Social Worker/Registered Psychotherapist

Position: Social Worker/Registered Psychotherapist – Mental Health Program

Reports To: Manager, Mental Health Services

(1.0 FTE Permanent with benefits & HOOPP)

Hybrid once 3 month probation is complete (2 days/Week remote)

Salary $75,000.00 - $78,000.00

Position Summary:

As a key member of The Couchiching Family Health Team (CFHT), and an integral part of an interdisciplinary health care team, you will provide mental health counselling/therapy and other therapeutic services for individuals, families, and groups as part of an interdisciplinary team. Your primary roles are to work in partnership with the CFHT to perform intake (via a semi-structured interview), patient biopsychosocial assessments, and provide short-term counselling, education, and advocacy. The Social Worker/Registered Psychotherapist will also provide clinical supervision to qualified clinicians, as appropriate, to support professional development, clinical competency, ethical decision-making, safe and effective clinical practice, and client well-being, in accordance with applicable professional standards and regulatory College requirements. The Social Worker/Psychotherapist will apply an anti-oppressive lens in supporting diverse clients.

Why Join Us:

Join a collaborative primary care team environment where you will directly support an interdisciplinary team in delivering accessible, patient-centred care. Be part of a progressive organization committed to improving access, coordination, and continuity of care in alignment with Ontario Health’s Primary Care for All initiative.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Semi-structured Assessments (Intake)

• Review referrals & patient charts
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments of referred clients
• Assess urgency and recommend for short term counselling or refer to community resources as appropriate
• Involve patients in decisions about their own mental health, identify client strengths
• Record/discuss other resources for patients (ie: benefits or EAP)
• Flag cases for presentation at MH Team meetings for case assignment

Biopsychosocial Assessments

• Provide biopsychosocial assessment of patients and families
• Monitor, record and report symptoms and changes in patients’ conditions
• Collect information by developing a relationship with the client

Treatment/Management

• Provide counselling/treatment including instrumental, therapeutic, supportive, psycho-educational and crisis interventions all within the scope of best practices
• Provide mental health treatment in the form of individual, family, and group therapy
• Caseload with a balance of short/long-term therapy services, with particular regard to individual/family issues and decisions that impact the health of the patient/family
• Provide brief counselling through the Single Session Walk-In Clinic on a weekly basis
• Coordinate referrals and facilitate access to other health care providers and community organizations
• Maintain communication with patients, families, and their physicians with consent
• Monitor patient goals and outcomes through ongoing assessment and documentation of treatment progress
• Participate in treatment planning with other team members
• Consult with team members and external professionals involved in the care of patients

Clinical Supervision

• Provide clinical supervision across the School Success, System Navigation, Trans Health, and Mental Health programs to qualified clinicians, as appropriate, within the scope of professional competence and applicable regulatory College standards.
• Support supervisees in developing clinical skills, professional judgement, ethical decision-making, and the application of evidence-informed mental health practices.
• Review clinical cases, assessments, treatment plans, and documentation as appropriate to support quality of care and professional development.
• Provide constructive feedback, identify learning needs, and support the development of clinical competencies and professional goals.
• Support supervisees in recognizing and managing clinical risk, maintaining professional boundaries, and addressing ethical or practice-related concerns.
• Maintain appropriate supervision records and documentation in accordance with applicable professional standards and CFHT policies.
• Identify and escalate clinical, ethical, or patient safety concerns through appropriate organizational channels.

Education/Advocacy

• Initiate group programs to promote and support patients as they strive to achieve the highest possible level of mental health
• Act as an advocate for patients and their families
• Assist in overcoming barriers within health care system for timely delivery of services
• Help patients identify and use health resources, including those available in the community and from community agencies
• Involve patients in decisions about their own health, encourage self-management initiatives
• Participate in case presentations/reviews and discussion within the team
• Develop/research learning resources for health care providers
• Present on various aspects of social work to FHT to assist them in their practice
• Coach/mentor peers, students and other members of the health care team, including providing clinical supervision where appropriate
• Maintain current discipline specific standards of practice
• Maintain awareness & understanding of current Mental Health legislation

Referrals/Collaboration

• Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
• Liaise and consult with other agencies/programs/services as required
• Provide communication to hospital and community staff and other inter-professional team members, as required, to ensure smooth transition for care between care sites
• Review current policies annually to provide input and offer suggestions for change

Administration/Reporting

• Receive patient phone calls, provide consultation and arrange for follow-up appointments as necessary
• Collect accurate and comprehensive patient-related information and document on clinical management system
• Complete documentation required to facilitate care for the patient (reports, referrals, forms, etc.)
• Keep monthly statistics for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) as requested
• Maintain an organized appointment schedule
• Monitor referrals from the team and assist with waitlist mgt
• Participate in program planning and evaluation within the team or externally as appropriate

Skills/Knowledge Requirements:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to adjust language and terminology to suit the individual patient or patient group (including cultural sensitivity). Ability to work across difference and experience supporting equity-deserving clients
• Strong clinical skills; demonstrated ability to utilize best practices for mental health treatment
• Autonomous and able to function with minimal supervision
• Ability to work effectively with all members of the health care team
• Flexibility to work across departments and programs may be required to meet changing operational needs
• Ability to work in an inter-professional team environment
• Ability to prioritize, manage time effectively and be flexible in a very active work environment
• Work in compliance with Health and Safety laws adhering to safe work practices and procedures established by the CFHT
• Other duties as required

Computer Skills

• Familiarity with a PC OS environment
• Experience with scheduling and electronic medical record keeping using a clinical management system (Practice Solutions) is an asset

Language Skills

• English required; Second language not required but would be an asset

Education/Specific Job Requirements:

• Minimum Education: Masters Degree in Social Work or Psychotherapy/Counselling or equivalent experience
• Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or College or Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act
• Flexibility to work evenings, if required
• Travel and work across multiple clinical sites within the CFHT catchment area may be required and will be scheduled on an as-needed basis
• Police Record/Vulnerable Sector Check
• It is a condition of employment that you receive the necessary vaccinations to protect against infection of COVID-19, or any similar infectious diseases, which may be recommended by governmental and public health authorities from time to time

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in youth and adult mental health
• Experience providing clinical supervision to qualifying practitioners or other clinicians is an asset.
• Clinical experience working collaboratively with a community-based agency preferable
• Experience working with those with chronic health conditions an asset
• Teaching and experience facilitating treatment groups an asset

The Couchiching Family Health Team supports diversity, equity and a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. The CFHT is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace. If you are contacted to participate in our recruitment process, please advise the interview coordinator of any accommodations. The CFHT has an Accommodation Policy and Procedure to ensure you have access to a fair and equitable process. While we thank all applicants, only those contacted for an interview will be acknowledged.

Please submit cover letter and resume including position title in subject line to: [email protected]. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.