Service Navigator 2 - Social Worker

at  Strides Toronto

ABOUT US

Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency providing a wide range of exceptional programs and services that improve the mental, social and physical health of infants, children and youth from the pre-natal stage to age 29, and their families. With a range of community, residential and treatment services, we build strength and resilience through equitable, accessible, client-driven services, system leadership and advocacy. We provide individual, group and family interventions that include mental health counselling, autism services, education, outreach and referral, early intervention, day treatment and community support. In its Lead Agency role, Strides Toronto collaborates with 24 publicly funded infant, child and youth mental health (ICYMH) core service providers to design and implement system-level improvements that promote access, responsive service delivery and experience, and positive mental health outcomes for young people and families across Toronto’s diverse communities. To learn more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to visit our website at www.stridestoronto.ca

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Service Navigator 2 Social Worker role is a full-time permanent position that provides service planning, navigation and brief supportive counselling to children and youth experiencing mental health concerns, and their families, to ensure infants, children, youth, and their families, move in through and out of publicly funded mental health services in a timely and seamless manner. This position is initially dedicated to the transition of infants, children, youth and their families from the SickKids Emergency Department into community based mental health services and supports. The position will work collaboratively with partners at SickKids and at the Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health (GH-CCMH) at SickKids to support the clinical transition pathway. This position will provide service planning, navigation and brief supportive counselling to children and youth experiencing mental health concerns, and their families, to ensure they move in through and out of publicly funded mental health services in a timely and seamless manner.
Salary range: $63,071.00 to $73,447.00 per annum.
Benefits: Competitive Group Health Benefits, Defined Contribution Pension plan.
This position is represented by OPSEU local 567.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Retrieve and review inbound referrals from SickKids Emergency Department to the Help Ahead.
• Collaborate with the GH-CCMH case navigator to determine the appropriate transition pathway (e.g. to GH-CCMH or Strides/Help Ahead)
• Connect with the child/ youth and family to obtain information, match to potential services, and support client in determining service plan to address mental health concerns.
• Collect information about strengths, service needs, risks, and related matters using established and/ or standardized assessment tools.
• Educate families about mental health and relevant services and processes to facilitate their understanding, support informed decision-making, and readiness for treatment.
• Match client to services that meet mental health concerns, support informed decision-making, and make referrals to identified programs.
• Utilize tools and make contact with potential programs as necessary to ascertain program availability and waiting time, if any, for treatment.
• Be knowledgeable about ICYMH programs and service providers in Toronto to facilitate high quality service navigation.
• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with stakeholders and service providers to ensure the needs and goals of the youth and families are priority.
• Facilitate service planning with community partners about referrals for complex clients which are directed to the Children’s Service System Review and Consultation (CSSRC) and STEPS Residential Enhancement Fund. Coordinate supports and financial resources to meet client needs.
• Convene, organize, and chair regular meetings with community partner agencies (CSSRC, STEPS) to hear presentations on children with complex care needs.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation in client information system(s) in accordance with guidelines, organizational and accreditation standards.

The following education, professional memberships and knowledge are a requirement for this role:

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW), or other Mental Health related discipline is required (Master’s Degree preferred).
• Minimum of three years of related experience.
• Must be registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as a Social Worker or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
• Excellent clinical assessment, formulation and treatment planning skills is essential.
• Experience with providing a broad range of clinical services and demonstrated effective work with a child and adolescent population who present a variety of clinically challenging issues.
• Extensive knowledge of mental health disorders and diagnoses.
• Familiarity with and exposure to the Diagnostic and Statistical manual.
• Crisis Intervention and Management Training.
• Awareness of the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
• An understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/ anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts