Casual Integrated Mental Health Worker (Spiritwood Homes)

Connective is a dynamic non-profit organization that provides innovative programming in the social services sector. We strive to create safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all.

ROLE PURPOSE

This position will provide casework, in-unit and community support to individuals living in tertiary care, using a harm reduction model, who are requiring enhanced support due to severe and persistent mental illness, substance use and behavioral challenges. This role provides enhanced support to individuals to enhance their quality of life, prepare for community re-integration, and to maintain the goals of the rehabilitative plans. This position will work with community, governmental, health and corrections to support individuals to maintain clinical stabilization utilizing a trauma-informed approach while respecting individual autonomy and rights to self-determination as it aligns with the Mental Health Act.

STATUS AND CLASSIFICATION
Unionized. This position is open to applicants of all genders.

HOURS

Mornings (0730 – 1530)
Evenings (1530 – 2330)
Overnights (2330 – 0730)

Casual employees must be available for at least 21 shifts per month in which seven are overnight shifts.

If you are working full-time, or if you are a full-time student, we ask you for 15 shifts of availability per month in which five are overnight shifts (this is subject to employer or enrollment proof).

REPORTING AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports and is accountable to the Program Manager or their designate
• Participates as a member of the Connective services team to ensure quality and continuity of services to service users
• Participates actively in designated facility, care team and staff meetings
• Participates as a member of the Connective staff team
• Liaises with outside professionals from other agencies or government bodies as required

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Programs

• Maintain confidentiality when participating in assessments, goal setting and providing progress evaluation reporting
• Support on site medical staff and the Intensive Tertiary Rehabilitation (ITR) program at Vancouver General Hospital in performing detailed assessments to identify psychiatric symptoms, contributing factors and the impact on daily functioning
• Under the general guidance of the Program Manager assumes a primary or key worker role with assigned service user(s) through providing supervision of clients, recreational activities, escorting into community, Psychoeducational groups. Keyworkers are expected to complete needs assessment, service plans, quarterly progress reports, and any other reports required to support their key service user(s).
• Provides input to the Program Manager and/or other staff regarding the development of appropriate care plans to achieve the service user’s and care objectives under the Mental Health Act.
• Provide support, in collaboration with Vancouver Coastal Health medical staff on site, to the recovery of individuals living with severe and persistent mental illnesses who require resources beyond the scope of secondary mental health services due to the intensity, complexity, or intractability of their symptoms. This includes responding to Code White emergency responses.
• Work as a member of an interdisciplinary tertiary mental health team to provide comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation services within a recovery framework utilizing best practice and standards.
• Demonstrates and models for service user’s healthy lifestyle behavior and coping skills.
• Provides emotional support to the service user by listening and potentially interpreting service user’s behavior to define an issue and apply an appropriate support or intervention
• Provides behavior management counselling to service users on a one-to-one and/or group basis by performing duties such as providing feedback on service users’ behavior, teaching coping techniques and adaptive behavior and providing guidance and support.
• Ensures communication occurs between the various program partners including the VCH designated facility staff, community, psychiatric services, and other multi-disciplinary team members alongside the program manager
• Assists the Program Manager and/or care team in the identification of potential problems and reports any difficulties
• When assigned, participates in social, recreational, employment, educational, and other programs as appropriate to assist the service user’s case/care plan
• Contributes to the evaluation of the service user’s progress and makes both written and oral reports to be available to the remainder of the care team
• Maintains service user files including statement of goals, case/care plans, summaries, case notes, reviews, and closing reports
• Develops and maintains an in-house resource area containing current information/brochures of programs and services which are available to service users and members of the care team
• Acts as an on-site advocate for each service user and provide support as they navigate the healthcare system. Connects service users to resources within and outside of health care facilities, educates service users about their condition, and ensures service user autonomy
• Regularly assess service users emotional and behavioral challenges and provides emotional support, feedback, crisis intervention and skill building to service users and their families
• As appropriate, supports service users towards integration and healthy functioning within the community
• Dispenses medication and supports medication management as needed.
• With other members of the care team, plans, develops, and delivers in-house programs to address the needs of the service users designated under the mental health act. This may include cooking, exercise groups, gardening, social groups, psychoeducational groups, music therapy, and/or art therapy. Staff will be required to research, train, and implement programs based on the needs of the service users
• Participates in ensuring the work environment is positive by implementing all aspects of the Employers policies including Respect in the Workplace Policy and Violence Prevention Policy.

Community

• Identifies social, economic, recreational, employment, and educational services in the community that will meet the needs of the service user
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team and consulting with team psychologist and psychiatrists to develop, implement, maintain, and adjust individualized treatment plans
• Participates constructively and appropriately in short- and long-term planning of service plans and programming for the service users of mental health programs in collaboration with nursing staff, psychiatrists, social workers, assertive treatment teams, and other medical staff
• Maintains effective liaison with other agencies, professionals, government officials and the community to contribute to the success of the case/care plan of the service user

Residential

• Supervises the activities and daily living of service users living in the designated facility while on shift, including maintaining case notes and the logbook, monitoring behavioural routines to de-escalate potential threats to self or others, and overseeing the execution of person specific care plans
• Provides support, guidance, cues and prompts to assist with daily living to service users
• Along with other members of the Vancouver Coastal Health medical staff and care team, monitors and ensures effective operation of the facility and meeting all strict regulatory requirements in service and care, including quality control concerning cleaning equipment, indoor and outdoor maintenance, inventory, and food services
• Provides input into meal scheduling and preparation, including food inventory
• Ensures the security of the residence
• As assigned, is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining cleaning and facility organization procedures, including identifying timelines and creating a schedule of tasks that can be assigned or delegated into personalized care plans when deemed appropriate
• As assigned, is responsible for the weekly grocery shopping for the designated facility and involves the service users in this process
• As assigned, assists with the details of the operation of the facility, including but not limited to administrative support through writing reports, planning groups, coordinating of family visits, scheduling clinical contractors, managing and supporting patient finances, scheduling and planning cultural supports, income/ministry assistance, and collaborating closely with BC correctional staff on facility operations
• As assigned, organizes, and oversees the preparation of meals and involves the service users in this process
• As necessary, accepts responsibility of being on-call and carrying the residence pager
• As required, accompanies service users to appointments and community outings, following the restrictions imposed by the courts/review panels/and psychiatrist or community mental health team
• Maintain safety best practices for both staff and service user while service user is in acute mental distress
• Recognizes, analyzes, and deals with potential emergency situations such as a service user’s aggressive behavior to ensure no harm comes to them and/or the public often using persuasion or influence methods to manage the service user’s behavior. Reports problems to the supervisor.

Other

• Participates in staff and service user/staff meetings/case management conferences
• Assists with site safety orientation and training on job specific duties, program knowledge, and organizational policies to new Connective staff and volunteers. This includes external clinical contractors
• Assists with the orientation of new service users
• Other duties may be assigned from time to time

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Functions independently while on shift and adhere to Residence Policy and Procedures
• Maintains constant vigilance while working in a constant high stress environment, often dealing with service users who are uncooperative, displaying behavioral issues and posing potential physical risk on staff.
• Ability to think critically and be prepared to set up safety measures including barricades and other de-escalation tactics when service users escalate
• Constantly navigate difficult and complex situations, make critical decisions and work in a high stress, and emotionally charged environment
• Demonstrate a balance of clinical skills, critical thinking, emotional resilience, and the ability to collaborate within a dynamic team.
• Play a critical role in bridging gaps between mental health and physical health services, ensuring patient centered care in a demanding, complex, high stress and emotionally charged environment.
• Demonstrates a level of physical fitness to effectively carry out the required duties often supporting the service user in pushing, lifting, or carrying in awkward positions.
• Is available to work all shifts, 7 days per week including day shifts, afternoon shifts, and overnight shifts
• Participate in professional development activities to maintain competency in field of practice or area(s) of expertise.
• Work in compliance with all health and safety policies, procedures and guidelines and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Follow all agency policies, procedures, and directives.
• Report in writing all accidents, injuries, and incidents.
• Is a member of CUPE local 1936-11

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Diploma or degree, preferably in psychology, behavioural sciences, social work, community social services, or criminology, or equivalent, with two years of related experience.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered
• Ability to establish and maintain therapeutic rapport with service users.
• Ability to Advocate on behalf of service users.
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
• Working knowledge of community, social and health resources.
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in the service users’ level of functioning service using advanced critical thinking skills.
• Ability to provide service users with information and education about mental health, the mental health system, and the Mental Health Act.
• Advanced knowledge of de-escalation strategies for service user experiencing a psychiatric crisis
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and the mental health act
• Experience in the appropriate field and demonstrate a clear ability to respond well in crisis situations
• Knowledge and ability to integrate anti-oppression, anti-racist, trauma-informed, critical disability, LGBTQ2S-positivity, harm reduction, recovery approach in support to mental health and strengths-based principles into practice.
• An understanding of the intergenerational impacts of the residential school systems, colonization and the various Indigenous Nations, practices, and ceremonies.
• Familiarity with youth development stages and the impacts on adulthood
• An understanding of providing service to people with different learning abilities
• Demonstrated experience in an applicable residential setting or hospital setting.
• Demonstrated a good working knowledge of the technical details important to the functioning of a bio-psycho-social model.
• Experience with service users with a history of conflict with the law, self-harming/aggressive behaviors, concurrent disorders, developmental disabilities and/or spectrum disorders, interaction with social agencies and experiencing psychiatric/personality disorders.
• Demonstrated ability to teach skills and work effectively with others.
• Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices in the fields related to the particular residence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• The successful candidate should exhibit flexibility, empathy, and a strong commitment to fostering a positive and empowering environment for service users.

REQUIREMENTS

• Diploma or degree, preferably in psychology, behavioural sciences, social work, community social services, or criminology, or equivalent, with two years of related experience
• Ability to successfully complete a Vulnerable Persons Criminal Record Check
• Ability to successfully pass a reference check · Current First Aid Certificate (please refer to the Certificates accepted in B.C. - WorkSafeBC)
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license
• Demonstrated ability to respond efficiently in crisis and escalated situations
• Advanced knowledge of de-escalation strategies for service users experiencing a psychiatric crisis
• Food Safe Certification

COMPENSATION
As Connective is a unionized environment, the starting wage is $30.95 up to $35.52 per hour. Plus, benefits enrolment as per the Collective Agreement.

Important: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada, observe their weekly hours limit if under a temporary or study visa, and provide proof of eligibility if selected for the role.

WHAT WE OFFER?

• Committed Living Wage Employer
• 2022, 2023 and 2025 Canadian Nonprofit Employer of Choice Award from NEOC
• 2023 High-Performance Culture Award from Supporting Lines
• Competitive benefits package, including health, wellness, and pension plan
• Career and personal development, with the ability to grow in a diverse range of programs and departments
• Access to a range of staff mental health supports, including an in-house counsellor, Employee Family Assistance Program, and Critical Incidents Stress Management
• Access to On-Demand Pay to withdraw earned wages before payday
• Connective is part of a portability program where employees moving from a CSSEA-member employer to Connective will port their service hours for vacation and wage purposes (within last 12 months)

INCLUSION

At Connective, we value and accommodate unique differences to ensure that our staff have the opportunity and are supported to thrive. To build a strong and representative workforce, we strongly encourage applications from BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+ people, immigrants, and people with disabilities or other marginalized communities.

For more information on Connective’s services and locations, visit our website at https://connective.ca/