About the Role
When individuals in our community experience an urgent mental health or addictions crisis, they deserve a response that is person-centred and supportive, while focusing on personal dignity and wellbeing. Crisis Centre Staff will support individuals accessing services by providing a psychosocial response in order to promote crisis resolution and empowerment for the individual. The Crisis Centre Staff will also work collaboratively with individuals to assess and identify their needs and link them to appropriate supports in the community. Depending on the program, supports may be provided in-person, via telephone or virtually; Crisis Services programs support individuals on a walk-in basis at the Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Centre; in the community, via mobile response; via phone, text and web chat, and through intensive, short-term stabilization supports. Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team!
Responsibilities
- Complete mental health and addiction assessments based on theory of crisis management including rapid response to identify the impact of psychiatric symptoms on functioning, risk factors related to safety of client and others, and opportunities for de-escalation and stabilization.
- Establish a therapeutic relationship to maximize the benefits of engagement with the individual.
- Provide short-term follow-up support to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as needed.
- Coordinate and facilitate referrals to internal and external services and supports.
- Advocate as necessary in order to facilitate access to services and supports with the objective of remediating immediate crisis situation.
- Engage emergency services when it is determined that additional intervention is required.
- Assess barriers to successful community living (e.g. treatment options, transportation, finances, etc.).
- Obtain information, as needed, from other relevant sources.
- Interact and provide support and assessment in a nonjudgmental fashion and provide care that demonstrates sensitivity to individual diversity (e.g. culture, race, age, sexual orientation, gender, beliefs and values).
- Support the individual in developing skills for self-advocacy to learn new behaviours and develop coping skills fostering healthy interdependence through limit setting.
- Provide health teaching and information regarding coping techniques and strategies, e.g. grounding, breathing techniques, self-care, nutrition, sleep hygiene, techniques to enhance overall well-being.
- Provide crisis intervention services and supports on Reach Out via phone, text and web chat.
- Respond to voicemails from Reach Out.
- Establish a therapeutic relationship with individuals accessing Reach Out, and work with individuals to address their immediate concerns.
- Provide short-term, psychotherapeutic intervention to assist individuals in gaining insight and improving coping skills within the framework of the crisis model.
- Perform in a calm, competent and efficient manner in an emergency situation acknowledging the individual’s need for privacy and dignity.
- Utilize harm reduction principles to identify, reduce and remove risk factors.
- Support individuals in the community working in teams of two. Focus is to be on crisis assessment and solutions focused crisis intervention.
- As necessary, assist individual crisis centre clients with transportation to required mental health services.
- Work with community partners including London Police Services and London Emergency Medical Services.
- Maintain consistent communication with community services through dedicated phone line.
- Assist community services in supporting the mental health of individuals in the community.
Requirements
- Degree or diploma in a mental health or addictions related field or a minimum of 3 years of experience in a direct-service role and some post-secondary education in a mental health or addictions related field.
- Valid Driver’s License: G class required.
- Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC).
- Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly.
Skills
- Crisis intervention
- Crisis resolution
- ASIST
- Community resources
- Service & support programs
- Treatment strategies
- Intervention strategies
- Support strategies
- Mental health crisis intervention
- Mild, moderate & serious mental illnesses
- Community-based setting
- Bilingual in both official languages
Location
- London, Ontario (London Zone)
Work Type
- Part-Time
- Contract
- Onsite
Experience Level
- Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience working in mental health
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in mental health crisis intervention
Education Level
- Degree or diploma in a mental health or addictions related field
- Post-secondary education in a mental health or addictions related field
Salary/Compensations
- Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated)
- Grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated)
- Premiums of $2.00 per hour will be applied for eligible Evening/Night (8:00pm – 7:00am) and Weekend Shifts.
Benefits
- 9% in lieu of benefits
- Immediately eligible for optional enrolment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
About the Company
- Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
Equal Opportunity
- We welcome and encourage applications from all members of our community including persons of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and members of visible minorities. If you require accommodations related to a disability at any point during the recruitment process, please contact Human.Resources@cmhatv.ca
