Employment Support Worker

Canadian Mental Health Association-Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge•Peterborough, ON

4d•CA$29 - CA$31•Hybrid

About The Position

The Employment Support Worker in the At Work program provides individualized, intensive vocational supports and services to help clients with mental health concerns find and maintain competitive employment. Staff must demonstrate the professional ability to build working relationships with employers and other relevant community partners to develop an employment network, decrease mental health stigma and provide education regarding psychological health and safety in the workplace. Services are delivered using the Individual Placement and Support Model, an evidence based best practice, client centered, strength-based approach. The Employment Support Worker must also provide: job development within the community, employment determination, career planning, mental health supports, employment preparation, service coordination as required, arrange unpaid placements, job crisis support, accommodation planning and implementation, education and supports to both employees and employers within the community, job retention and on-site coaching. The Employment Support Worker must possess the ability to efficiently and accurately collect and enter statistical and financial reporting to program funders.

Requirements

Successful completion of a post-secondary diploma or degree in social services, human resources, employment counselling or a related field, is required.
Health and Safety Training (including but not limited to the following): Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (W.H.M.I.S.) 2015, Infection, Prevention & Control, Workplace Violence, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (A.S.I.S.T.), Verbal Intervention Training, Ontario Common Assessment of Need (O.C.A.N), Client Record Management System (C.R.M.S.), First Aid/C.P.R.
Minimum of three (3) years related experience in the mental health and/or employment field
Demonstrated experience or understanding of the impact of employment rehabilitation in mental health recovery
Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated ability to self-manage time and multiple tasks
Solid clinical and therapeutic assessment and intervention skills
Excellent skills in communication, advocacy on behalf of clients, collaboration with inter-professional teams, consultation with professional colleagues and employers and the community
Excellent interpersonal skills, flexible, and works effectively at an individual, program and system level
Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation principles
Strong oral and written communication skills
Demonstrated knowledge of computer applications (Microsoft Outlook, Word, databases)
Valid G driver’s license
Automobile in good repair and insurance coverage as required by agency policy
Satisfactory police records search
Satisfactory references
Proof of receipt of full COVID-19 vaccine
Ability to work remotely, for example from home, as required.

Nice To Haves

Formal Training or Education in: Labour Market Information, Job Development, Employment Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (C.B.T.) informed, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (D.B.T.) informed, Solution focused Therapy informed, Trauma Informed, Motivational Interviewing, Concurrent Disorders
Group facilitation skills
Knowledge of regional community resources
Intermediate to advanced minus proficiency in French language
Lived expertise with a mental health concern or addiction, either personally or with a family member is an asset

Responsibilities

Provide support to clients using the eight principles of the Individual Placement and Support model
Assist individuals with mental health concerns to identify viable work options
Assess employment readiness
Plan courses of action as a result of assessments – functional capacity evaluations, consideration of clients’ physical tolerances, impact of mental health on employability and activities of daily living etc.
Recommend, develop and implement employment plans
Service coordination as required
Assist individuals to prepare for and find meaningful and competitive employment
Job development, including job carving
Provide job coaching (onsite support to job train clients and/or assist them to maintain quality, accuracy and quality of work)
Provide intensive job retention support
Market the At Work program to prospective employers
Advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients, when necessary
Facilitate referrals to identified community resources
Develop accommodation plans
Provide job crisis support
Provide pre-employment services i.e. resume development, interview coaching
Negotiate job trials and subsidies with employers and other Employment Services agencies
Understand and provide Labour Market Information to job seekers to direct their employment search
Document and maintain electronic and paper client records (intake and assessment forms, progress notes, correspondences, database files, etc.)
Complete administrative tasks including: timesheets, expense reports, vacation requests
Complete other required documents in program and agency policies and procedures and standards
Report and maintain program-related statistical data
Enter employment details (including job type, job title, hours, wage, etc) in funder data base
Liaise with Community Employment Resource Partnerships, E.S. service provider meeting group, Employment Networking Group, the local Ontario Disability Support Program, and Ontario Works offices and various other community partners
Participate in community outreach activities through the development of collaborative partnerships, on inter-agency committees and through presentations, education and visits to community agencies and services as appropriate
Participate in the agency performance management process/system
Stay current on relevant legislation and best practices, current research, policies and procedures
Participate in ongoing professional development and mandatory training
Actively engage and participate in supervisory process
Work in compliance with the Occupational Health And Safety Act, applicable regulations and all organizational health and safety requirements and procedures to ensure the health and safety of clients, staff/colleagues, volunteers and students
Adhere to C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. client safety programs including program policies as well as infection control and prevention procedures. In partnership with clients, family members, and fellow staff, maintain open lines of communication to assist the organization in identifying and achieving quality outcomes for client safety. Report client safety incidents and suggested improvements to manager or delegate.
Attend, participate in team/staff meetings, and all-staff meetings as required
Participate in agency quality improvement activities, e.g. accreditation projects, committee work, special events, etc.
Participate in funder driven audits
Participate in quality improvement activities at the team/program level
Participate in external committees as required
Duties may change from time to time