Alexandra Comm Hlth Ctr·Calgary, Alberta
The Social Worker provides assertive outreach, advocacy, and supportive counselling to individuals with severe mental health and substance use disorders. They are responsible for creating treatment plans, navigating social service systems, and supporting participants in achieving housing stability and community reintegration.
Are you a registered Social Worker looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where you can advocate for clients and connect them with essential services?? If so, we’d love to hear from you!
Since 1973, The Alex has been a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing integrated primary health care, community support services, and housing-focused programs to individuals and families who experience barriers to accessing traditional health, housing, and social service systems. Services are grounded in principles of health equity, low-barrier access, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, and person-centered care.
Pathways to Housing (Pathways or P2H) operates as an evidence based Assertive Community Treatment team, adhering to the ACT Fidelity framework and guided by recovery and recovery-oriented supportive housing principles. Through team-based outreach, onsite programming, and access to subsidized housing, the program provides integrated primary care, psychiatric care, mental health services, and social support to participants who have been chronically unhoused and are living with psychotic illness.
Reporting to the Clinical Team Lead, the Social Worker is a key member of the PAO Team and is responsible for utilizing a variety of approaches to support program participants in achieving stability and wellness while reintegrating into the community. Responsive to ACT Team duties, Social Workers offer advocacy, skill development, supportive counselling, referrals, and system navigation, and assist participants in meeting basic and housing needs.
This is a permanent, full-time position.
Program Philosophy
Offer culturally supportive services, where indicated.
Uphold the principles of the ACT Model, Harm Reduction, and Trauma Informed Care.
Understand and adhere to the Mental Health Act and Community Treatment Orders.
Understand and follow program policies and procedures.
Administrative
Complete regular evidence-based assessment tools with program participants and required data entry.
Complete, collect, and assist with data collection and entry as directed.
Create, implement, and update participant-centered treatment plans, service plan goals, and safety planning.
Complete required documentation and charting with excellence within electronic medical record system, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and respective of professional college requirements, and relevant legislation.
Complete team schedule, as required.
Participant Care
Support program participants who experience acute, severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders.
Provide single-staff, assertive outreach services to program participants.
Connect participants to appropriate services in the community and assist in facilitating referrals as needed.
Teach, support, and assist participants in their homes and community settings with activities of daily living skills.
Help identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and work alongside program participants and housing first partner agencies to reduce the likelihood of eviction.
Accompany and/or provide transportation support to external appointments.
Advocate for the rights of program participants, upholding their dignity and autonomy.
Empower participants to be engaged and participate in their care.
Assist participants with systems navigation, including justice, financial, and health care while maintaining continuity of care.
Provide services to assist participants with needs such as housing, housing location, entitlements, employment, education, community integration, etc.
Understand and support participants with medication assistance as required
Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of trauma on mental health and addiction issues.
Work collaboratively with program participants, families, and partner agencies to assist participants in achieving treatment and recovery goals.
Nurture professional relationships with other service providers to ensure a high quality of service for our participants.
Complete mental status examinations, risk assessments, and supportive counselling informed by Social Work theory.
Complete intake assessments, manage the triage list, and facilitate program entry.
Collaborate with and participate in regular care conferencing/consultation with partner agencies and hospitals.
Facilitate the Needs and Services Questionnaire as a Housing Strategist.
Provide ACT services as outlined in participant Community Treatment Orders.
Provide a provision of psychoeducation within groups, individual visits, partners, and natural supports.
Complete applications and documents using professional designation.
Maintain client confidentiality and clear boundaries.
Team
Actively participate in daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings.
Demonstrate a strong commitment to the interchangeability and flexibility required of a transdisciplinary ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) team member, actively contributing across roles to support participant care.
Represent the program and the agency in the community in a professional manner.
Work collaboratively with all team members to provide excellent service and achieve program outcomes.
Perform additional duties as assigned.
What You Bring
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
Active registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) is required.
Authorization to perform restricted psychosocial interventions is an asset.
Demonstrated experience in a social service, healthcare, or clinical setting is preferred.
Commitment to data collection.
Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues is preferred.
Strong knowledge base of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
A demonstrated understanding of Housing First, Mental Health Act, Community Treatment Orders, ACT Fidelity, and Harm Reduction is an asset.
Demonstrated comfort meeting individually with participants in a broad variety of settings, with a safety-first mindset.
Knowledge of evidenced-based interventions is required.
Strong crisis management and communication skills with the ability to engage clients.
Exceptional organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
Ability to receive direction and collaborate with others to achieve agreed upon goals.
Ability to work in a changing, sometimes demanding, work environment.
Strong initiative in times of limited supervision
Knowledge or familiarity with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and electronic medical records is an asset
Training in any of the following is considered an asset: Applied Suicide Intervention Training, Mental Health First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and Motivational Interviewing.
Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, clean 3-year drivers abstract, and $2 million liability coverage are required.
Minimum age of 21 years old and three (3) years of driving experience is required to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required.
Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is preferred.
Work Environment and Hours
Predominantly outreach, with single staff visits in program participant homes, or at The Alex Community Health Centre: 2840-2 Ave SE, Calgary, AB.
Standard hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday; some flexibility in crisis situations may be required.
24-hour on-call services on a rotating schedule is required.
1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per week)
Continuous extended periods of sitting, with some standing and walking (sometimes up and down stairs).
Frequent driving as part of work duties.
Occasional physical action requires the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, climb and carry objects (up to 20 lbs.) throughout shift.
Occasional time outside in all weather conditions.
This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes and the incumbent to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
Candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract.
Candidates must also consent to maintaining $2M liability coverage on their personal vehicle and the possibility of an annual driver's abstract review to meet our insurance provider’s requirements.
Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with the CRA guidelines.
Driving a fleet vehicle at The Alex requires that staff are at least 21 years of age with a minimum of three (3) years’ driving experience.
If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people’s lives, please visit our career centre: Jobs at The Alex | The Alex [https://www.thealex.ca/careers/].
This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will make every effort to accommodate candidate’s schedules and needs in all parts of the hiring process.
The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.
*The term “racialized” is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms “racial minority, “visible minority”, “person of colour”, or “non-White”.
For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website at www.thealex.ca.
At The Alex, we place a high value on strong, ethical, and professional relationships between clients and primary care providers. Clear boundaries are essential to ensuring safe, respectful, and effective care. To protect clients, medical professionals and staff, employees and contractors of The Alex are not permitted to access internal physicians, nurses, mental health clinicians, or other allied health professional services during their employment.
We recognize that some applicants may have had, or may currently have, meaningful care relationships with The Alex at the time of applying. If you are currently a client and wish to continue in our recruitment process, you are asked to disclose your service provider relationship. Should you be hired, you will be required to transition your care to an external provider within your first 90 days of employment and maintain this external care relationship for the duration of your employment. Reasonable extensions of the 90-day deadline may be considered where absolutely necessary and in the sole discretion of The Alex.
This approach helps us maintain clear boundaries, uphold professional standards, and protect our workers’ rights to privacy and confidentiality.
8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday; 24-hour on-call services on a rotating schedule
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and active registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers. Candidates must possess a valid Class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance.
Market context
Behavioral-health roles in Alberta are often driven by ongoing demand for support workers who can assist clients in community and residential settings. This type of position is competitive because employers commonly look for relevant postsecondary training, a valid Class 5 driver’s license, reliable transportation, and comfort with aquatic activities and pets. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to quickly compare fit and save time on original job-description research.