Reporting to the Supervisor of Housing the Case Manager – Connection Centre provides biopsychosocial support for individuals who are homeless, precariously housed and may be living with serious mental illness and/or addiction issues. This role provides support to individuals experiencing persistent and chronic homelessness with a focus on supporting them to achieve housing stability. The Connection Centre Case Manager will work within the “Housing First” framework, supporting participants in a manner that engenders a safe and welcoming environment for all those who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness and accessing the Connection Centre.
The location for the provision of these services is primarily in Stratford but may vary throughout Huron and Perth Counties and surrounding areas and services are delivered in-person, by phone, and virtually based on client need.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or other related discipline such as Nursing, or a Social Service Worker Diploma from a recognized college, with specific focus on homelessness, mental health and/or addictions.
EXPERIENCE: 1-3 years experience in case management, and an understanding of issues facing individuals with substance abuse and mental health concerns is required. Knowledge of current community mental health and addiction resources is an asset.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Broad knowledge of addiction and mental health treatments and explanatory theories, homelessness, and community resources. Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and techniques of case management of mental illness and addiction and their application. In addition, the incumbent will demonstrate integrity and ethics, good coping skills, flexibility and commitment to the work

Case Manager – Connection Centre

• Provides intensive case management supports to individuals and families facing severe struggles relating to homelessness, including mental health challenges, physical health impairment, legal and justice issues, historic discrimination and trauma, victimization, addictions, and stigma.
• Ensure that participants with complex needs are receiving the supports necessary to help them meet basic needs, reintegrate into the community, access resources to achieve housing stability, and reach their personal goals.
• Provide education, consultation, crisis management, assessment, treatment planning, referral, advocacy, case management and community treatment as appropriate to individuals that are living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and/or addiction issues.
• Provide a welcoming, safe, and trusting environment for participants.
• Engage hard-to-engage participants and develop relationships of trust.
• Protect and promote the welfare, dignity, and individual rights of participants at all times, understanding trauma and violence and the impact these have on participants’ lives and behaviours.
• Provide triage, initial mental health and/or addiction screening using validated tools (e.g. VI-SPDAT, GAINSS), and other required intake paperwork, coordinate and facilitate with participant linkages to recommended services and supports in the community.
• Provide basic needs, as required, following the Centre’s procedures.
• Provide information regarding resources found within both the broader mental health and addiction system and the community in general.
• Provide health teaching and information regarding a variety of coping techniques and strategies, e.g. grounding, breathing techniques, self-care, nutrition, sleep hygiene, techniques to enhance overall well-being, the completion of crisis plans.
• Provide crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and use negotiation skills, as necessary.
• Engage Emergency Services when it is determined that additional intervention is required.
• When appropriate, act as liaison with caregivers and/or support providers who are involved with the participant to facilitate a coordinated approach to service provision.
• Provide follow-up with participants as determined to be necessary and/or appropriate.
• Knowledge of consent and capacity issues and legislation Public Guardian Trustee, Substitute Decision Maker Act, Health Care Consent Act, Mental Health Act and PHIPA.
• Collaborate with the individual and those in his/her circle of care to develop and implement a plan, and provide follow through/evaluation to ensure quality of life.
• Ability and willingness to travel to clients’ homes, independently or in the company of local services to complete assessments and to independently provide assessment to local ER physicians and physicians in offices when required.
• Demonstrated ability to independently conduct formal mental health and addiction assessment, short term crisis counseling and referral.
• Ability to identify and mobilize resources in crisis situations. To act confidently and independently in the formulation of future interventions and to appreciate the individual’s role in decision making, where appropriate.
• Self-directed, motivated team player with a commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Engage in community awareness, education and outreach as designated and appropriate, representing the agency in a professional manner.
• Be flexible in work environment while maintaining personal safety and the safety of the client at all times.

Administrative

• Maintain a complete, accurate and comprehensive clinical record of each client contact.
• Report statistics about clinical activities using designated agency format as required.
• Complete monthly, annual and other reported documentation as required in a punctual and comprehensive manner.
• Maintain administrative and clinical records, including client files and data entry, as per Policy and Procedure Manual.

General

• Participate on internal agency committees and/or outside community committees as appropriate.
• Adhere to policies and protocols as outlined in the Human Resource and Procedure Manual.
• Attend and actively participate in any team and staff meetings, the Annual General Meeting, and periodically scheduled strategic planning, team building and agency events
• Assist with the orientation and training of new agency staff, volunteers and interns/students as designated and need.
• Provide coverage of CMHAHP AMHS services for other team members as needed.
• Help ensure the organization and program objectives are met.
• Work harmoniously with colleagues, including not behaving in ways that are likely to be offensive in any manner to others and confronting such behaviours by others.
• Conduct self in a responsible, professional manner.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned on occasion.