Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Reach Out

CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services • London, ON

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As a member of our Reach Out/988 team, you’ll support individuals through phone, text and webchat who are struggling with their mental health and/or addictions to feel the same sense of belonging, connection and safety that everyone in our community deserves. 9-8-8 is Canada’s first nation-wide support specifically for suicide prevention and emotional distress. This new service will be available 24/7/365 and accessible to everyone from coast to coast to coast. Our Reach Out/988 team is dedicated to meeting every connection with empathy, acceptance and radical genuineness. Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months. Interested applicants who reside in the City of London and are in need of a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible as PVSCs in the City of London are currently taking approximately 3 weeks to be processed and offers of employment cannot be made without receipt of a PVSC. Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team!

Requirements

• Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months.
• Post-secondary education in a relevant field of study e.g. social work, psychology, or a related discipline (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Ability to attend work regularly

Nice To Haves

• Minimum three years’ experience within the addiction and/or mental health services field, preferably in crisis intervention. Direct clinical experience is an asset
• Proficient in verbal and written communication
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to communicate effectively with dignity and respect
• Flexibility to work shifts in a 24/7 operation
• Experience in telephone-based risk management, lethality assessment and crisis intervention preferred
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation
• Training in crisis intervention and resolution including ASIST and First Aid/CPR an asset
• Bilingual both official languages, preferred; préférence sera accordée aux candidats qui sont compétents dans les deux langues officielles du Canada

Responsibilities

• Establish a therapeutic relationship to maximize the benefits of engagement between the staff person and the client
• Operate from a trauma and violence informed perspective
• Complete mental health assessments based on theory of crisis management including rapid response, risk assessment, de-escalation, stabilization, and referral to determine client needs and level of risk
• Assess social and environmental factors impacting the client
• Assess the adequacy of resources/supports currently available to the client
• Identify risk factors related to the safety of both the client and staff members as well as relapse
• Assess barriers to successful community living (e.g. treatment options, transportation, finances, etc.)
• Ensure assessment incorporates cultural and ethnic factors
• Identify areas requiring additional assessment
• Warm transfer callers to local crisis response teams, Support Line and other partners as defined by program protocols
• Engage Emergency services when it is determined that additional intervention is required
• Provide prompt, accurate, empathetic verbal / text / web chat responses to requests for information about the availability of services for mental health and/or addiction services to clients, their family members and friends, as well as health and social service professionals
• Provide health teaching and information regarding a variety of coping techniques & strategies
• Provide information regarding resources found within both the broader mental health and addiction system & community in general
• Identify, develop and maintain good links with a wide range of community resources
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge or resources relevant to clients including other mental health and addiction services, entitlement and benefit programs (e.g. ODSP, Ontario Works, London Housing, etc.)
• Work collaboratively with local crisis response teams to ensure coordinated care is provided to clients accessing the Reach Out Line and 988
• Provide crisis support, resources, information and referrals to those contacting Reach Out & 988 through calls, texts and web chat.
• Advocate, as necessary, to facilitate access to services and supports with the objective of remediating immediate crisis situation
• Assist the client to obtain needed resources by educating and supporting client to access resources, linking the client to appropriate services, advocating with or for the client when needed
• Assist the client to identify and connect with personal / natural and community supports
• When appropriate, act as liaison with caregivers and/or service & service providers who are involved with the client to facilitate coordinated approach to service provision

Benefits

• Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated)
• Successful candidates who are registered with one of the designated professional colleges (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, COTO, CRPO, CPSO, or CPO) will receive the wage differential for regulation
• Successful external applicants will start at Level 1, with grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated)
• For internal applicants, grid level placement will occur as per the Collective Agreement
• Eligible for immediate enrolment in in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees