Social Worker MSW - Mental Health Strategy, Measurement Based Care Initiative

at  SickKids

ABOUT SICKKIDS

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built – nor could it be maintained – without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.
When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world’s best in paediatric healthcare.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, preferably with Paediatric hospital experience
• Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in a health care or mental health setting
• Clinical experience with adolescents with significant mental health challenges and their families.
• Clinical experience using brief, individualized evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Understanding and prior experience using CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) with children and youth
• Well-developed mental health assessment skills, risk assessment skills and safety planning skills
• Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Experience and well-developed skills in managing crisis situations.
• Understanding of health care delivery systems and the practice of social work in a secondary setting
• Ability to collaborate effectively as a member of the inter-professional health care team and to take initiative and leadership when appropriate.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, time management skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to practice in a manner that is consistent with the philosophy of continuous quality improvement and evidence-based practice.
• Proficiency in the use of electronic platforms such as Microsoft Office, hospital documentation systems and other relevant technology.
• Ability to contribute towards staff education and capacity building related to measurement-based care and suicide risk assessment.
• Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion objectives.

• Respond to and support patients who are experiencing moderate to urgent mental health concerns
• Provide support through a variety of modalities including crisis intervention (I.e.: conducting suicide risk assessments), using a trauma-informed approach, providing consultation to other clinicians, case navigation/management and advocacy.
• Support patients and their families in safety planning and exploring mental health resource options.
• Provide brief, individualized evidence-based therapeutic interventions. Understanding and prior practice using CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) with children and youth would be an asset.
• Support the project management and clinical teams in implementing practice changes with respect to the mental health screening implementation
• Facilitate educational sessions, aimed at building capacity for clinical teams to respond to patient mental health concerns and integrating change management practices
• Practice from an integrated biopsychosocial model that considers the implications of medical, physical, mental health, family cultural contexts and issues of social complexity.
• Demonstrate skills in patient and family engagement, interviewing skills with individuals, parents, and families.
• Demonstrate capacity to manage highly charged situations inclusive of the prevention and management of behavioral escalations and responding to Code White situations.
• Collaborate with a large and diverse inter-professional health care team.
• Navigate and secure resources that address issues related to the social[MP1] [MP1] determinants of health.
• Work collaboratively with community agencies and services such as CAS (Children s Aid Society), Ontario Works, Children¿s Mental Health agencies.
• Support the academic mandate of the hospital by supervising MSW students from affiliated universities.
• Assume responsibility for all aspects of practice including accountability for standards of practice, productivity, and workload related data necessary for hospital reporting