defined goals for independence. Youth are either justice system involved or at risk of justice system involvement, lack stable housing, and have identified the need for intensive case-management support.

Roofs for Youth casework operates within the CJHS Natural Supports, Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed, Diversity, and Restorative practice frameworks. Youth receive a continuum of services from institutional discharge planning, housing placement, support with justice system navigation, access to employment and employability skill development, educational opportunities, connections to natural supports, basic needs support, life skills development, and intensive community-based case management. Roofs for Youth strives to be extremely collaborative both internally and externally in our relationships with the other agencies within the CHSSC and our youth's professional and natural supports. We value creativity, advocacy, and promoting a positive, supportive agency culture.

Roofs for Youth includes two place-based congregate living homes, Raido House (15 - 18 yrs.) and Windsor Park (18 - 24 yrs.), where clients may be placed if they need more on-site support. Our Outreach Casework Team supports a large number of youth (15 - 24 yrs.) in community, market housing with subsidy and intensive case-management.

The Position

The Occupational Therapist will function in both a consultative and direct manner, working with the various teams in the Roofs for Youth program. Reporting to the Roofs for Youth Raido House Team Lead, this position will ensure the development, implementation and on-going administration of addiction and mental health assessments and treatment plans for youth housed primarily at the Windsor Park and Raido House congregate living homes, they will also provide support as needed with program youth supported by our Outreach Team. Roles and responsibilities include:

• Assist youth with identifying goals related to their activities of daily living (ADLs) and then developing a plan in collaboration with caseworkers to achieve these goals.
• One-on-one support with youth to achieve their ADL goals as required.

• Provision of clinical assessments, including: physical and mental functioning, substance use, medication, suicide and self-harm screening, etc...
• Provide written reports and with treatment recommendations, strategies, and training to the case management teams.
  
• Participate in case conferences, playing an active role in coordinating wrap-around supports for youth.
• Recommend adaptive equipment as needed.
• Promote and maintain effective linkages with addiction and mental health systems and community agencies, connecting youth with appropriate community treatment.
• Organize trainings and workshops for the staff and youth regarding addiction and mental health issues.
• Use clinical reasoning for advocacy amongst the youth's professional support teams.
• Consult with case management teams, to build capacities to provide supports for occupational performance issues.

The successful candidate will hold a degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited university program. They will hold active or be eligible for registration with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists and have professional liability insurance. The successful applicant will have a minimum of 2 years of experience supporting individuals with mental health and addictions disorders, homelessness and poverty.

This is a 40hr a week, full-time, term-certain position, with full benefits until December 31st, 2023, with the possibility of extension. Our flex-time policy allows employees to adjust their work schedules to fit both program and personal requirements.

We offer a competitive salary, which includes a base salary and retention bonus.

Please apply with a cover letter using the link below, detailing how supporting youth in our program aligns with your professional goals and values.

https://calgaryjohnhoward.bamboohr.com/careers/62

Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found.