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Closes in 10 days (Tue, 29 Apr)
Part time • $28.69- $34.44 per hour
Permanent Part-Time Position: 28 hours per week
Position Expected Start Date: May 7, 2025
Salary: $28.69- $34.44 per hour
LAMP Community Health Centre is a multi-service, community-based charitable organization that provides a wide range of programs and services to improve a person's health. LAMP uses a coordinated approach to connect people to medical services and other programs that build personal resources. By providing services that improve physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being, people can better control their health and environment.
Job Summary
The Client Advocate provides leadership, assistance, and support to individuals and their families working from a social determinants of health framework, with an understanding of anti-oppression and anti-racism. The work will involve connecting individuals who face barriers to access to resources that will improve their health, well-being, and quality of life. The Client Advocate will assess the individual needs and case manage accordingly by providing clients with internal and external referrals, systems navigation, and advocacy. Reporting to the Manager of Health Promotion \& Community Relations, the Client Advocate will work with an interdisciplinary team identifying key partnership contacts to effectively and efficiently serve clients and practice innovative approaches to service delivery.
Primary Responsibilities
- Advocates with and for East Mississauga clients as they navigate health and social services and seek to access resources and supports.
- Provides resources to East Mississauga Community Health Centre's staff and clients in assisting to navigate the healthcare, public services, and social service system.
- Participates in case coordination for clients with complex needs in cooperation with other members of the Health Centre's interdisciplinary team to ensure those from our priority populations have access to information, referrals, follow-up, and advocacy.
- Provides support to clients in crisis or urgent need to navigate the complex public service systems by advocating on their behalf (i.e., immigration status, Interim Federal Health Paper, legal aid, CPP Disability, CPP Benefits for seniors, ODSP/OW, housing - eviction and homelessness, basic needs - food and clothing, etc.).
- Assembles diverse internal and external parties to gain a deeper understanding of client needs and then develops, assesses, and implements creative solutions for effectively meeting those needs, thus adding value to the relationship while enhancing services for East Mississauga Community Health Centre.
- Negotiates with external organizations and compassionate drug programs including Trillium Drug Benefit to cover expenses such as prescription drugs, lenses, training/transportation fees when not covered by the Social Assistance program.
- Assists clients in completing necessary Government forms (i.e., name/gender designation change, housing, unemployment, CPP, OW/ODSP, Immigration, etc.).
- Participates in team and staff meetings, chart reviews, case conferences, and other meetings and committee work as appropriate to support both service delivery and organizational goals.
- Provides ongoing consultation to Primary Health Care and Health Promotion staff about resources for non-insured clients.
- Engages in ongoing conflict resolution and mediation with clients in need of additional support.
- Works from a social determinants of health framework, taking a client-centered approach to assist in building clients' own capacity to achieve health and well-being.
- Establishes and maintains relationships and collaborations with community partners, particularly around anti-poverty and marginalization.
- Participates in community outreach including workshops, presentations, and community events.
- Maintains and updates the Information and Referral Services resources for East Mississauga Site.
- Provides mentorship and supervision for placement students and volunteers.
- Contributes to program planning and evaluation.
Required Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree/college diploma in Social Services or a relevant discipline, or an appropriate combination of education and 3 to 5 years' experience working in a community setting.
- Experience in peer support and individual advocacy working effectively with culturally, economically, and socially diverse populations.
- Commitment to high levels of quality service provision through accurate, friendly, and excellent client relations.
- Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively across all levels of the organization's diverse workforce.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to clearly convey information and ideas.
- Positive attitude, empathetic, flexible, and dependable with strong initiative and the ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented atmosphere.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks.
- Excellent knowledge in assisting clients with navigating the complex public services systems, community resources, and social support programs in Peel (including harm reduction practices).
- Builds relationships with partner agencies in order to provide the best services to clients.
- Knowledge in program development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Open-minded, eager, and willing to constantly learn and improve oneself.
- Knowledge of East Mississauga Community Health Centre, the Peel Region community, and/or a second language that is reflective of the community being served are all preferable assets.
As part of our mandate for inclusivity, reasonable accommodations can be made for all incumbents to perform the described physical functions of the aforementioned job.
LAMP Community Health Centre is dedicated to achieving a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community it serves and encourages applications from equity-seeking groups.
How to Apply
Please mention you saw this posting on WorkInNonProfits.ca.
Subject: Job Opening for Client Advocate (Information \& Referral)
External Deadline: 5:00 pm on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please.
