Outreach RN

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time

HOURS/WEEK: 35 hours per week

What We Live By:

• Our Vision: A community without barriers to health and wellbeing
• Our Mission:We work with our community to promote and sustain health and wellbeing for all
• Our Values:Compassion, Social Justice, Courage, Integrity, Adaptability

Guelph Community Health Centre prioritizes people who face barriers to health and accessing services, and people who identify as:

• Homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Living on low income
• Newcomers to Canada with language barriers
• Having moderate to severe mental health and/or addiction issues
• Having moderate to severe disabilities
• Indigenous First Nations, Inuit and Métis
• Black, mixed race and racialized populations
• Experiencing intersectional oppression
• 2SLGBTQIA+
• Vulnerable children and their families experiencing conflict, isolation or attachment struggles

The Outreach RN is a key member of our Outreach Nursing team, working alongside Guelph-Wellington HART Hub and GCHC Integrated Programs. This role provides trauma-informed, harm reduction–centered nursing care to individuals who are homeless or precariously housed.

The Outreach RN will provide care, support, and education to individuals in the community, shelters, drop-ins, encampments, and other outreach settings. The role offers flexible outreach services to individuals who are homeless or precariously housed and experiencing substance use disorders, mental health concerns, or concurrent issues through supportive nursing, connections to primary care, and referrals to other community services. The RN collaborates closely with NPs, MDs, allied health, and other community agencies to provide wraparound, coordinated care. This includes supporting care transitions between the community, ER, and acute care settings.

PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES

• Deliver nursing care in community and mobile outreach settings
• Provide comprehensive nursing assessments, symptom management, and harm reduction-oriented care
• Administer medications, injections, and treatments
• Provide skilled wound care
• Provide nonjudgmental, trauma-informed medical care and practical support to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use disorders, or complex social barriers
• Conduct holistic health care and education
• Facilitate timely referrals and navigation to appropriate services
• Support coordinated care planning and advocate for clients to reduce barriers
• Assist with complex assessments and forms (e.g., ODSP)
• Support transitions of care by coordinating with ED/acute care teams, facilitating supported discharges, and ensuring appropriate follow-up for medically complex clients
• Identify and escalate clinical changes or concerns to the NP/MD promptly to maintain safe and responsive care
• Provide crisis intervention, code response, and deescalation as needed
• Complete thorough documentation

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Baccalaureate in Nursing
• Current Certificate of Competence with the College of Nurses of Ontario (RN)
• Emergency First Aid (or equivalent) and CPR Level C
• Demonstrated experience working in a manner consistent with the principles of harm reduction, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed care
• Ability to build rapport with vulnerable populations.
• Passion for providing care to individuals who use substances
• Ability to work under pressure and independently
• Knowledge of internal/external services in Guelph and Wellington County
• Strong assessment and care planning skills
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Assets: naloxone training, OAT Fundamentals, wound care, NVCI, motivational interviewing

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Weekend/evening work may be required
• Combination of desk/office work, majority of time spent in community
• Work involves interaction with individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use disorders, homelessness, and justice involvement

We know that experience comes in many forms. If you have some of these qualities and are excited about this opportunity, then we want to hear from you. Please visit our website www.gchc.ca and apply using the online application tool. In your application, please include a resume and cover letter outlining how your skills, qualifications, and experience meet the position requirements.
Guelph Community Health Centre is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including individuals from priority populations who may identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis individuals, and members of Black and other racialized communities.
We thank, in advance, those who apply, but will contact only those who qualify for interviews.
If at any stage in the selection process you require accommodation, please let us know the nature of the required accommodation. We require that all finalist applicants undergo a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screen through their local Police Services Branch prior to start date.