Social Worker (MSW) - Access and Assessment Centre

Vancouver Coastal Health • Vancouver, BC

6h • CA$45 - CA$56

About The Position

In accordance with the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) vision and values, the Social Worker works to address client and family centred care needs as a member of an integrated health service team and delivery model. The Social Worker practices in accordance with the British Columbia College of Social Workers and within VCH policies, guidelines, and clinical practice documents. The Social Worker works from a harm reduction, culturally safe, trauma informed, recovery oriented, and client-centred model of care. Conducts comprehensive social and psycho-social assessments. Collaborates with the client and interdisciplinary team to facilitate transitions through the continuum of services for clients with complex discharge and/or intake/referral needs across multiple sites, clinics, services. This includes: clients, family members, primary care/mental health/ substance use service providers, private General Practitioner (GP) partners, community care partners and services.
The Social Worker provides consultative and direct services to clients, families, staff and community health professionals regarding issues such as adult guardianship, advanced directives, domestic violence, abuse and/or neglect, immigration, housing, financial concerns, or matters concerning government agencies (public trustee) and authorities (courts, police). Prepares and maintains client records in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures. The Social Worker uses health management and/or self-care management principles to identify problems, address issues or variances from the plan of care in collaboration with the entire interdisciplinary team and any other health care services involved. The Social Worker establishes, maintains and enhances therapeutic relationships based on respect.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a team-based, person-centered service delivery model that combines treatment, rehabilitation and support services using transdisciplinary team-based care as a community alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. These teams provide intensive, specific and continuous services to meet the needs of individuals living with serious and persistent mental health and/or substance use challenges, who have not benefited from traditional outpatient programs. ACT teams bring health care and life-skills support to clients, all of whom would have challenges accessing health care and other social supports. ACT uses a trauma informed approach to promote recovery through community-based treatment and rehabilitation. The ACT team strives to support clients to maintain wellness in the community, reduce the number of client contacts with police, access substance use supports and harm reduction, and improve the quality of life for clients.

Requirements

• Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
• Master’s Degree of Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work.
• Two (2) years experience working in a health care setting providing assessment and treatment services to individuals with complex mental health, substance use and chronic medical concerns or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental illness.
• Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation methodology.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act as it applies to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Knowledge of community, social and mental health resources.
• Knowledge and experience in providing culturally safe and competent care, specifically pertaining to Indigenous peoples.
• Demonstrated ability to identify emotional, social, or environmental barriers and intervene to eliminate stigma.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage conflict situations and aggressive behaviour and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with clients, families, team members, other groups and community agency personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to assess clients at risk and knowledge of appropriate acts; e.g. Mental Health Act, Adult Guardianship, Public Health Act as it relates to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Broad knowledge of mental illness, substance use and addictions treatment.
• Broad knowledge of systems thinking as it related to social work process.
• Broad knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in healthcare.
• Broad knowledge of research methodology, counselling skills and clinical practice models.
• Broad knowledge of family, group and change therapy.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and use critical thinking skills.
• Broad knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to the client.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems theory to practice in Social Work assessment and intervention.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and influence group and inter-group processes, decision making and problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with clients and families.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events and deal effectively with conflict.
• Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated understanding of health care ethics and ability to incorporate ethical decision making in practice.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive risk assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with clients and caregivers in order to explore issues that are beyond the initial presented concerns.
• Broad understanding of harm reduction and trauma-informed care.
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet and e-mail software.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Skilled in the use of equipment, and in the techniques appropriate for treatment.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive social and psycho-social assessments.
• Collaborates with the client and interdisciplinary team to facilitate transitions through the continuum of services for clients with complex discharge and/or intake/referral needs across multiple sites, clinics, services.
• Provides consultative and direct services to clients, families, staff and community health professionals regarding issues such as adult guardianship, advanced directives, domestic violence, abuse and/or neglect, immigration, housing, financial concerns, or matters concerning government agencies (public trustee) and authorities (courts, police).
• Prepares and maintains client records in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures.
• Uses health management and/or self-care management principles to identify problems, address issues or variances from the plan of care in collaboration with the entire interdisciplinary team and any other health care services involved.
• Establishes, maintains and enhances therapeutic relationships based on respect.
• Support clients to maintain wellness in the community, reduce the number of client contacts with police, access substance use supports and harm reduction, and improve the quality of life for clients.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

What This Job Offers

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