Addiction Worker – Shunda Creek

 ENVIROS – Who We Are:
Enviros is an innovative social services agency that provides critical, individualized programs to children, youth, adults, and families in vulnerable situations to meet their desired outcomes and wellness.
Enviros helps our clients make strength-based changes to move to independence within a healthy community.
Enviros focuses programs on the unique needs of individual clients practicing experiential learning to provide opportunities for personal discovery and growth.
Enviros focus is on building relationships and is the foundation of the work we do. This enables clients to develop skills, healthy trust, and independence.
Since our founding in 1976, Enviros has been an early adopter of new evidence-based best practices and has developed and informed other leading practices.

Why People Choose Enviros
Simply stated, our vision is: “The Power of Human Relationships Invites Belonging and Inspires Growth”.
Enviros’ vision, mission, and values inform our decisions and guide the direction that we take, and they can be found on our website.

Program Overview
Shunda Creek is a wilderness-based addiction recovery program for young adult males 18 to 24 years of age.  Shunda Creek is located by Nordegg, Alberta 3 hours northwest from Calgary and 3 hours southwest from Edmonton.  Staff stay onsite during their rotations that are typically 7 days on and 7 days off.  Days are 16 hours of time with breaks scheduled throughout the day.

Position Overview – Addiction Worker
As a Shunda Creek Addiction Worker your primary responsibility is to deliver an adventure therapy addiction recovery program in accordance with agency directives, policies, priorities within the Service Operating Requirements established within the young adult treatment provincial program.  As well you must ensure that daily program activities are delivered in compliance with accreditation and wilderness industry standards to ensure an integrated, effective, and therapeutic service.
In carrying out your responsibilities as an Addiction Worker, you are expected to represent the agency perspective in all your communications and actions.

Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure residents have a voice and choice in their treatment.
• Ensure residents are safe
• Ensure you are developing positive and professional relationships with residents and staff with Alberta Health Services.
• Ensure you are supporting residents within their treatment plans
• Facilitate treatment and recovery groups scheduled daily.
• Provide support to alumni as they call into the program
• Ensure residents participate in fire drills safely.
• Ensure you are aware where residents are on the site throughout the day.
• Ensure residents use wilderness gear safely and appropriately.
• Communicate all changes to the Shift Supervisors and other team members involved.
• Consult with shift supervisors and the Therapist regarding overall therapeutic delivery of program.
• Ensure that all relevant research documentation that you are responsible for is completed including research, case planning, CIR’s, home visits and daily case notes
• If applicable, ensure all your Wilderness certifications are current and relevant to your trip designations.
• Ensure that all aspects of Adventure therapy, that you are involved in, meet acceptable therapeutic standards.
• Ensure you adhere to OH&S standards.
• Ensure that you are correctly logging vehicle use.
• Mentor new staff as requested.
• Provide timely constructive feedback to colleagues to ensure a healthy and supportive team dynamic.

Health and Safety Considerations

• Practice prudent wildlife care in a wilderness setting. All trips to possess bear spray and adhere to bear safety protocols. Drive with care to minimize risk of animal collision.
• Sour gas plants in vicinity. Though it may be easily smelled by some people at small concentrations, continuous exposure to even low levels of H2S quickly deadens the sense of smell (olfactory desensitization). Exposure to high levels of the gas can deaden the sense of smell instantly. Check windsock and drive with wind to effect dilution or drive at 90* angles to odour.
• Risk of aggressive residents. Strong practice of preventative measures such as respectful tone, giving space to cool down and supporting residents to self-regulate. In the event of an aggressive resident, Police would be called, and all other residents would be secured in a safe secure area onsite.
• Residents are screened for mental / emotional issues before attending to camp and attend with appropriate medication.
• Detoxing takes place prior to camp attendance. If detoxification becomes an issue, resident is transported to a hospital.
• Some risk of slipping on ice in winter onsite sidewalks, Sand and shovel as required.
• Wilderness tripping hazards and winter conditions – snowshoes or ice shoes. Regular footwear. Walk with care.
• Forest fires are a risk. Evacuation on orders of Police.
• Propane fueled furnaces in buildings. Monitors announce higher concentrations – evacuation if monitors announce high concentration and / or odour is smelled.
• Extreme cold – wilderness trips delayed if temperatures exceed -25C and/or call in from field to be picked up when temperatures hit -25 or colder.
• Cooking on large propane stove – fire extinguishers immediately accessible. Maintenance conducted by Edon.
• Food safety – food stored in refrigerators with backup generator coming on line immediately on power outage

Qualifications – Skills

• Degree or diploma in Addiction.
• Registration in your respective professional association or college.
• One to three years previous experience in a group living setting.
• One to three years exposure and experience with Experiential Learning
• One to Three years background in Therapeutic Addiction Recovery
• Two to three years exposure Adventure Therapy
• Dispute resolution skills

Qualifications – Personality Traits

• Attention to detail
• Collaborative
• Team player
• Inspirational – encourages and supports others to be their best
• Creative – can think outside of the box. Creative solutions due to remoteness
• Humorous
• Calm demeanor
• Actions and verbiage well considered before actions or words used / contemplative
• Follow program dress code.

1. Direct Resident Care

• Participate as relevant in ongoing addiction and therapeutic use of wilderness training.
• Ensure residents and Alumni are aware of their rights and that those rights are protected.
• Develop positive and professional relationships with residents
• As part of a treatment teams ensure you are following through on your responsibilities in a timely manner.
• Consult with the treatment team (colleagues, Shift Supervisors, Program Supervisor and Therapists) regarding all aspects of resident treatment goals (case planning, home visits, program participation, adventure therapy, treatment leaves, discharges, etc.)
• Ensure that all relevant training is up to date.
• Ensure all personnel file documents are submitted and current as per standards.
• Ensure that personal supervision is scheduled, and personal performance evaluations are completed on time.
• Participate as relevant in ongoing addiction and therapeutic use of wilderness training.
• Meal preparation in partnership with residents.
• Medication delivery with appropriate training for in-program Shunda Creek residents only.
• Support Alumni in the community via phone, text, face to face or Facebook.
• Ensure Alumni are aware of the phone support available with Shunda Creek therapists.
• Support and coach on site Alumni Mentors in developing their confidence in supporting other residents and future Alumni.
• Ensure residents are safe and well cared for.

2. Documentation

• Ensure all relevant research documents, intake documents, CIR’s and near miss reports are completed in a timely manner.
• Ensure you are documenting and updating resident case plans in consultation with Shift Supervisor and Therapist.
• Ensure you are completing all relevant research documentation and submit it to the lead therapist.
• Home visit plans developed, and risk assessments completed and approved by therapist.
• Ensure you are reading and signing Resident Daily notes.
• Ensure critical incident reports are written objectively and reported within 24 hours to the Program Supervisor.
• General communication log is up to date as relevant to you.
• Ensure contact with various Alumni is recorded for monthly stats collection.
• Ensure all Alumni trip plans that you are involved in are completed in accordance with Wilderness policy.

3. Therapeutic Program Delivery

• Ensure delivery of your daily assigned tasks.
• Participate in shift exchange as appropriate.
• Ensure resident appointments are met.
• Consult with therapist and update as relevant to resident treatment developments.
• Participate as relevant in therapeutic treatment groups.
• Ensure resident fires and rituals are scheduled and celebrated
• Participate as relevant in ongoing addiction and therapeutic use of wilderness training
• Support staff as needed with group development and treatment delivery
• Provide positive and constructive feedback for team members.
• Ensure Indigenous and cultural diversity is respected and supported.
• Support Alumni in the community via phone, text, face to face or Facebook.
• Ensure Alumni are aware of the phone support available with Shunda Creek therapists.
• Scheduling quarterly Alumni events.
• Consult with therapists, program supervisor or manager as needed with respect to Alumni issues.

4. Wilderness Program Delivery

• Ensure wilderness is current and certifications submitted to the Enviros wilderness coordinator.
• Ensure that wilderness gear meets industry standards.
• Support staff where needed in gaining Trip Second and or Trip Lead status
• Support the wilderness program component through wilderness skill development.
• Support the wilderness program through the development of a solid understanding of the various components of adventure therapy.
• Review of trip proposals ensuring therapeutic framework and that you are appropriately qualified to lead or second the trip.
• Aware of all aspects of risk management as it pertains to Adventure Therapy.

5. Facility Updates

• Provide a safe and clean environment ensuring alongside residents that floors, countertops, tables, bed linens, bedrooms, clothing, buildings, furniture, and appliances are cleaned regularly and replaced or repaired as needed.
• Outside areas are maintained and cleared of debris and animal waste regularly.
• Work as a team in ensuring the smooth and safe operation of the site

• Safety and security checks ongoing
• Operating vehicles safely and within legal and insurance standards.
• Report all safety and maintenance concerns to the program supervisor/ shift supervisor

6. Administration

• Ensure relief staff are welcomed into the team.
• Ensure vacation, sick and lieu time is recorded appropriately and submitted to program supervisor.

7. Relationship with Stakeholders

• Uphold and maintain a professional rapport with Alberta Health Services
• Liaise with Addictions Counselors from Alberta Health Services as needed.
• Ensure partners are updated as relevant to resident or program issues.

8. Budget and fiscal management

• Ensure all program expenditures (both at Shunda Creek and with Alumni in the community) are submitted accurately and in a timely manner to accounting.

9. Connection with the Shift Supervisors and Program Supervisor

• Inform Supervisor of staff issues, resident issues, program planning and/or logistical issues, etc.
• Meet with shift supervisor regularly to update on overall program delivery, professional development and resident progress.

Reports to:  Shift Supervisors/Program Supervisor

How to Apply
Please submit your cover letter and resume to careers@enviros.org: attention: Brinnae Erb. Quote job reference # 2379. Competition for this posting close when suitable candidate found.

Enviros believes in the power of diversity, and we are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants and encourage people of all visible minorities, including Indigenous applicants, and those of any religion, sex, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression to apply.

 Additionally, Enviros is committed to having a workforce of skilled and diversified representation of the population we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however in our commitment to the population we serve, preference will be given to candidates self-identifying as an Indigenous Person.

 Enviros is an equal opportunity employer. We thank all candidates for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to accept telephone inquiries.