Case worker Mental Health Support Services

Who We Are

For more than 130 years The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church each year we help more than 2 million people providing necessities such as food clothing and shelter. In addition we support people experiencing unemployment addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission vision and values of hope service dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description:

Position Purpose summary: The Community Support Caseworker provides day to day residential support and guidance to adults with chronic mental health needs living in a shared home or in the community. They are responsible for teaching and assisting clients with life skills and fostering social inclusion to enhance independence

Accountabilities:

Case Management

• Keeps abreast of the day-to-day operation and client issues.
• Implements case plans and monitors progress.
• Provides advocacy services or teaches self-advocacy for clients.
• Ensures clients understand and adhere to program rules and responsibilities
• Makes or recommends referrals to other professionals as necessary
• Supports clients to have annual medical dental and optical appointments and access to medical treatment as required
• Coordinates client referrals to services with other agencies (income support employment counselors).
• Provides input to Primary Support Worker and/or Program Supervisor for client case conferences
• Completes situational/observational assessments of relevant individual client factors.
• Assists Primary Support Worker in completing assessments regarding clients life skills safety and physical/emotional risk as observed while on shift.

Behavior Management:

• Implements emergency/incidental behavioral interventions including utilizing Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training.
• Identifies and documents potential problematic or maladaptive behaviors.
• Implements and monitors behavioral modification strategies.
• Provides incidental problem solving and emotional support to clients
• Provides immediate stabilization crisis management support and provides emergency incidental behaviors management.
• Implements formal sessions for clients or refers them to external agencies that offer formal sessions on a variety of topics including anger management; grief and loss; sexuality; self-esteem; abuse; violence; addictions and personal safety.

Program Operations:

• Organizes and implements a daily schedule that incorporates client needs.
• Organizes and implements recreational activities and participation in community activities for/with clients.
• Implements weekly routines e.g. doctors appointments shopping menus etc.
• Accompanies or assists clients to obtain transportation to a variety of activities locations and meetings. Including driving van assisting clients in and out of van as needed participating in activities etc.
• Provides input into the development and implementation of short- and long-term plans for their area of responsibility.
• Attends team meetings and training sessions to contribute to the identification and resolution of trends or issues that will affect the program.
• Interacts with others involved with clients to support the clients relationships with family and the community.
• Maintains open communication with other resources professionals and agencies.
• Utilizes communication skills to ensure positive image of organization in community.
• Promote independent problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Support clients to assess and prioritize their needs for specific life skills topics.
• Promotes assists and teaches life skills on an informal day-to-day basis during all aspects of daily routines.
• Implements and monitors formal teaching plans.
• Provides information and life skills support to clients related to personal family housing healing safety work school income maintenance etc.
• Role models encourages and assists clients to practice self-help and non-violent problem-solving skills daily.

Program Administration:

• Makes general and specific recommendations for improvement of program equipment.
• Implements clients budgets as per Primary Support Workers direction.
• Provides input to Primary Support Worker for the preparation of monthly client reports.
• Prepares incident reports and client specific information in client files.
• Completes and maintains records such as medical files incident reports accounting sheets client finances observation notebooks on clients logbooks and communication books where required.
• Maintains record keeping systems.
• Communicates accurate information in meetings.
• Informs Primary Support Worker of supplies program materials and equipment needing to be purchased.
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the Primary Support Worker.
• Complies with The Salvation Army policies and procedures.
• Fills in for the Primary Support Worker when required.

Health Safety & Security:

• Follows safety measures and provides appropriate responses to emergencies and confrontations using non-violent crisis intervention training.
• Reports all incidents of suspected client abuse to Primary Support Worker and Program Supervisor and follows organizational protocols.
• Ensures the program safety policies are followed at all times.
• Ensures that the safety cleanliness and tidiness of the program site is maintained.
• Ensures personal knowledge of individual clients medication considerations and special medical conditions.
• Administers medications according to prescriptions and agency policy when required
• Reports all accidents injuries and illnesses to the Program Supervisor and completes incident reports.
• Responds to injury using first aid and CPR training and agency policy.
• Implements or participates in fire drills as determined by Program Supervisor.
• Supports clients in meeting the medical needs.
• Ensures clients are not placed at unreasonable levels of risk either in or outside the home.
• Ensures needed repairs and maintenance are reported to the supervisor.
• Communicating with medical professionals to ensure clients medical needs are met.
• Ensures that staff has access to information on individual clients medication considerations and special medical needs.

Critical Relationship Management:

Internal/ External relationships:

• Directly reports to the Mental Health Support Services Supervisor.
• There is constant contact with clients to provide for their needs and assess their situations.
• There is daily contact with employees from other departments to pass on relevant information and possible radio checks.
• There is daily contact with MHSS employees
• There is daily contact with the MHSS Supervisor
• There is also occasional contact with other agencies for referral or support services
• Emergency Services may occasionally need to be called

Working Conditions:

The work environment entails frequent association with individuals who have chronic mental health issues and related behaviours. This can be a high stress environment.

Education Qualifications and Certifications:

Post-Secondary Education with a focus on Social Work or Nursing and or at least (2) years experience working as a support worker in a residential/outreach setting.

First Aid & CPR

Verbal Judo and/or NVCI

Mental Health First Aid

Suicide Intervention

Life skills and recreational programming for high needs client

WHMIS

Update Immunization Record Clear Criminal Record Check

Valid Drivers License Clean Abstract

Note: Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Case management and counselling skills
• The ability to respond appropriately decisively and effectively in crisis situations and in a stressful environment

• Effective communication in English both written and oral
• Effective assessment observation and recording skills
• Ability to work within a teamwork structure though will be required to work with minimal supervision
• Effective interviewing report writing and group facilitation skills
• Understanding and skilled in working with: Aboriginal and Inuit Cultures: Addictions: Mental Health and other social issues
• Computer skills are required
• Ability to uphold and enforce policies and procedures
• Effective interpersonal communication and interactive skills with individuals experiencing chronic mental health issues effects of intoxication and other behavioural issues.

The successful incumbent will be required to complete/provide:

• Valid Vulnerable Sector Screening
• Valid First Aid certificate
• WHMIS
• The Salvation Army on-line certification for abuse prevention
• Clear internal abuse registry check
• Participate in mandatory yearly training

AUTHORITY

What decisions and recommendations are required to be made in the job

• Case Management Decisions
• The Caseworker will be required to assess potentially difficult situations to determine the need for additional assistance.
• The Caseworker will be required to develop and/or implement programming and individual case plans.
• The Caseworker may be required to create reports to be submitted to funder.

To whom (by Job Title) are recommendations made

• MHHS Supervisor or other on-duty staff or on-call person or if situation warrants the RCMP.

What is the impact or effect of the decision or recommendation

• Impact on both individual resident progress and overall program success.
• Resident Risk Management
• Community Safety
• Staff and other residents safety
• Poor decisions may put the community other residents or staff at risk or may be counterproductive in assisting residents with their goals.
• These decisions will have significant impact on resident socialization and life skills.
• These decisions may have a significant impact on funding.

How is the work assigned

• Work is assigned primarily through agreed upon responsibility lists but also through verbal or e-mail communication

What latitude does the incumbent have to achieve objectives

• There is moderately latitude exercised in achieving objectives. Adherence to the established policies and procedures is imperative.

What constraints are placed on the incumbent in terms of regulations procedures policy past practices etc.

• Code of conduct & code of ethics are paramount as well as accepted standards as recommended by government funding bodies.
• The Caseworker will be required to follow the directives of the MHHS Supervisor and adhere to the established policies and procedures.

Equipment: What equipment used and what is done with it

• Security System: Monitoring facility and residents

• Computer MS Office (MS Word MS Excel MS Outlook): Record keeping case notes identification kits incident reports e-mail general clerical tasks

• Printers (Various) Telephone Photocopier and Fax machine: Printing forms applications intakes PDPs program information identification documents resumes letters etc.

• Radios: Radio checks with other departments

• Laundry machines: Launder linens (occasional or rare)

• Program Vehicle: Transportation of program participants

Compensation:

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions internal equity and candidate experience skills and qualifications relevant to the role.

The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.