Who are we?
Operation Come Home is an employment, education, and support centre for homeless and at-risk youth age 16 and up. Our programs focus on what works and what matters to youth, as well as encourage personal growth of everyone as an individual. Operation Come Home is based in Ottawa, Ontario.
Vision:
To prevent homeless youth from becoming homeless adults.
Mission:
To provide a comprehensive menu of innovative programs and services designed to engage youth in productive activities that will provide them with a foundation to move on with their life goals.
Value Statement:
Operation Come Home strives to create a professional, non-judgemental, caring, confidential, consistent, youth-centred environment that empowers youth, staff and volunteers to actively promote: advocacy, youth success through opportunity, adaptability, integrity and equality through a team approach while maintaining respect for human worth and dignity.
Position Summary:
The Peer Case Manager will provide comprehensive, person-centered case management services to youth ages 16-29, experiencing homelessness, with a focus on those who use substances. Using a harm reduction approach, the Peer Case Manager will help clients navigate challenges, build resilience, and access critical supports that foster stability and well-being. This role is rooted in lived experience and empathy, with a goal of empowering youth to make informed choices and achieve their personal goals.
Please note that this is a 3-month contract with the possibility of extension should other positions within the agency become available along with a successful application and interview process.
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the position is to ensure that youth experiencing homelessness who are using substances are offered information that can prevent or limit the harms from substance use, access harm reduction services, and receive wrap-around supports that will help them to achieve their goals. The Peer Case Manager may help individuals connect with community services, secure housing, finding employment, completing education, reaching goals around substance use and improve their overall well-being.
Reporting:
This position reports to the Harm Reduction Coordinator.
Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position, requiring 40 hours per week. Standard hours of work are Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In addition, staff are expected to be available to work evenings and weekends as required, based on the needs of the program. Hours may be adjusted with prior notice to accommodate program demands.
Salary & Benefits:
- Salary: $53,307 – paid twice monthly
- Access to Group Health Benefits program
- Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program
- Matching RRSP Matching Program after first year of employment
- Two weeks paid vacation in year 1 & Three Weeks in year 2 of employment
Duties and Responsibilities:
Case Management & Support
- Provide individualized, trauma-informed case management for youth experiencing homelessness and substance use challenges.
- Use a harm reduction framework to support clients in addressing substance use, mental health, housing, and other personal goals.
- Offer short-term interventions for crisis management, including collaborative safety planning and immediate support as needed.
- Conduct thorough intakes and assessments to determine the unique needs of each youth, including harm reduction and other basic needs (e.g., shelter, food, employment, education).
- Provide ongoing case management, ensuring continuity of care and regular follow-up to assess progress and adjust supports.
- Empower clients to set goals around substance use, using the Stages of Change model to inform case planning and support.
- Ensure that youth have access to safer consumption supplies, and educate them on harm reduction strategies, safer use practices, and reducing risks associated with substance use.
- Collaborate with clients to create personalized safety and crisis management plans.
- Support youth in the Operation Come Home resource centre through in-reach shifts.
Advocacy & Education
- Advocate on behalf of youth, empowering them with information about their rights, available resources, and community services.
- Educate clients about local drug trends, harm reduction practices, and resources that support their well-being.
- Work closely with participants to address barriers related to substance use, housing, employment, and education, and to connect them to appropriate services.
- Stay informed on emerging trends in drug use and harm reduction approaches and share this information with both clients and colleagues.
Collaboration & Referrals
- Collaborate with the Harm Reduction Team, other staff, and external partners to ensure comprehensive care and support for youth.
- Make referrals to relevant community services such as medical care, education, counseling, and employment support.
- Participate in community outreach and networking to build resources and partnerships that benefit youth.
Documentation & Data Management
- Maintain accurate, timely records for each client, documenting case progress, interventions, and service interactions in accordance with internal procedures.
- Input data into relevant databases, including Operation Come Home’s (OCH) internal system.
- Participate in regular team meetings to review case progress, share updates, and ensure alignment with team goals.
- Attend daily team huddles for effective communication within the Harm Reduction Team.
Program Support & Development
- Contribute to the ongoing development of harm reduction programming by sharing feedback, ideas, and insights from clients.
- Assist with the development of outreach materials, training, and resources for both staff and clients.
- Collaborate with external agencies to expand available resources and improve service delivery.
Other Responsibilities:
- Support agency everyday operational duties, such as participating in building reception shifts, accepting donations, building clean-up activities, cooking drop-in programming breakfast on occasion, etc.
- Represent and promote Operation Come Home (OCH) within the broader community, fostering positive relationships with other service providers, media, and key stakeholders to raise awareness and build support for the organization’s mission and programs.
- Participate in local events, forums, and networking opportunities to engage with potential partners and expand OCH's visibility and impact.
- Respond to incoming calls, inquiries, and service requests in a professional and timely manner, providing accurate information about OCH programs and services to community members and other stakeholders.
- Maintain a helpful, solution-oriented approach in all communications, ensuring that clients and partners feel supported and informed.
- Attend monthly staff meetings, supervision sessions, and team meetings to stay informed on program updates, contribute to discussions, and provide feedback to support team decision-making.
- Participate actively in team discussions, contributing insights and suggestions to improve program delivery and client outcomes.
- Keep the supervisor informed of any critical or time-sensitive issues that require immediate attention or action. Proactively seek guidance when needed to ensure the effective resolution of challenges.
- Perform other duties as assigned by management to meet the evolving needs of the program and ensure its continued success. This may include administrative tasks, program development activities, or special projects as required.
Qualifications:
- Living or lived experiences that are similar to those faced by youth community members of Operation Come Home, such as experiences with homelessness and/or substance use
- High school education, or equivalent life experience, post-secondary education in social services considered an asset
- Ability to work onsite at 150 Gloucester Street for 40 hours per week, between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm
- Must have a level of stability in day-to-day life such that doing this work will not affect recovery in a negative way
- Must have up to date vaccinations
- Must provide a Vulnerable Sector Check (a criminal record does not make the candidate ineligible for the position)
- Bilingualism in both official languages considered an asset
Candidates requiring accommodation during the application and/or the interview process should contact [email protected] so arrangements can be made.
Operation Come Home is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. It is important to us that our staff team reflect the members of the community we serve. Operation Come Home is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce and as such we encourage applications from individuals who reflect the broad diversity of communities we work with.
We thank all applicants for their interest. Only applicants invited to an interview will be contacted.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $53,307.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- Are you able to work from our office located at 150 Gloucester St in Ottawa, ON?
- Do you identify as having living or lived experiences that are similar to those faced by youth community members of Operation Come Home, such as experiences with homelessness and/or substance use ?
- Are you bilingual in both official languages (English and French)?
Work Location: In person
