CMHA Kelowna is seeking experienced, passionate, and dedicated professionals to join us in implementing an exciting new employment initiative, Foundry Works.  The aim of Foundry Works is to support BC young people with their work and study goals.  Guided by the evidence-based principles of Individual Placement and Support (IPS), Foundry Works will provide flexible, wraparound services to help at-risk youth develop work skills, become competitively employed and realize their education goals. Services are based on the premise that competitive work is a core component of personal recovery and meaningful employment can increase youth’s quality of life and contribute to improved mental health outcomes.  Housed out of Foundry Kelowna (https://foundrybc.ca/kelowna), Foundry Works staff will join a team of professionals, providing coordinated care to young people between the ages of 12-24 in the Central Okanagan.

WHO IS A FOUNDRY WORKS EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST? 

The Foundry Works Employment Specialist provides individualized, intensive vocational and educational supports and services to help youth clients with mental health concerns find and maintain competitive employment / education training that is meaningful to them. Staff must demonstrate the professional ability to build working relationships with employers, educational institutions and other relevant community partners to develop an employment network, decrease mental health stigma and provide education regarding psychological health and safety in the workplace. Services are delivered using the IPS Model, an evidence-based, client-centered, and strengths based approach.

WHAT DOES THE EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST DO?

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Vocational / educational Support to Clients and Employers / Educational Institutions 

The Foundry Works Employment Specialist will provide: job / educational development within the community, employment determination, career and educational planning, mental health supports, employment / education preparation, service coordination as required, arrange unpaid placements, job crisis support, accommodation planning and implementation, education and supports to both employees and employers within the community, job retention / educational participation and coaching.  Specifically:

• Provide support to clients using the eight principles of the Individual Placement and Support model
• Assist individuals with mental health concerns to identify viable work / education options
• Assess employment / education readiness
• Plan courses of action as a result of assessments – evaluations, consideration of clients’ physical tolerances, impact of mental health on employability / education participation
• Recommend, develop and implement employment / education plans
• Service coordination as required
• Assist individuals to prepare for and find meaningful and competitive employment / education attainment
• Job development
• Provide job / education coaching (support to train clients and/or assist them to maintain quality, accuracy and quality of work / educational requirements)
• Provide intensive job retention support
• Advocate and negotiate on behalf of youth clients, when necessary
• Facilitate referrals to identified community resources
• Develop accommodation plans
• Provide job / education crisis support
• Provide pre-employment services i.e. resume development, interview coaching
• Negotiate job trials and subsidies with employers and other Employment Services agencies
• Understand and provide Labour Market Information to job seekers to direct their employment search
• Participate in community outreach activities through the development of collaborative partnerships

2. Other responsibilities

• Document and maintain electronic youth client records (intake and assessment forms, progress notes, correspondences, database files, etc.)
• Complete administrative tasks and attend agency meetings as required
• Complete other required documents in program and agency policies and procedures and standards
• Maintain employment details for clients (including job type, job title, hours, wage, etc.)
• Participate in quality improvement activities at the team/program level
• Participate in external committees as required
• Duties may change from time to time

3. Professional Development

• Stay current on relevant legislation and best practices, current research, policies and procedures
• Participate in ongoing professional development and mandatory training
• Actively engage and participate in supervisory process 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: 

Education and Training / Experience

• Successful completion of a post-secondary – degree in social services, human resources, employment counselling or a related field, is required
• Minimum of 3-5 years related experience is required
• Demonstrated experience or understanding of the impact of employment rehabilitation in mental health recovery is required
• Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated ability to self-manage time and multiple tasks
• Excellent skills in communication, advocacy on behalf of clients, collaboration with inter-professional teams, consultation with professional colleagues and employers and the community
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexible, and works effectively at an individual, program and system level
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation principles
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Assets for this position:

• Formal Training or Education in: Labour Market Information, Job Development, Employment Counselling,
• Previous experience with using the Individual Placement and Support model

Work environment

• Work directly with individuals living with mental health concerns and/or dual diagnosis and/or addictions, individuals who are experiencing emotional and/or mental health issues and are working towards recovery
• There are multiple competing demands which require time management skills, the ability to be flexible and to prioritize
• Some evenings may be required and weekend shifts
• Some virtual/remote work may be required

WHO IS CMHA…?

At CMHA Kelowna, we are dedicated to Mental Health in our community. No matter how old or how young, we provide support for families and individuals through programs that promote positive mental health and support recovery, while championing the elimination of barriers that can prevent people from thriving. We are a dynamic, innovative and visionary organization. We are looking for someone who shares our vision of a mentally healthy Kelowna and are passionate about making a difference in our community by bringing their particular expertise to our organization. Like what you hear…fantastic, check us out:  https://cmhakelowna.org/  

CMHA KELOWNA OFFERS YOU…

• A competitive wage
• All of the other Dental, Health & EAP Benefits
• 3 weeks vacation
• 12 sick days per year
• RRSP matching program
• A work life balance that actually works with you
• A culture that embodies ‘walk the talk’ form our Leadership Team
• As a non-profit, we definitely do NOT have foosball and free snacks, but what we DO have, is the ability to empower our teams, be a part of something bigger…and learning and growing in an organization that fosters transparency and trust.

To apply for this exciting role, please forward a cover letter and resume to Tom Sakamoto, Human Resources and Employee Experience Specialist, at [email protected] by May 27, 2022.

As an employer, CMHA Kelowna strives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals, minimizes bias, and promotes the equity, diversity, and inclusion of different perspectives and ideas. At CMHA Kelowna that means welcoming diversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverse abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. These values are embedded in the work CMHA Kelowna does every day.

We appreciate and thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates and those legally eligible to work in Canada will be contacted.

CMHA Kelowna is hiring a full-time Rent Supplement Case Manager. This role is 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:00pm.

WHAT ARE RENT SUPPLEMENTS?

Rent supplements are short-term financial assistance that can be provided for up to 3 months. Rent Supplements are funded by BC Housing and are provided as a timely option for individuals and families who are at risk of homelessness and do not have sufficient funds to maintain their housing. Rent Supplements are intended to provide a top up to rent or provide “bridge” funds that will help keep an individual housed.

WHO IS A RENT SUPPLEMENT CASE MANAGER?

The Rent Supplement Case Manager works within the Homelessness Services team and is the primary client-facing role for rent supplements. They are responsible for managing all aspects of services provided to rent supplement clients.

WHAT DOES THE RENT SUPPLEMENT CASE MANAGER DO?

• Responds to client and service provider inquiries;
• Considers other services that may benefit a client in addition to, or in lieu of a rent supplement, and refers clients to those services;
• Reviews rent supplement and utility relief applications including verifying supporting documentation;
• Makes decisions on approval or decline of rent supplements and utility relief, including length and amount of subsidy if approved;
• Performs 6 and 12 month follow up calls with clients who received a rent supplement;
• Holds a small, shared caseload with the Rent Bank Case Manager, of clients who have graduated from intensive case management programs.

In addition to the client-facing responsibilities of this role, the Rent Supplement Case Manager:

• Maintains program statistics which includes reconciling database entries against internal spreadsheets;
• Assigns applicants to appropriate funding streams based on eligibility, and based on available funds;
• Maintains positive relationships with community partners including rent supplement case managers in other organizations;
• Has an understanding of relevant community resources to develop wrap around services for clients with the goal of creating housing stability;
• Liaises with the Market Rental Coordinator to ensure client moves, subsidy adjustments, etc. are updated as needed;
• Works closely and collaboratively with the Rent Bank Case Manager, the Market Rental Coordinator, and Finance Department to ensure continuity of services;
• Attends weekly case review and team meetings with the Homelessness Services team.

YOUR STRENGTHS AND EXPERIENCE:

• A 4-year degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in Social Work, Human Services, Health Sciences, or other related programs. A relevant two-year diploma plus extensive experience in a related field may also be considered.
• Experience providing services for at-risk and/or marginalized populations.
• Experience in a non-profit organization is an asset.
• Ability to function effectively in difficult, emotionally charged, and/or crisis situations is required.
• Willingness to work holistically with clients to help them access a range of services, depending on needs identified through assessment.
• Comfortable with basic financial concepts and tools such as household budgets, comparing income vs expenses, credit, debt, interest and loans.
• Comfortable working with computer applications, databases, and excel spreadsheets; strong computer skills an asset.
• Knowledge of local resources related to housing, social and financial services is an asset.
• Clear criminal records check.

To apply for this exciting role, please forward a cover letter and resume to Tom Sakamoto, Human Resources and Employee Experience Specialist, at [email protected] by May 18, 2022.

As an employer, CMHA Kelowna strives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals, minimizes bias, and promotes the equity, diversity, and inclusion of different perspectives and ideas. At CMHA Kelowna that means welcoming diversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverse abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. These values are embedded in the work CMHA Kelowna does every day.

We appreciate and thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates and those legally eligible to work in Canada will be contacted.