Social Worker- qathet Complex Care Housing
Lift Community Services (LIFT) focuses on helping all people thrive in the qathet region by reducing social inequities and by providing support and advocacy for anyone who needs it. Our vision is a welcoming, inclusive, and diversity-affirming community that is free of poverty and full of heart. At Lift, we believe a thriving, sustainable community comes from a collaborative, equitable, future-focused approach.
Lift Community Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

OPPORTUNITY

The qathet Complex Care Housing (CCH) program is a collaboration between LIFT community Services Society (LIFT), Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and Tla’amin Nation. This program represents a suite of services and supports aimed at ensuring people with significant mental health, substance use and other health complexities attain safe and stable housing as a foundation to thrive. These services support participants through transitions with the appropriate level of service as their needs change over time, in line with Tier 1, Intensive Supportive Housing and Tier 2, Stabilization and Respite, and represent an increase in services offered at Supportive Housing, and select community-based shelter and housing sites. View the full job description here: Social Worker - qathet Complex Care Housing job description
LIFT is seeking a social worker to join the multi-disciplinary qathet CCH team to collaborate with the healthcare team to support clients’ development of physical, social, emotional and life skills.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree of Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work.
• Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
• Three (3) years experience working in a psychiatric setting providing treatment services to individuals with complex mental health, addiction and chronic medical concerns or equivalent.
• A combination of education, training and experience may also be accepted.Experience with trauma-informed care and demonstrated ability to practice from a harm reduction approach would be an asset.
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• Valid BC Driver’s License and access to personal vehicle for local area travel may be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Demonstrated ability to promote Indigenous Cultural Safety
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective service in a variety of community settings and with diverse populations, especially those with mental health or substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental illness.
• Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation methodology.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act as it applies to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Knowledge of community, social and mental health resources.
• Ability to identify emotional, social, or environmental barriers and intervene to eliminate
• Ability to effectively manage conflict situations and aggressive behavior and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioral management techniques.
• Broad knowledge of mental illness and addictions treatment.
• Broad knowledge of systems thinking as it related to social work process.
• Broad knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in healthcare.
• Broad knowledge of research methodology, counselling skills and clinical practice models.
• Broad knowledge of family, group and change therapy.
• Broad knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to the client.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems theory to practice in Social Work assessment and intervention.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct social and psychosocial assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and influence group and inter-group processes, decision making and problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with clients and families
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize workload.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with clients, other clinical team members and community partners.
• Demonstrated ability to promote a supportive, creative learning environment and continuous quality improvement.
• Effective communicator with proficient use of nonverbal, verbal, and written styles in English language, when applicable
• Ability to operate a computerized client care information system and cellular phone.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), EMRs, or similar programs.
• Skilled in the use of equipment, and in the techniques appropriate for
• Demonstrated physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

• Interviews with client and family, obtains data regarding the client’s family, environment, living situation and financial status.
• Interprets collected and other available information to promote the client’s and family’s coping abilities and needs for integration within the community and intervenes in cases of complex social, emotional or family issues.
• Conducts comprehensive social and psycho-social assessments.
• Collaborates with the client and interdisciplinary team to facilitate client’s transitions through the continuum of services.
• Assists the client/family with complex emotional/social needs and provides individual, family and group counselling services.
• Explores emotional responses to illness/injury in order to: i. identify problems, personal concerns, and treatment objectives ii. facilitate change in coping style, behavior, attitude, feelings and adaptive responses to an adverse life event.
• Refers clients to community services for follow-up, when appropriate.
• Attends case conferences and team meetings as a member of an interdisciplinary team for client reviews, admissions, referrals and discharges by providing input on a variety of care issues related to the client/family, and to ensure proper and effective treatment of the client.
• Provides consultative and direct services to clients, families, staff and community health professionals regarding issues such as adult guardianship, advanced directives, domestic violence, abuse or neglect, immigration, housing, financial concerns, or matters concerning government agencies (public trustee) and authorities (courts, police).
• Prepares and maintains client records; documents client assessments, interventions, evaluations, modifications and client goals, charts client information, prepares progress reports in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures, to meet regulatory requirements and provide evidence/rationale to support findings/interventions.
• Monitors extended leave certification as required under the Mental Health Act by methods such as reviewing conditions on leave and determining if client is following the conditions; ensures updating of Extended Leave certification to provide continuity of appropriate treatment.
• Maintains knowledge/developments in the Social Work profession and sets measurable goals and objectives; reviews literature in specialty areas, consults with clinical/community experts in the field, evaluates clinical practice, participates in professional development activities and develops a professional development plan in collaboration with Practice Leaders and/or Program Coordinator; reviews progress to ensure goals are achieved within established time frames.
• Engages in on-going team planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities that facilitate team goal setting, problem solving, conflict resolution, and collaboration.
• Collaborates and consults with the interdisciplinary team, other health care professionals/partners, and clients/families to establish appropriate goals and holistic care plans.
• Promotes interdisciplinary collaboration in the identification and resolution of client care issues, treatment concerns, continuity of services, cultural and language barriers, ethical dilemmas, crisis management, and community resource coordination.
• Ensures a safe environment for clients and staff by adhering to violence prevention, infection control, occupational health and safety standards.
• Performs housekeeping duties as required, checks the operation of relevant equipment to ensure safe working order, and reports incident/equipment problems or general safety concerns to Supervisor.
• Attends and participates in staff development programs, team meetings, and other meetings as required.
• Participates in training and orientation of staff, students, and client/families as required.
• Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.