Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Withdrawal Management and Crisis

CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services•St. Thomas, ON

5d•CA$27 - CA$37•Onsite

About The Position

The Addiction and Mental Health Worker will support individuals accessing services by providing a psychosocial response in order to promote crisis resolution and empowerment for the individual. Staff will actively support individuals who are experiencing withdrawal from substances in a community setting. Staff will work collaboratively with individuals to assess and identity their needs and link them with community services to provide coordinated, community-based health and social services. This position will work within a multi-disciplinary team framework throughout St. Thomas & Elgin County.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in a related field, preferably BSW or post-graduate diploma in addiction or equivalent (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
Valid Driver’s Licence, with access to a reliable vehicle and valid vehicle insurance
Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

Nice To Haves

Registration with a college or professional body associated with their discipline
Current CPR and First Aid certification
Training in crisis intervention and crisis resolution including ASIST
Clinical work experience in substance abuse assessment and treatment including intake and crisis services
Experience and detailed knowledge of serious mental illnesses usually gained by several years of working within the mental health field
Experience in crisis intervention/management and crisis resolution
Experience in working in a community-based setting with an extensive knowledge of social assistance programs and both generic and specialized local social support networks is essential
Volunteer experience with a mental health component
Experience working with individuals with an ABI or Development Disability
Experience in the treatment of Addiction
Extensive knowledge of the support/treatment services network in Elgin County and of regional services commonly accessed by the Program
Extensive knowledge of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of mental illness/substance use & experience in monitoring/administration of medication
Comfort and skill with public speaking and group facilitation
Bilingual in both official languages, preferred; Une préférence sera accordée aux personnes possédant des compétences dans les deux languages officielles du Canada

Responsibilities

Establish a working and supportive relationship with the client
Assess clients’ mental, physical and emotional functional abilities and needs
Investigates client’s current resources through complete psycho-social history and domains collections, and collateral information
Provide client assessment, intervention, and counselling via telephone and in person supports
Complete mental health and addiction assessments based on theory of crisis management including rapid response to identify: the impact of psychiatric symptoms on functioning, risk factors related to safety of client and others, opportunities for de-escalation and stabilization
Provide mental health assessments to Emergency Departments (St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital -STEGH) upon request.
Support individuals as requested by St. Thomas Police Service and Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police
Provides counselling support to those attending at one of CMHA TVAMHS Elgin County based Crisis Services at STEGH and 110 Centre as well as mobile
Provide first contact functions and system navigation support for clients.
Provide client-centered care from a harm reduction approach
Responsible for screening and assessment for individual’s referred to the program
Acquire and maintain a high level of current knowledge about substance use disorders and trends as well as treatment options
Provide education, referrals and support for people using substances and related needs
Capacity and comfort level dealing with street-involved clients who may exhibit behaviours consistent with their distress, intoxication or other circumstances
Collaborate with addiction and mental health service providers to support the needs of clients who may be in crisis and needing supervised withdrawal management support
Supporting intake services, regular monitoring of withdrawal symptoms and discharge planning.
Coordinating access to addiction medicine supports
Providing support to clients in taking their medication as prescribed
Provide short-term, psychotherapeutic intervention to assist individuals in gaining insight and improving coping skills within the framework of the crisis model
Perform in a calm, competent and efficient manner in an emergency situation acknowledging the individual’s need for privacy and dignity
Teach, using a variety of approaches, life skills and adaptive techniques to help enable individuals to function more effectively on a day-to-day basis
Utilize harm reduction principles to identify, reduce and remove risk factors
Refer individuals for additional assessments as is determined to be necessary and/or appropriate
Assist the individual to identify and connect with personal/natural supports
Provide follow-up support and/or check-ins to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as appropriate
All Crisis Outreach Workers are to provide support to individuals through Reach Out
Provide crisis intervention services and supports on Reach Out via phone, text and web chat
Respond to voicemails from Reach Out
Establish a therapeutic relationship with individuals accessing Reach Out, and work with individuals to address their immediate concerns