Crisis Outreach Worker, Crisis Services - Elgin

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

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Crisis Outreach Worker will support individuals accessing services by providing a psychosocial response in order to promote crisis resolution and empowerment for the individual. The Crisis Outreach Worker will also work collaboratively with individuals to assess and identify their needs and link them to appropriate supports in the community. Crisis Outreach Worker 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)
Current, satisfactory, Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated knowledge and skill in clinical assessment and treatment, crisis intervention and support, relapse prevention, and client advocacy
Broad knowledge of, and practice in, evidence-based treatment approaches to working with individuals with serious mental illness and addictions
Competence in relevant computer applications, particularly Microsoft Word and Outlook
Registration with a college or professional body associated with their discipline; employment experience in the mental health field;
Employment experience in a mental health crisis support program; and knowledge of the criminal justice system and/or addictions services sector.
Bilingual both official languages, preferred; préférence sera accordée aux candidats qui sont compétents dans les deux langues 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
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 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.
Work directly alongside police officers with STPS, APS and/or Elgin OPP as scheduled and occupying office space at the reporting police headquarters
Maintain and document accurate recording of all police incidents arising in the course of the work as well as any follow-up completed
Maintain dual records, recording both in the format required by CMHA and in accordance with the documentation and record storage policy and procedures of policing partner
Compile and maintain program statistics as required by respective police partner and CMHA and to provide narrative detail or write-ups when requested in order to support future grant and funding proposals
Adhere to the privacy policies of and privacy legislation of respective police partner, and CMHA TV collection and disclosure of information, undertaking responsibility for maintaining awareness of the unique differences between the privacy frameworks of municipal services, provincial services, and health services
When necessary, compile documentation such as affidavits or will-say statements where required by respective policing partner or where compelled by court
When necessary, to testify and/or provide formal statements professionally and accurately at hearings, trials, investigations and such other judicial or quasi- judicial proceedings as may be compelled from time to time, arising from the nature of the work.
Adhere strictly to the health and safety provisions put in place by respective police partner and CMHA TV and to assume an active and diligent role in contributing to a safe and health workplace
Respect the authority of our policing partners (e.g. Officer, Inspector, or other staff persons) assigned to functionally direct the work performed as part of this role (“functional supervisor”)
Monitor and report on quality of services provided, identifying deficiencies and respectfully advocating positive change
To represent CMHA TV, respective police partner professionally and positively in the community