The Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) caseworker provides case management support services to North House clients in the north Durham townships of Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock. The incumbent will work collaboratively to provide client care by aiding individuals and families who have identified a need for mental health and/or addictions supports with a focus on stabilizing housing.
Operating under the Housing First framework, the MHA caseworker will engage with individuals that are homeless or precariously housed to support their mental well-being while housing is being secured. They will also help to stabilize these individuals by fostering personal growth and development based on client choices through skill development, advocacy, coaching, informal counseling, crisis planning, and connection with services and resources within their community.

SKILLS

• Mental Health and Addictions diploma from an accredited College or University is a mandatory requirement
• Minimum of three years mental health and addictions employment experience
• Sound knowledge the Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, social service benefits and related legislation in Ontario
• Social Work degree or Social Services Work diploma from an accredited College or University is an asset
• Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is an asset
• Ability to develop and maintain a positive therapeutic relationship with clients
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with community partners and represent the agency in a professional manner at all times
• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; as well as ability to establish rapport and has excellent communication (written and verbal) skills
• Ability to acquire and utilize community resources effectively to meet client needs
• Excellent problem-solving skills to weigh all factors when assessing clients
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
• Ability to organize and present information
• Ability to work a variable schedule which may include evenings and weekends as required
• Valid Ontario Driver’s license, access to a safe, dependable vehicle and $2M liability insurance coverage
• Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

• Provides case management and mental health support services to clients in-office and in the community
• Participates as a member of a high performance, multi-service team acting as first point of contact to individuals, providing case management services and managing an assigned caseload of mental health and addiction clients
• Conducts comprehensive and holistic using the SPDAT tool, and follow up with referral sources and recommend services and connections to community resources
• Maintain up-to-date case notes, progress reports, crisis plans, and client files with clear rationale for methods and intervention used, and statistical documentation in accordance with the program requirements
• Complete and maintain accurate statistical and narrative reports on all clients served
• Maintain a system to track and report all performance indicators for North House programs
• Ensure that all client date is entered accurately and in a timely manner into the HIFIS database
• Provides case management support services to clients and determines whether long-term services are required
• Work closely alongside Housing First caseworkers to assist with client Individualized Support Plans (ISPS) to reduce high-needs SPDAT life-areas
• Provides case management and support for people on the Durham Region By-Name List that are waiting for a spot in the Housing First Program
• Provides case management services in an individualized, supportive and flexible manner
• Works with clients one-on-one looking at coping strategies and educating about community resources
• Advocates and assists clients to navigate the Mental Health System and link to services
• Provide assistance to clients establishing peer and family support networks
• Consults and collaborates with community resources and service providers ensuring clients obtain the most appropriate services and receive continuity in their care
• Documents client contacts, creates daily logs, summaries and other reports in a timely manner, as outlined in the North House policies and procedures
• Prepares and maintains statistical information
• Inform North House staff on mental health and addictions services available
• Manage the Harm Reduction program partnered with John Howard Society Project X-Change program
• Track and report on Harm Reduction supplies to the Neo Database, and education provided for safe use
• Manage naloxone reporting and distribution to Public Health Canada
• Performs other tasks as assigned by management