Social Prescribing Link Worker

Unison at Veiner Centre is a non-profit organization located in Medicine Hat. Dedicated to enhancing life for older Albertans, Unison at Veiner Centre offers an exciting opportunity to engage in meaningful community development and build a career in the charitable sector.

• Position: Social Prescribing Link Worker
• Terms of Employment: Full-Time, Permanent
• Salary range: $52.252 - $55,000
• Location: Medicine Hat

Job purpose
Reporting to the Manager of Programs, the Link Worker plays an integral role in bridging the gap between healthcare and social care. The worker provides support to people of age 50 and older to overcome challenges and barriers in accessing social support and community interventions. The Link Worker will address the non-medical needs that enhance the social determinants of health.

Duties and responsibilities

This role includes a diverse range of responsibilities – from conducting assessments and developing personalized case plans, to providing practical support to clients/participants and their families. Your experience, training and interpersonal skills help you to make meaningful connections with your clients/participants as you discern their unique needs. Through your work with local agencies and professionals, you will make a positive impact on the lives of your clients/participants and the community overall.

This could include assistance in accessing food resources, transportation, physical activities, volunteer opportunities or assistance in filling out forms. The Link Worker will provide direct support to older adults connecting them with services and programs addressing physical and social needs as identified by the individual.

Direct Services:

• Complete an assessment of needs for older adults accessing the Social Prescribing program.

• Provide resource information, referral and supports as required.

• Make referrals to appropriate internal and external programs and services.

• Provide assistance in filling out forms.

• Provide general information concerning government and non-government programs, benefits and services to seniors.

• Assist seniors in navigation of services and systems.

• Help seniors connect with and organize delivery of services for seniors with unmet needs.

• Attend appointments or programs with seniors to overcome barriers, where appropriate.

• Collaborate with other agencies and professionals in the community for the benefit of the client/participant.

• Create social connection plans for individuals experiencing social isolation.

• Navigate complex systems for the best possible outcomes.

• Conduct satisfaction surveys with clients/participants who received services from the program.

• Use all different communication methods to interact with clients/participants including but not limited to, telephone, text, email, in-person office appointments, or home visits.

• Encourage autonomy, empower when feasible, intervene when necessary.

• Work with vulnerable population from a strength-based approach in a respectful, non-judgmental, client-centered, and solution-focused manner

Data Entry and Reporting:

• Maintain program utilization statistics. 
• Ensure data entry is kept up to date.
• Identify program improvement opportunities.
• Adhere to policies and procedures.
  

Community Perspective:

• Network with agencies involved in this program.
• Provide information and referral to other community resources as required.
• Liaise with professionals and community agencies involved with seniors.
• Be familiar with community resources.
• Represent the program on committees and councils.
• Prepare and deliver educational presentations.
  

Organizational Perspective:

• Be oriented to the agency and be familiar with all Unison services.
• Attend Unison Team meetings as time allows.
• Attend regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with immediate supervisor.
• Work in partnership with all Unison departments.
• Maintain confidentiality in client/participant and Unison business.
• Demonstrate professional behaviour and appearance appropriate to the position.
• Follow safety directives such as Working Alone Policy.
  

Marketing:

• Work with the Veiner Centre Site Director and the Director of Business Development to develop a marketing strategy for Social Prescribing Program.

• Utilize social media platforms to promote Social Prescribing Program at the Veiner and Strathcona Centre.

• Create all content for Social Prescribing program and promotion for the Veiner Centre, including but not limited:

  a. Social media posts

  b. Pamphlets

  c. Posters

  d. Advertisements

  e. Newsletter/Kerby news/media content

  f. Impact Statements

Qualifications
EDUCATION 

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or human services related work. Post graduate education, a definite asset. A 2-year post secondary diploma with experience in a related field may be considered.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of issues impacting older adults.
• Knowledge of resources available to support older adults.
• Knowledge of principles and theories of gerontology and community development.
• Knowledge of the culture and diversity of the 50+ population.
• Knowledge of trauma informed care for crisis intervention, suicide prevention, bereavement, or grief issues.

Skills:

• Healthy aging initiatives engaging multi-disciplinary teams.
• Analysis and reasoning skills.
• Strong verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Ability to plan, problem solve and possess strong interpersonal skills.
• Tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent communication skills and can interact with a wide range of individuals in the community.
• Work as a team within the organization and within the community.
• Good administration skills including time management, detail oriented and organized.

Computer Proficiency (Intermediate level)

• Word processing – mail merge
• Excel spreadsheets
• Outlook
• Teams/Sharepoint
• Canva
  
• Zoom and other networking platforms
  

Experience:

• 3 to 5 years of experience in a similar role.
• Preference given to individuals with experience in related settings such as shelters, resource lines, distress lines, care centres, seniors’ housing, and seniors’ centres.
• Training and/or experience in the following areas an asset: family violence, elder abuse, marginalized populations, addictions and mental health.

Additional Training:

• First Aid and CPR
• Crisis De-escalation
• Quality Improvement and Outcome Measurement
• Suicide Awareness
• Self-Harm
  
• Indigenous Awareness and Diversity
• Trauma Informed Care
• FOIP/PIPA
• Client Centre Care
  

Must have own vehicle to use for daily work-related travel with valid business insurance of a minimum $2 million liability insurance.

Working Hours:
This is a full-time position Monday to Friday, 35 hours a week, 8 hours a day including one hour of unpaid lunch break.

Work can be office based or at clients’ homes. Driving clients to appointments may be required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@unisonalberta.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.