POSITION DETAILS

Posting #: 31838
Department: Youth Wellness
Employee Type: Temporary, Full Time
If Temporary, Number of Weeks: 6 months
Union: OPSEU
Openings Remaining: 1

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Temporary assignment - approximately 6 months

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary responsibility of the Mental Health Worker will be to contribute to the achievement of the following core program functions: engagement and relationship-building; intake and screening; specialized assessment; care planning, clinical intervention and follow up; transition support, system navigation, advocacy and referral; consultation, education and support; program and system development; and service and program evaluation.
The role of the Mental Health Worker is to respond to racialized youth who are experiencing mental health and addictions concerns and who face barriers accessing MHA services.
The Mental Health Worker is a mobile position that is part of a small specialized interdisciplinary team that meets racialized youth in non-traditional and community-based settings.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree/diploma in nursing (RN) or Degree in Social Work or Occupational Therapy or a degree in related health or social science field (e.g. psychology) OR current registration in good standing with the College of Psychotherapists with a Degree in a health related discipline
• Current registration with your college in good standing: College of Nurses (RN), Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Demonstrated knowledge and practiced skills in working with racialized youth with mental health and addiction difficulties.
• Knowledge and experience with anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice

• Minimum 3-5 years experience in a comparable role working with the defined population (e.g. racialized youth with mental health and addictions concerns) required

  Lived experience of racism required

• Knowledge of and experience with youth-specific clinical interventions and approaches (eg. youth engagement and youth-centered care)

• Proven ability to perform comprehensive mental health and addiction assessment and establish rapport with target population (e.g. racialized youth)
• Demonstrated ability in conflict resolution and crisis intervention
• Demonstrated health-teaching and knowledge translation skills in the target population
• Advocacy, system navigation, and networking skill are critical
• Understanding of the use of psychotropic medications in youth, psychiatric diagnosis and formulation of a mental health assessment
• Knowledge of engagement strategies and proven ability to engage racialized and marginalized youth is critical
• Knowledge of both the child/youth mental health & addictions sector and the adult mental health & addictions sector
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with a transdisciplinary team and partner agencies/organizations both on the team and in the community
• Thorough understanding of the issues impacting racialized youth from a social determinants of health perspective
• Ability and willingness to travel (e.g. be mobile) and work in various settings/environments throughout the day (e.g. office, schools, community, home, etc)
• Ability to communicate in other languages preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proven ability to work with minimal supervision and able to prioritize work demands
• Basic computer ability/knowledge is required (e.g. typing assessments and data entry)

• Maintains an active clinical caseload providing comprehensive assessment, consultation, clinical interventions, follow-up and transition planning, as per the mandate of the Youth Wellness Centre. Through engagement and assessment, the worker strives to understand the needs and strengths of racialized youth. Works in collaboration with the youth and their family to define a support plan that connects youth to the services they require. Maintains an active clinical caseload providing comprehensive assessment, consultation, clinical interventions, follow-up and transition planning, as per the mandate of the Youth Wellness Centre. Through engagement and assessment, the worker strives to understand the needs and strengths of racialized youth. Works in collaboration with the youth and their family to define a support plan that connects youth to the services they require.
• Formulates client-centered treatment recommendations in alignment with the program goals. Reviews and evaluates the recommendations, treatment, care/service plan in consultation with the client, family and other service providers. Take a holistic and youth-centered approach to care planning that identifies client strengths and addresses barriers to accessing care, including systemic racism.
• Makes recommendations for treatment plans jointly with team members (both SJHH and partner agency staff) and in collaboration with youth and family. Works closely with team members (both SJHH and partner agency staff) to identify and develop strategies/linkages to address any additional support and education needs of the client, family and service provider.
• Directly monitors the client’s progress and response through the assessment/treatment phases of service. Communicates, as appropriate, significant changes in client status and needs to care partners. Identifies the need for additional consultation and/or referral to other services or specialties and supports youth to access them. Maintains contact with clients after the transition process to ensure the effectiveness and success of the transition.
• Is aware of and assesses for aspects of risk and intervenes as appropriate. Provides secondary support to crisis intervention services, as appropriate.
• Documents all findings and interventions in a clear and concise manner in the client’s clinical record. Maintains records and statistics as required by the program, and St. Joseph’s Healthcare.
• Identifies on a case-by-case basis the educational needs of clients, families and service providers and provides education in the most appropriate format.
• Knowledgeable of the history and effects of systemic racism on racialized youth and their ability to access mental health and addictions supports. Demonstrates awareness of social justice movements and anti-racism movements and the effects of white supremacist groups on racialized youth.
  St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, and diversity in all our programs, practices, facilities, and people. We foster a culture of patient and staff safety where all positions comply and work in conjunction with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of SJHH.
  We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. SJHH is committed to a barrier-free recruitment and selection process - please inform us should accommodation be required at any point in the recruitment process.