Mental Health Crisis Worker (Casual Weekend Shift)

Highbridge Human Capital • Kamloops, BC

15h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (KAFS) Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL) is a newly launched program providing an alternative to police presence at mental health crisis calls in Kamloops. The team offers crisis support services integrating cultural safety protocols and holistic care. The mobile team consists of a mental health professional and a peer. This program aims to reduce harm for individuals facing mental health and addictions challenges, as well as Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ2+ and other marginalized individuals. The CRCL team provides acute crisis support and de-escalation for persons 13 years and older experiencing mental health and/or substance use related crises. The Mental Health Crisis Worker uses clinical judgment for rapid point-of-service mental health crisis management and de-escalation, including assessment, suicide intervention, and safety planning.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years’ relevant experience, including crisis de-escalation, case management, and harm reduction.
• Degree in Mental Health, Counselling, or Social Work.
• Skilled in situational and mental health assessment, including safety and wellness assessments, de-escalation, and crisis intervention; able to assess and triage to emergency services when appropriate.
• Extensive experience providing supportive counselling in the field, including direct service delivery, advocacy, and Clinical Case Management with maintenance of confidential client records.
• Experience and capacity for incident debriefing with service users and teammates.
• Effective in establishing working relationships with community care providers, including local non-profits and Health Authority services, and in communicating with Emergency Service Personnel.
• Demonstrated commitment and experience with harm reduction principles and practices; ability to establish respectful rapport, provide support, and advocate for individuals actively using substances and facing significant barriers to health and well-being.
• Empathic observer invested in relationship-building, practicing social justice, cultural humility, trauma-informed, and public health approaches to social support and healthcare.
• Skilled in managing hostile interactions using non-violent communication and de-escalation techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and apply innovative, resourceful, and creative problem-solving to meet people where they are, both physically in the community and in their lived experience.
• First Aid and CPR Level C certified.
• Valid Class 5 Drivers License.
• Commitment to honor Indigenous communities and ways of knowing, approaching the ongoing impacts of colonial violence with humility.
• Applicants must be available for at least one of the following weekend shifts: Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM or 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM.
• Availability for 6 full-day mandatory training sessions is required within the first three months of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Suicide Intervention and Assessment Training, CBT and DBT training, and Mental Health First Aid are assets.
• Preference will be given to applicants of Aboriginal ancestry as per section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code (please self-identity in your cover letter).

Responsibilities

• Provide situational assessment, crisis de-escalation, and point-of-service crisis counseling, maintaining a safe space for individuals or groups experiencing psychological or emotional distress.
• Assess wellness and safety, including triage to emergency services, and co-develop Care Plans and Safety/Wellness Plans that center client agency and support community connection and access to social and healthcare services.
• Maintain confidential case notes, including safety and wellness assessments, client documentation, and release of information.
• Provide outreach care and emergency mental health response in diverse settings, including parks, encampments, shelters, drop-in centers, people’s homes, community centers, and outdoor environments.
• Support immediate access to survival supplies, including food, tents, tarps, blankets, clothing, harm reduction, and safe sex supplies.
• Respond to medical emergencies including first aid, overdose interventions, rescue breathing, oxygen administration, and naloxone use when necessary.
• Conduct clinical case management and supervision, following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents such as overdose or other emergencies.
• Engage in Later Leadership Practices, emphasizing open communication, mutual support, and collective accountability.
• Work outdoors in all types of weather and in all seasons.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or required.

Benefits

• Training wage of $28 per hour for the first 120 hours of employment
• Upon successful completion of training, you are eligible for a wage increase (post-training wage is determined by skill set, experience, and the established wage grid)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level