Social Worker II, Crisis Support Team

at  Youthdale Treatment Centres

Job Description - Social Worker - II, Crisis Support Team
Location: 227 Victoria Street
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Status: Full-Time Permanent
Union/Non: This is a unionized position
Rate of pay: $33.5523 - $39.0913 per hr. (based on years of experience, placement on wage grid will be based on incumbent’s post graduation qualification experience in the social work field)
Openings: Multiple openings available

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Crisis Support Team (CST) is a multi-disciplinary team providing crisis services for individuals up to the age of twenty-four residing in the Toronto area. CST encompasses three main forms of support: a 24/7 crisis line, mobile crisis response and short-term follow-up for crisis clients, and on-site support for Youthdale’s inpatient clients and the unit staff team in the event of Code Whites or other emergency needs. Within the context of short-term follow-up for crisis clients, the Social Worker is responsible for interventions that fall within the scope of the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy (i.e., brief solution-focused therapeutic intervention, etc.) Staff in this position work closely with young folks, family members, colleagues on both CST and other programs and community partners to ensure that young folks and families in crisis can access timely and effective supports.
The ideal candidate for this position should possess foundational knowledge relevant towards being able to complete bio-psycho-social assessments that focus on the factors that are contributing to perceived crisis for individuals and families accessing the service, and can develop treatment plans that draw on relevant skills/approaches to address these factors, including the application of psychotherapeutic technique drawing on modalities that are relevant to the program (i.e., Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, etc.). This work will be complimented by the use of validated mental health assessment tools to support treatment planning, and the completion of standardized practices for suicide and risk assessment along with safety planning. This individual will also possess excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively within a dynamic, multidisciplinary team environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Masters of Social Work (MSW) or equivalent education is required.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant post qualification experience.
• Working knowledge on the following topics/techniques: crisis theory/intervention, child/adolescent development, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, ASIST, Mental Health First Aid, Safe Management Group (SMG)
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality in all interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with people in a sensitive, tactful, diplomatic, and professional manner at all times.
• Excellent assessment, interviewing, and counselling skills.
• Ability to work both independently and within a multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work flexible hours within a rotating schedule that includes days, evenings and weekends.
• Knowledge of community resources in the GTA and beyond.
• Advanced communication skills (both written and oral).
• Good organizational, time management and prioritizing skills.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

This position directly reports to: Manager, Intake, Crisis, and Outpatient Services

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Fosters positive interpersonal relationships with the staff, residents, and visitors, outside agencies, government officials and related professional associations.
• Maintains and adheres to all relevant legislation and organizational policies and procedures.
• Attends work on a regular and consistent basis.
• Abides by all Occupational Health and Safety Policies.
• Demonstrates management practices which are consistent with the mission, vision and philosophy of Youthdale Treatment Centres.

Job Responsibilities:

• Offer telephone support for callers requiring crisis support, service navigation or DBT phone coaching (for relevant Youthdale clients), assessing caller needs/strengths/presenting concerns and utilizing relevant evidence-based skills/approaches to support the needs of callers. Approaches to be used for telephone support include foundational counselling skills (i.e., validation, reflection, etc.) ASIST, motivational interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
• Assess for suicide/safety risks for all crisis and phone coaching callers, and safety plan when relevant.
• Utilize standardized tools to support effective assessment of caller needs and to triage callers towards relevant internal and community-based supports.
• Utilize validated mental health scales/assessment tools to support evidence-informed practice.
• Provide in-home, in-community (e.g., at a young person’s school, etc.) or in-office mobile crisis support for young folks/families with urgent needs. All initial visits will include a bio-psycho-social assessment of client/family need, and supporting the client/family based on assessed need (with common forms of support within an initial meeting including de-escalation, safety assessment/planning, providing resources, identifying internal/external referrals to be initiated, etc.)
• For client/families that are receiving follow-up support through CST in an in-home, in-community or in-office basis (for a to-be-determined length of time), the Social Worker will be responsible for supports that fall under the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy (i.e., providing solution-focused therapy supports for clients referred for Brief Counselling services, helping young people and families identify and address maladaptive patterns of thoughts, feelings, moods and behaviours that are contributing to crisis episodes, etc.)
• Work collaboratively with interdisciplinary team members, including Social Workers, CYCs and Psychiatry. When relevant, facilitate referrals to Psychiatry for evaluation/assessment for crisis service users, following appropriate referral processes.