Registered Nurse

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!

Who We Are

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.

The Pathways Assertive Outreach (PAO) program is a non-housing support service that operates as an evidence-based Assertive Community Treatment team, practicing within the ACT Fidelity framework and guided by Recovery and Assertive Engagement principles. Services are delivered by a transdisciplinary team, and the program prioritizes continuity of care for individuals with a chronic primary diagnosis of a psychotic illness.

Reporting to the Clinical Team Lead, the Registered Nurse (RN) is a key team member of the Pathways Assertive Outreach program. The RN is responsible for providing medical interventions to support program participants in achieving stability and wellness while reintegrating into the community. Some of the interventions provided by the RN include assessment, treatment, education, orientation, referral, urgent response, and triage for program participants. Furthermore, the RN contributes to various needs and is responsive to ACT Team duties.

This is a part-time, contract position for one year from the hire date.

What You Will Do

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.

What You Bring

Required:

• 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.
• Proven competency in venipuncture and the safe handling, labeling, and processing of laboratory specimens in accordance with clinical standards.
• 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.

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.
• 0.6 FTE (22.5 hrs/week)
• Standard hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Tuesday to Thursday; 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.

Working 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.

Driving on behalf of The Alex:

This position requires the use of a personal 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.

What We Offer

*Pro-rated based on FTE

Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:

• 3-weeks’ vacation
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Health / Wellness Spending Accounts
• RRSP, Student Loan Repayment Program and/or Mortgage Accelerator Payment Program (up to 5% match)
• Personal Days
• Floating Holiday
• Sick/Wellness Days
• Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
• Professional Development

How to Apply:

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.

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.

In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

*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 atwww.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.

Standard hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Tuesday to Thursday