Navigation Resource SpecialistCC

Overview Counselling & Support Services Community Care

The Counselling and Support Services team provides support for people with mental health and/or substance use issues including concurrent disorders and dual diagnosis within an antioppressive traumainformed harm reduction and mental health recovery frameworks.

This position is also responsible for supporting intake into the Youth Outreach program by engaging screening assessing referring and providing system navigation / coordination support for youth affected by mental health addictions and related concerns. The incumbent serves as the first point of contact for the clients and/or their families/referral sources; performs assessment of service needs; triages for acuity; liaises with service providers and agencies to facilitate referrals; connects individuals to services; and collects data / outcomes for program evaluation and funder reports.

What You Will Do

• Receive and process referrals from clients providers hospital and community partners.
• Serve as a point of access to connect primary care providers to appropriate supports related to mental health and addictions.
• Perform clinical assessments (psychosocial & psychological) to determine service needs and to formulate recommendations or treatment plans.
• Connect clients and/or their families/caregivers to a range of community resources and supportive services designed to promote economicsocial and health selfsufficiency. This may be done through service coordination system navigation shortterm and longterm planning and followup support.
• Provide supportive/therapeutic counseling to clients utilizing a wide range of approaches that best meet the clients needs and circumstances.
• Refer and connect clients to appropriate resources and supports within both hospital and community.
• Provide information and respond to inquiries by clients providers and families regarding the program such as eligibility criteria referral and intake process and next steps following intake.
• Provide confidential and timely client intake to ensure a positive client experience.
• Offer various modalities to complete intake including inperson in client home community settings and virtual settings (phone or video).
• Identify appropriate and credible resources and supports responsive to client needs considering culture language reading level accessibility and health literacy.
• Account for each clients values preferences and circumstances to support the development of clientcentered goals.
• Provide information to clients and/or their families and where possible support warm connection to a range of hospital and community resources and supportive services.
• Provide preliminary assessment of risk in crisis situations consult and provide intermediate crisis support and connect to the larger team for more specialized intervention and action planning.
• Connect with clients and referral sources following determination of eligibility to provide information about the decision made by the team.
• Create maintain and update appropriate client records in a timely efficient manner.
• Keep accurate and current documentation including statistical data and reports and enter data to relevant data management systems.
• Protect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information obtained during service.
• Navigate hospital and community resources (if available) that will assist the interprofessional team with managing clients medical functional cognitive and psychosocial conditions.

• Following intake provide client presentation to the team and participate in discussion to determine eligibility of the referral.
• Provide weekly updates on intake and referral data to the team.
• Collaborate with the care team to improve client care as they transition through the health care system / community services.
• Participate in case conferences and clinical meetings to ensure prioritization of referrals coordination of services and a continuum of care.
• Enhance workflow and communication pathways between WoodGreen Community Services and Michael Garron Hospital by identifying barriers to care and working towards creating new care pathways to promote and optimize seamless care for the client.
• Collect and submit data / outcomes for research and evaluation.
• Contribute to the development improvement and evaluation of the service when required.

• Ensure the organizations policies and procedures are carried out.
• Maintain all aspects of confidentiality relating to clients volunteers staff programs community members and community partners.
• Participate in team and unit meetings regularly and promote the healthy functioning of the team and unit.
• Participate in ongoing training and education.
• Participate performance appraisals with supervisor.
• Maintain appropriate records and documentation in a timely manner and collect statistical data required for the accountability of the program.
• Represent the unit on internal and/or external staff committees as directed by supervisor and program manager.
• Actively communicate and network with external partners community agencies and organizations to promote and inform community about the program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Bring to the Team

• Postgraduate/Masters Degree preferably in Social Work or a related discipline.
• Registered Social Worker (R.S.W. in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and/or Member in good standing with a Professional College in Ontario.
• Minimum of 2 years related experience in child and youth mental health addictions and/or social services. Demonstrated experience supporting individuals including youth with mental health and/or substance use issues newcomers and individuals deeply affected by poverty from an antioppressive antiracist harm reduction trauma informed and mental health recovery approach is required

What Will Set You Apart

• Demonstrated ability in supporting children youth and their families who have complex mental health and/or substance use issues history of trauma violence/abuse chronic physical health issues etc.
• Experienced in working with newcomers racialized and/or marginalized populations providing frontline services and outreach.
• Exceptional interviewing customer service and assessment skills including complex risk assessments and the ability to activate a plan to mitigate any identified risk.
• Demonstrated ability in system navigation service coordination planning and implementation.
• Demonstrated ability in working effectively in a multidisciplinary team or as a team member in collaboration with other community professionals.
• Comprehensive customer service experience and skills.
• Highly skilled communicator with a strong ability to interact effectively with all potential clients with experience in delivering phonebased virtual and inperson services and documentation
• Demonstrated ability to understand and respond to changing community needs.
• Comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the mental health addictions and health sector social determinants of health and community resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues affecting marginalized communities policies legislation programs and other issues related to scope of practice and social determinant of health.
• Ability to be selfdirected independent flexible and exercise good judgment.
• A high degree of conflict resolution using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict.
• Applied computer skills (MS word excel Internet) and ability to use client information systems.
• Lived/living experience and understanding of issues affecting individuals and communities that WoodGreen supports is a strong asset.
• Ability to demonstrate an antioppression approach to practice and work from a clientcentered antiracism harm reduction and trauma informed approach is required.

WoodGreen is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrierfree selection process and work environment. If contacted in relation to an employment opportunity please advise our People & Culture representatives at of the accommodation measures required. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.