Community Mental Health Worker IV (Adult Access)

Position Title: Community Mental Health Worker IV (Adult Access)

FTE: 1.00 Permanent

Employee Union Group: MAHCP

Department/Service/Program: Pathways Community Mental Health

Reports to: Manager, Health Services – Mental Health & Addictions

Hours of Work: 1885 annually, 7.25 hrs/day

Position Purpose

The Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) is a clinician who provides psychosocial assessment, consultation and evidence- informed counselling intervention and psychosocial rehabilitation to individuals referred to the mental health program for mental health related problems. Through the application of therapeutic skills that promote and build on individual’s strengths, the CMHW assists the individual/family to maximize independence, self-responsibility and promotes personal wellness, community integration and social justice. Depending on individual needs and particularly when working with individuals with enduring mental illness, the CMHW applies case management functions that focus on functional assessment and skill development, relapse prevention, and rehabilitation. Services are based on the principles of recovery, empowerment, self-determination and responsibility and are part of a continuum of mental health services. Clinicians operate within a collaborative care structure and provide time-limited, goal-oriented, change-focused interventions and/or consultations that are based on informed consent, voluntary participation and within individual capacity. The CMHW requires a diverse and comprehensive knowledge base about trauma informed psychiatric care as well as other adopted mental health therapies and the ability possess and integrate into practice crisis management and suicide intervention skills. The CMHW exercises the appropriate level of initiative and independent judgment in determining work priorities, work methods to be employed and action to be taken on unusual matters. The Community Mental Health Worker works to the full scope of practice and engages in ongoing education and maintains competency congruent with Southern Health-Santé Sud policies, professional standards of practice, the appropriate college and code of ethics and the Regulated Health Professions Act. The position functions in a manner that is consistent with the mission, vision and values; and the policies of Eden Health Care Services.

Essential Functions And Basic Duties

Provides a welcoming environment and facilitates the development of respectful and therapeutic relationships with individuals, their families, referral sources and the community.

• Works within a multidisciplinary team and collaborates with other agencies and service providers in keeping with the requirements of the Personal Health Information Act, the Mental Health Act, the Child Welfare Act, Protecting Children (information sharing) Act and other Acts and legislation as related to their program service area (e.g. Protecting Persons in Care Act).
• Gathers information from individuals involved in service and other involved parties and completes initial and on-going psychosocial assessments, crisis assessments, cooccurring disorder screening, suicide assessments, mental status examinations, as well as other age-related assessments as required.
• Presents psychosocial assessment findings and treatment recommendations to the clinical review team as required.
• Implements psychotherapeutic interventions and treatment plans based on evidence-informed practices and recommendations emerging from the clinical review team, and is within program resources and capacity.
• Assists the individual to attain and maintain optimal mental and physical health.
• Ensures that the individual or community receives appropriate and effective service, including crisis planning and intervention for safety and protection.
• Collaborates with family members, other agencies, organizations and individuals from hospital and community to facilitate a well-coordinated, recovery-oriented service system for individuals with chosen follow up systems.
• Understands group dynamics and effectively uses facilitation skills to support group/class development and delivery.
• Provides follow-up services and monitoring of mental health status as required.
• Provides education and information to individuals and their families related to mental health conditions, diagnosed psychiatric disorders and relevant treatment options.
• Assists individuals and their families to connect with or refer to relevant resources as required.
• Documents assessments, interventions and results/recommendations in an approved format in accordance with professional and regional standards.
• Coordinates admissions, discharge planning, closures or transfers with other mental health services within Southern Health-Santé Sud, other regions, community agencies and/or informal supports
• Supervises/orientates in collaboration with the Proctor Supervisor and Managers, Mental Health Proctors, Activity Instructors, and Community Support Workers as applicable.
• Respects and values cultural healing practices in collaboration with individuals, family and cultural practitioners.
• Understanding and appreciation of the impact of our history related to colonization and outcomes from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission including its Calls to Action.
• Develops and documents advance directives/crisis care plans with individuals.
• Adheres to all mental health program policies, procedures and guidelines and ensures that program goals and standards of care are met.
• Provides assessment information, diagnostic impressions and treatment recommendations to other health service providers following PHIA and FIPPA requirements.
• Provides collaborative case management as mandated for individuals with orders with the Criminal Review Board, with delegated authority under the Public Trustee, or through a Service Purchase Agreement.
• Participates in mentoring and orientation of new staff and the preceptorship of students.
• Provides orientation, supervision and evaluation of new staff, students and physicians/ medical residents as appropriate.
• Participates in ongoing professional development.
• Contributes to program development participates in designated committees, projects and working groups.
• Participates in policy and procedure review, program evaluation and service outcome measurements.
• Advocates for service improvement including mobilizing existing services and/or creating new services.
• Maintains documentation, in electronic or paper-based files, regarding services as required by regional policies and professional standards.
• Completes and submits required statistical information on a monthly basis.
• Demonstrates honesty, integrity and professional ethics. Uses appropriate tools and resources to resolve professional and ethical issues.
• Contributes to making the organization safe for individuals and staff, and recognizes the importance of reporting unsafe situations and participating in follow up reviews as a learning opportunity.
• Pursuant to the Regional Health Authority Act, Southern Health-Santé Sud is designated bilingual (English/French). Accordingly, all employees accept responsibility to support individuals in their official language of choice.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited post-secondary education in Health-Related Social Sciences (e.g. BSW, BScMH, OT, MACP, BScPN, BN, RPN). Other relevant educational qualifications and experience may be considered
• Active license and registration to practice as required by professional association and provincial legislation
• Certificate in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST)
• Knowledge and understanding of all aspects of a mental health service
• Advanced mental health psychosocial assessment skills and knowledge of appropriate evidence informed therapeutic counseling models, approaches and interventions
• Advanced knowledge of human developmental theory and mental health concerns typically identified for various populations across the age spectrum including signs and symptoms of mental illness
• Knowledge of recovery principles in the treatment of mental illness
• Knowledge and understanding of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
• Knowledge of commonly prescribed psychotropic medications for mental disorders across the age spectrum
• Knowledge of mental health self-help and individual/family engagement in services
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and standards in Manitoba i.e. Personal Health Information Act and others as specified by Southern Health-Santé Sud and program area
• Proficiency with MS Office suite of programs and other technological applications (i.e. telehealth)
• Minimum of two (2) years supervised mental health counselling experience
• Experience in providing mental health services for adults or children and adolescents or adults with serious mental illnesses, or senior’s mental health
• Experience in completing psychosocial assessments and mental status examinations
  
  

Skills/Competencies/Conditions Of Employment

• Demonstrated excellence in communication, interpersonal and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to prepare written communication
• Demonstrated ability to complete psychosocial assessment, including mental status examination, preparing diagnostic impressions, and identifying crisis intervention plans
• Demonstrated ability to work in a culturally informed manner within a range of cultures
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team and across service sectors
• Given the cultural diversity of our region, the ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population is required
• Proficiency of both official languages is essential for target and designated bilingual positions
• Demonstrated ability to respect confidentiality including paper, electronic formats and other mediums
• Demonstrated ability to meet the physical and mental demands of the job
• Good work and attendance record
• Completes and maintains a satisfactory Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Search, Adult Abuse Registry Check and Child Abuse Registry Check, as appropriate
• All Health Care workers are required to be immunized as a condition of employment in accordance with Southern Health-Santé Sud policy.
• Requires a valid Class 5 driver’s license, an all-purpose insured vehicle and liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.00
  
  

Program Specific Requirements

The CMHW as part of the ACCESS portfolio provides a welcoming point of contact for clients and referral sources seeking Mental Health Program services in the Southern Health-Santé Sud region. The role includes developing effective alliances with callers, collecting information about the request for service, assessment of the service request for appropriateness to the Mental Health Program, evaluation of individual risk as well as urgent intervention where indicated. The incumbent provides information on community resources, follow-up and risk assessment to individuals awaiting service, provides information on alternate community resources to referral sources and/or individuals not appropriate to the service and transfer of the request to the appropriate Mental Health program.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities

• Provides a welcoming entry point to individuals who are requesting mental health services. Including responding to inquiries and providing information regarding the Mental Health Program and services available
• Conducts assessment of the individual’s current mental status and level of functioning for purposes of preliminary information gathering and service prioritization
• Determines the mental health program most appropriate for service provision and facilitates the transfer of the referral to the program indicated.
• Provides interim support, follow-up and reassessment of individuals when waitlist status delays prompt commencement of service with the Mental Health Program
• Where Mental Health Program services are deemed not appropriate, helps to identify alternate community services and resources for individuals, families and referral sources. Provides information, support and (where indicated) limited follow-up to the individual seeking community resources
• Maintains positive working relationships with fellow agencies and community programs in order to maintain current information on services, and to facilitate seamless referral processes.
• Assists the individual and family in liaising with identified crisis supports
• As per general CMHW duties
  
  

Additional Qualifications

• As per general CMHW requirements
  
  

See Human Resources for full job description. Eden welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request during the assessment and selection process.

Apply to: [email protected].