Mental Health Worker

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

10d•Onsite

About The Position

CONNECT MHAP is a centralized intake service at St. Joseph's in the Mental Health and Addiction Program. The service is responsible for all intake functions for outpatient referrals. The primary responsibility of the Mental Health Worker will be to contribute to the achievement of the following mandated core program functions: intake and screening; dispositioning; supportive counselling; care planning; education; system navigation; program and system development and evaluation. Reporting to the Manager of Connect MHAP, the Mental Health Worker will work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team, providing administrative support, intake and screening, care planning, education, and system navigation. The position will respond and support patients and their families affected by mental illness and/or addictions. The MHW will work closely with outpatient clinics and other areas of the hospital, in addition to community stakeholders. The MHW position works collaboratively with members of the interdisciplinary team to identify and prioritize individuals with urgent needs, assess and respond to risk, collect clinical information, and identify and optimize care options including inpatient and outpatient services, general practitioners, and a range of community services.

Requirements

Degree/diploma in nursing (RN) or Degree in Social Work or Occupational Therapy or a degree in related health or social science field (e.g. psychology)
Current registration with your college in good standing: College of Nurses (RN), Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
Minimum 3-5 years' experience in a mental health and/or addictions healthcare setting.
Current First Aid/CPR certification
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to be used in course of employment
Demonstrated knowledge and practiced skills in intake assessment, care planning, supportive counselling, and system navigation in mental illness and/or addictions for youth, adults and seniors.
Demonstrated knowledge and practiced skills in conducting a risk assessment, intervening when required and providing necessary supports.
Intake experience in mental health and addictions required
Current and demonstrated knowledge of mental health illnesses and/or addictions symptoms, required.
Knowledge of social, attitudes, characteristics and behaviors of mental illness and emotional disturbances and/or substance abuse, required.
Proven ability to perform comprehensive bio-psychosocial mental health and addiction screening, as well as the ability to apply research and evidence to inform processes and program development.
Demonstrates superior knowledge in engaging with patients and/or families who may be reluctant to seek help and establish rapport in various scenarios.
Demonstrated educational/presentation, facilitation and networking skills.
Understanding of basic use of psychotropic medications.
Requires expertise in crisis assessment and interventions, as well as the ability to apply research and evidence to inform processes and program development.
Ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with an interdisciplinary team and other agencies/organizations in the community.
Ability to ensure continuity of care between services and development of coordinated care plans to promote community integration for service users.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrates a strong recovery-oriented, client-focused philosophy in all interactions.
Demonstrated ability in conflict resolution.
Current and demonstrated knowledge of Mental Health Act, Healthcare Consent Act, Substitute Decisions Act, and Privacy Legislation.
Maintains own competency in accordance with relevant professional standards.
Demonstrates and role models an awareness of and commitment to personal and professional development.
Maintains membership in professional organizations as related to area of expertise and knowledge.
Good work performance and attendance record is essential.

Nice To Haves

Current and demonstrated knowledge of motivation interview techniques and/or interventions, highly recommended.

Responsibilities

Reviews and screens referrals to identify the appropriate service for assessment and/or treatment. Requires extensive knowledge of St. Joe's MHAP services, as well as community resources.
Build effective internal partnerships to support care planning, care transitions, and support SJHH system development.
Identify and develop partnerships with external stakeholders to support the needs of the client, family and service provider. Represent SJHH program in the community, as required.
Assesses for aspects of RISK and intervenes as appropriate. Provides secondary support to crisis intervention services, as appropriate. Identifies and intervenes with high-risk social situations such as intimate partner violence, child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, financial abuse, and others as appropriate utilizing best practice social work guidelines.
Identifies on a case-by-case basis the educational and resource needs of clients, families and service providers and provides in the most appropriate format. Provides support, system navigation and psychoeducational information to families, as required.
Documents all findings and interventions in a clear and concise manner in the client’s clinical record. Maintains records and statistics as required by the program, and St. Joseph's Healthcare.
Provides individual and group orientations, as required to clients and families.
Responds to walk-ins and/or phone calls from patients, families, community partners. Provide necessary support, education, screening, and intervention to ensure safety and appropriate connection to services.
Assume responsibility for maintaining a level of knowledge conducive to confident and competent functioning within the mental health and addiction service sector.
Participates in and is a liaison with others, as appropriate, in the planning, delivery, implementation and evaluation of institutional, local, regional and provincial strategies or initiatives (e.g. clinical, academic, research). Collaborates with care and service partners to identify/plan for community and regional development needs.
Participates and actively contributes to program evaluation and research base activities as appropriate.
Knowledgeable of service availability and gaps in service, working with health and social service planning bodies to address service needs. Demonstrates awareness of changes in social and health policies and related legislation and the impact on the target population.
Provides competent, professional care through the development and use of a therapeutic relationship with patients and/or families.
Identifies, develops and implements a plan to work toward achieving team and personal learning and development goals.
Participates in activities that enhance the quality of care including but not limited to clinical and administrative team meetings, special projects, continuous quality improvement activities, research and program development, accreditation teams and corporate committees, as required.
Communicates with all relevant care providers within the circle of care to ensure integration of care plans and enhance quality co-ordinated client care.
Encourages and challenges other team members in the pursuit of continued learning and quality improvement. Works collaboratively with other team members demonstrating creativity, flexibility, respect and enthusiasm.
Provides clinical teaching, mentoring and supervision to mental health and addictions care students. Participates and creates interprofessional education experiences for students of all health disciplines.