Are you passionate about supporting individuals with significant mental health and substance use challenges? Do you thrive in community-based outreach, building trust and advocating for participants where they are? Are you an innovative Occupational Therapist who values collaboration, flexibility, and trauma-informed, harm reduction approaches? Apply today and help individuals build the skills, confidence, and independence to thrive in their communities!
What We Do
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 Occupational Therapist is a key member of the Pathways Assertive Outreach Team (PAOT) and is responsible for supporting program participants to improve, regain and develop skills needed for daily life. The occupational therapist helps restore or increase the program participant's ability to care for themselves and engage in work, school or leisure in an outreach setting (within participants' homes) and is responsive to ACT Team duties, including on-call duties.
This is a full-time contract position for 13 months until September 3, 2027.
What You Will Do
Program Philosophy
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Offer culturally sensitive services where indicated.
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Uphold the principles of the ACT Model, Harm Reduction and Trauma Informed Care.
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Understand the Mental Health Act and Community Treatment Orders.
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Understand and follow program policies and procedures.
Administrative
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Complete monthly evidence-based assessment tools with program participants and required data entry.
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Create, implement and update participant-centred service plan goals, and safety planning.
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Complete required documentation with excellence, following agency policy and procedures and respective professional college requirements.
Participant Care
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Provide single-staff, assertive outreach services to individuals with significant mental health and addiction concerns.
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Support program participants who experience acute, severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders.
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Analyze program participants' capabilities and expectations related to life activities through observation, interviews and formal assessments.
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Consult and complete program intakes.
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Develop intervention programs to address program participants' needs related to self-care, work and leisure activities.
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Establish personalized care plans while working as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
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Consult and advise on health promotion programs to prevent disabilities and maximize independent function in all activities of life.
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May supervise support personnel and students and provide training.
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Advising on adaptive equipment to help program participants with daily activities.
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Preparing program participants for a return to work, when applicable.
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Educating caregivers and family members of program participants on program participant care, when applicable.
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Evaluating results and progress of occupational therapy on program participants.
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Maintaining professional knowledge and technical progress to provide program participants with the best treatment program available.
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Maintain a comprehensive understanding of crisis management and the impact of trauma on mental health and addiction issues.
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Willingness to teach and support participants in their suites and community settings with daily living skills (e.g. cooking, cleaning, financial literacy, grocery shopping, budgeting, laundry, etc.).
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Help identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and work alongside program participants to reduce the likelihood of eviction, including supporting regular unit inspections.
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Accompany and/or provide transportation support to external appointments and assist with activities of daily living as required.
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Advocate for the rights of program participants.
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Aid participants with systems navigation, including justice, financial, and health care system(s)
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Assist participants with obtaining and maintaining income supports.
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Assist program participants with rent payment and rental arrear payment plans as needed.
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Understand and support participants with medication assistance as required.
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Demonstrate strong crisis support and de-escalation skills.
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Facilitate group programming for participants.
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Collaborate with partnering agencies around participant service planning goals.
Team
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Demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills, including active listening skills.
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Actively participate in daily team meetings and case planning meetings.
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Demonstrate initiative and an ability to work as an influential member of a team under minimal supervision, supporting colleagues as needed.
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Display a high degree of professionalism as well as collaborate with partner agencies.
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Welcome and provide ongoing feedback to promote a healthy workplace environment, strong team cohesion and exceptional program delivery.
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Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
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Perform additional duties as assigned.
What You Bring
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Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy is required.
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Registered with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT).
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Possess up-to-date knowledge of treatment practices and physical therapy programs.
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Minimum two years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, an asset.
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Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, substance use disorder, etc.).
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Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues.
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Strong knowledge of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
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Understanding of ACT Model and Harm Reduction.
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Comfort meeting individually with participants in the community, in a wide variety of settings, with a safety-first mindset.
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Knowledge of evidence-based interventions (e.g., motivational interviewing, de-escalation skills, crisis intervention, etc.).
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Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
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Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
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Openness to a broad scope of practice with a commitment to innovation and flexibility.
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Willingness to support participants with housing needs (e.g. safely lift household items within your ability, support with teaching independent living skills, etc.).
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Strong initiative in times of limited supervision.
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Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, clean 3-year drivers abstract, and $2 million liability coverage are required.
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First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
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A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required.
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Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is preferred.
Work Environment and Hours:
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Work environment is split between in-office and outreach, single clinician visits in program participant homes - The Alex Community Health Centre: 2840 – 2 Ave SE, Calgary, AB).
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1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs/wk).
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Standard hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday; on call on some weekends.
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Continuous extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking
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Frequent driving as part of work duties.
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Occasional climbing and carrying objects (up to or over 20 lbs.) up or down stairs throughout shift
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Occasional physical action: requires the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (up to or over 20Ibs.) throughout shift.
What We Offer
Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:
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3-weeks’ vacation
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Medical and Dental Coverage
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Health / Wellness Spending Accounts
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RRSP, Student Loan Repayment Program, and/or Mortgage Accelerator Payment Program (up to 5% match)
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Personal Days
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Floating Holiday
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Sick/Wellness Days
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Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
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Professional Development
Driving on Behalf of The Alex
This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes. Successful candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract. Candidates must consent to the possibility of an annual driver's abstract review to meet our insurance provider’s requirements and to maintain $2 million liability insurance on their personal vehicle. Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with the CRA guidelines.
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 at www.thealex.ca.
