Union: Non-Union
Base Location: Northreach Society Grande Prairie Administration Office
Employment Type: Full-Time
Wage: Commensurate with experience
Shifts: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Vehicle Requirement: Yes
Application Deadline: Until suitable candidate is found
About Northreach Society
Northreach Society is a non‑profit organization based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, dedicated to improving health and well‑being across Northern Alberta. Our mission is to build a respectful, comprehensive, and dignified network of support for all populations through collaboration, education, health promotion, and injury prevention.
We provide a broad range of community‑based services, including overdose prevention, STBBI testing and support, harm‑reduction and injury‑prevention supply distribution, and additional health‑promotion initiatives. These include programs addressing food insecurity through our Helping Hands Division.
Guided by our vision of a safe and inclusive world free from discrimination, Northreach Society works to empower individuals and strengthen communities through innovation, compassion, and respect. Our organization is supported by a dedicated team of staff, collaborative partners, and a committed board of directors who work together to deliver essential programs that promote health, dignity, and community well‑being across the region.
Northreach Society strives to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and other racialized individuals, people with lived or living experience, and others who bring diverse perspectives. We are committed to equity in hiring and ensure that all candidates are fairly considered based on their strengths and experience.
Position Overview
The Women's Health Outreach (WHO) Worker provides outreach, advocacy, and system navigation support to pregnant and parenting women experiencing barriers such as homelessness, housing instability, poverty, substance use, mental health challenges, or involvement in survival sex work.
Using a risk reduction, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and person-centred approach, the WHO Worker supports women throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, strengthen parenting capacity, and increase access to healthcare, social services, and community resources.
Program Objectives
Support women to:
- Access prenatal, postpartum, and primary healthcare services.
- Improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
- Increase engagement with community and social support systems.
- Access stable housing, income, food security, and other essential resources.
- Increase rates of healthy birth outcomes and healthy birth weights.
- Develop parenting skills and support.
- Safely initiate and maintain breastfeeding when appropriate and desired.
- Reduce risks associated with substance use through risk reduction approaches.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Client Outreach and Support
- Build trusting, professional relationships with women experiencing complex social, health, and economic challenges.
- Conduct outreach and engagement activities in community settings where clients live, gather, or access services.
- Complete client intakes, needs assessments, goal setting, and ongoing support planning.
- Provide practical, emotional, and strengths-based support throughout pregnancy and early parenting.
- Support clients in identifying, pursuing, and achieving self-directed goals.
- Assist clients in navigating healthcare, child and family services, housing, income support, legal systems, and community resources.
- Provide crisis intervention, de-escalation, advocacy, and problem-solving support as required.
Advocacy and Case Coordination
- Advocate for clients experiencing barriers to accessing services and supports.
- Coordinate and facilitate referrals to healthcare providers, addiction and mental health services, parenting programs, housing supports, Indigenous services, and other community resources.
- Provide transportation and appointment accompaniment to support client access to healthcare, social services, housing, legal supports, and other essential community resources.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and service providers to support coordinated care and continuity of services.
- Monitor client progress and update support plans to reflect changing needs and goals.
Health Promotion and Resource Navigation
- Provide clients with information, resource navigation, and referrals related to prenatal health, infant development, infant feeding, sexual health, harm reduction, substance use during pregnancy, safer sex and safer substance use practices, and STBBI prevention, including HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis.
- Support clients in accessing healthcare, social services, and community-based supports that promote maternal, infant, and family well-being.
- Collaborate with nurses, healthcare providers, and community partners to connect clients with appropriate clinical education, assessment, treatment, and support services.
- Develop and deliver non-clinical presentations, awareness sessions, and resource-sharing activities focused on harm reduction, stigma reduction, available supports, and barriers experienced by vulnerable pregnant women.
Community Partnerships & Collaboration
- Develop and maintain effective partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Helping Hands Division, Alberta Health Services, primary care providers, addiction and mental health services, Indigenous organizations, housing and shelter providers, child and family support agencies, and community service organizations.
- Maintain and strengthen the formal partnership with the Helping Hands Division to support integrated service delivery, coordinated referrals, and improved client outcomes.
- Participate in community planning, networking, case consultations, and collaborative initiatives that enhance service coordination and access to care.
- Promote awareness of available community resources and advocate for equitable access to services for vulnerable pregnant women and families.
Documentation, Reporting and Evaluation
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential client records in accordance with organizational policies and privacy legislation.
- Track and report program activities, outcomes, and service statistics, including: Client contacts, Home visits, Referrals, Appointment accompaniments, Community presentations, Birth outcomes and birth weights, Breastfeeding participation rates, Client engagement with community services
- Contribute to program evaluation, outcome measurement, data collection, and reporting requirements.
- Support continuous quality improvement by identifying trends, service gaps, and opportunities to enhance client outcomes
Education
- Diploma in Social Work, Human Services, Community Rehabilitation, Addictions Counselling, Nursing, Public Health, Community Health, or a related field.
- Equivalent combination of education, lived experience, and relevant experience may be considered.
Experience
- Minimum two years of experience working with vulnerable or marginalized populations.
- Experience in outreach, case management, risk reduction, maternal health, homelessness services, addiction and mental health, or community-based support programs.
- Experience supporting individuals experiencing barriers related to poverty, substance use, trauma, housing instability, and systemic discrimination.
Additional Requirements:
- Criminal and Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Class 5 Driver’ License and reliable vehicle required
Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of risk reduction principles, substance use, addiction, recovery pathways, and overdose prevention.
- Knowledge of prenatal, postpartum, maternal, infant, and family health.
- Understanding of trauma-informed and violence-informed care practices.
- Knowledge of social determinants of health and the impacts of poverty, homelessness, housing instability, mental health challenges, and systemic barriers.
- Knowledge of STBBIs, including HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, and safer sex practices.
- Knowledge of Indigenous cultural safety, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
- Understanding of Alberta's healthcare, social service, housing, income support, and child and family service systems.
- Ability to assess client needs, identify barriers, and develop appropriate support plans.
- Ability to navigate complex systems and coordinate referrals to community resources and services.
- Ability to facilitate individual and group education related to health, risk reduction, and wellness.
- Strong documentation, case note writing, data collection, and reporting skills.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and electronic case management systems.
- Ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities and competing demands.
Core Competencies
- Relationship Building: Establishes trusting and respectful relationships with clients, community partners, and service providers.
- Client-Centred Practice: Demonstrates empathy, compassion, and respect for client autonomy and self-determination.
- Cultural Humility: Engages respectfully with individuals from diverse cultural, social, and lived-experience backgrounds.
- Communication: Communicates clearly, professionally, and effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Collaboration: Works cooperatively with colleagues, healthcare providers, and community agencies to achieve positive outcomes.
- Professionalism and Integrity: Demonstrates accountability, ethical conduct, sound judgment, and reliability.
- Adaptability: Responds effectively to changing client needs, priorities, and community conditions.
- Problem Solving: Identifies barriers, evaluates options, and develops practical solutions.
- Boundary Management: Maintains professional boundaries while providing supportive services.
- Resilience: Demonstrates emotional maturity and self-awareness when working in challenging or high-stress situations.
- Organization and Time Management: Effectively prioritizes responsibilities, maintains accurate records, and meets established deadlines.
Working Conditions
- Employment Status: This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week), typically scheduled Monday to Friday. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support client needs, community events, training, or program activities.
- Work Environment: The position is primarily community-based and requires work in office settings, client residences, shelters, healthcare facilities, community agencies, and public spaces. The role requires a high degree of independence, flexibility, and mobility throughout the service area. Limited remote work for administrative duties may be available, subject to operational requirements and supervisor approval.
- Physical & Mental Demands
- Frequent walking, standing, sitting, driving, and community-based outreach activities.
- Exposure to complex and unpredictable situations involving health, social, behavioural, and environmental challenges.
- Ability to respond appropriately to crisis situations while maintaining professional boundaries and personal safety.
- Requires emotional resilience when supporting individuals experiencing trauma, substance use, homelessness, poverty, and parenting challenges.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate documentation within established timelines.
- Population Interaction
- Regular direct interaction with pregnant and parenting women experiencing complex social, health, and economic challenges.
- Frequent collaboration with healthcare providers, community agencies, government programs, and other service partners.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and lived-experience backgrounds.
- Transportation Requirements: Frequent local travel throughout the service area is expected. Client transportation may be required in accordance with organizational policies and insurance requirements.
- Technology Use: Daily use of Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, email, virtual meeting platforms, and electronic client-record systems. Responsible for maintaining accurate electronic documentation, service records, and reporting data.
- Confidentiality & Compliance: Responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of client, partner, and organizational information. Must comply with applicable privacy legislation, ethical standards, organizational policies, and health and safety requirements.
Job Type: Casual
Pay: $26.00-$28.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Location:
- Grande Prairie, AB T8V 5B6 (required)
Work Location: In person
