Alexandra Comm Hlth Ctr·Calgary, Alberta
The Registered Nurse provides medical interventions, assessments, and crisis support to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and severe mental health or substance use disorders. They work as part of an Assertive Community Treatment team to ensure health and housing stability through outreach and integrated care.
Do you have a passion for working with individuals who are going through significant substance use and/or mental health issues? Do you want to work with a multidisciplinary team that offers support services in evidence-based Assertive Community Treatment? If so, this position may be for 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 Registered Nurse (RN) is a key member of the Pathways ACT Team. The RN is responsible for providing medical interventions to support program participants to achieve health and housing stability while reintegrating into the community. Some of the interventions provided by the RN include assessment, treatment, education, referral, urgent response, and triage for program participants. Furthermore, the RN contributes to a wide range of needs and is responsive to ACT Team duties.
This is a permanent, full-time position.
Program Philosophy
Offer culturally sensitive services, where indicated.
Uphold the principles of ACT Model, Harm Reduction, Housing First and Trauma Informed Care.
Understand the Residential Tenancy Act, Mental Health Act and Community Treatment Orders.
Understand and follow program policies and procedures.
Administrative
Complete monthly evidence-based assessment tools with program participants and required data entry.
Create, implement and update participant-centered service plan goals, safety planning, housing support plans.
Complete administrative tasks, workflow processes, and task tracking to ensure the timely and effective completion of nursing responsibilities.
Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and respective of professional college requirements.
Participant Care
Provide single-staff, assertive outreach services to individuals with significant mental health and addiction concerns (predominantly Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective and Bipolar Disorder).
Support program participants who experience acute, severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders.
Provide provision of nursing care in collaboration with the Housing First Medical Clinic.
Perform assessments, offer health education, engage in illness prevention, and connect participants to health resources.
Perform laboratory procedures and prepare specimens for transfer according to policies and procedures.
Maintain a comprehensive understanding of crisis management and the impact of trauma on mental health and addiction issues.
Identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and work alongside program participants to reduce the likelihood of eviction, including supporting with regular unit inspections.
Accompany and/or provide transportation support to clients, sometimes in personal vehicle, to external appointments and assist with activities of daily living as required.
Advocate for the rights of program participants.
Aid participants with systems navigation, including justice, financial, and health care system(s).
Assist participants with obtaining and maintaining income support.
Assist program participants with rent payment and rental arrear payment plans as needed.
Understand and support participants with medication assistance as required.
Demonstrate strong crisis support and de-escalation skills.
Facilitate staff naloxone training.
Team
Demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills, including active listening skills.
Actively participate in daily team meeting, medical meetings and case planning meetings.
Demonstrate initiative and an ability to work as an influential member of a team under minimal supervision, supporting colleagues as needed.
Display a high degree of professionalism as well as collaborate with partner agencies.
Welcome and provide ongoing feedback to promote a healthy workplace environment, strong team cohesion and exceptional program delivery.
Participate in a rotating 24/7 on-call schedule.
Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
Perform additional duties as assigned.
A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
Active registration with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA)
Minimum two years of experience as a Registered Nurse.
Comfort meeting individually with participants in the community, in a broad variety of settings, with a safety-first mindset.
Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
Willingness to support participants with housing needs.
Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, clean drivers abstract, and $2 million liability is required.
Minimum age of 21 years and three years of driving experience is required to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
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.
Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues.
Strong knowledge base of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
Understanding of Housing First and Harm Reduction.
Knowledge of evidenced-based interventions.
Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility.
Strong initiative in times of limited supervision.
Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the
Truth and
Reconciliation
Commission of
Canada: Calls to Action.
Work environment and hours
Work environment is split between The Alex Community Health Centre: 2840-2 Ave SE, Calgary, AB and outreach; single clinician visits in program participant homes.
1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs/week)
Standard hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday; flexibility in crisis situations is required.
24 hour on-call services on a rotating schedule.
Continuous extended periods of sitting, with some standing and walking.
Frequent driving as part of work duties.
Occasional climbing and carrying objects (up to or over 20 lbs.) up or down stairs throughout shift
Occasional physical activity requires the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, and kneel/crawl.
Work tasks require the physical dexterity to work on a computer and handle small objects, near and far vision, and verbal interaction with clients, colleagues, and the public on a regular basis.
Occasional time outside in all weather conditions.
This position requires frontline staff, in some cases, to be exposed to emotionally disturbing events, such as medical distress, threatened/actual serious injury, violence, abuse, and death.
There may also be exposure to situations where clients may be experiencing fear, terror, hopelessness, rage, self-harm and conflict.
It is understood and accepted that this position will be working in distress/high-stress situations, which may include emergency response where resiliency, stress tolerance, and the ability to maintain composure is imperative.
This position may also be exposed to bodily fluids.
The health and safety - both physical and psychological- of our employees is a priority.
The Alex is focused on providing a safe, supportive and healthy work environment.
This position requires the use of a personal vehicle and an Alex fleet vehicle for work-related purposes.
Candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract.
Candidates must also agree to maintain $2 million liability insurance on their personal vehicle, and consent to 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 also requires that candidates 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
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and active registration with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta. A minimum of two years of nursing experience, a valid driver's license, and a clean criminal record are required.
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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.