Mental Health Therapist

CASA Mental Health is doubling the number of kids we serve To do that, we need talented professionals from all disciplines. Get your résumé on file today and take the first step towards changing kids’ mental health in Alberta.

About CASA

CASA Mental Health is an established non-profit organization delivering holistic, culturally-safe wrap-around mental health services to Albertans and their families. CASA provides mental health service to the missing middle – mental health treatment for diagnosed children and youth, in between prevention and promotion in primary and community care, and acute treatment in hospital.

CASA’s team of mental health professionals are trauma experts committed to delivering service in collaboration with community partners. This includes assessment and treatment for up to 4,000 children, youth and their families each year, from community outreach settings to intensive treatment programs.

About the Role

Mental Health Therapists works collaboratively with inter-professional team members to ensure success in the area of clinical service delivery. Mental Health Therapists provide timely mental health assessment and treatment to preschoolers, children, adolescents and their families, and nurture collaborative relationships with community partners.

Mental Health Therapists will:

• Conduct comprehensive bio-psycho-social mental health assessments.
• Develop treatment plans and formulate diagnoses.
• Provide therapeutic interventions to support the client in achieving therapeutic goals.
• Facilitate psycho-educational and therapeutic groups for children and families.
• Carry out case management functions.
• Advocate on behalf of the child and family as appropriate.
• Act as an active, contributing member of an inter-professional team.
• Follow agency policy and practice regarding admission, discharge and maintenance of health records.

Job Details

Union: In-scope

Classification: Mental Health Therapist

Status: Permanent, temporary, part time, and full time

Location: CASA Fort Road/CASA West/CASA House/ CASA Centre

Minimum hourly rate: $43.17

Maximum hourly rate: $55.39

Qualifications Include:

• Graduate degree in social work, occupational therapy, child and youth counselling, addictions counselling or psychology.
• Experience working in a clinical practice setting and in child and family mental health and/or youth addictions.
• Must be a member in good standing with your respective professional association/college. Candidates eligible for membership with their professional association/college will also be considered.
• Candidates looking to relocate to Alberta must be eligible for professional membership within Alberta with their respective association/college

Conditions of Employment

• A satisfactory Criminal Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Search. This would be the financial responsibility of the successful candidate.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or exemption on the basis of a protected legal ground.
• Ability to pass and maintain Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certification (training provided by CASA), as well as physical ability to perform all interventions.

Closing Date: On-going Intake

CASA Programs:

Core

Core is the first stop for most families who come to CASA. The program serves children ages three to 17 and provides general mental health treatment. From Core, the therapist is able to step families up or down into more appropriate levels of service if needed.

Family Therapy

The Family Therapy Program helps families understand each other’s needs and find better ways to work together. The Family Therapy team uses evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches, including:

• Techniques to work on thoughts and actions.
• Emotion-focused therapy helps couples improve their relationships.
• Education to help families better understand mental health challenges.
• Involving families in the process of change.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Program

This program builds on caregiver’s strengths to meet their child’s needs through developing practical skills. Caregivers will learn about skills management and practice practical parent-child interactions. Children will have the opportunity to work on social skills through structured activities.

Indigenous Mental Health Services

The program provides direct mental health care to Indigenous children, youth and families from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Services are based in Indigenous cultures, worldviews and spiritualties.

Trauma Program

The Trauma Program nurtures connection and safety in the caregiver-child relationship after experiencing trauma. This program is for children and youth ages three to 17 with complex developmental trauma or attachment issues. They may be having significant challenges in their daily routine.

Adolescent Day Program

The Adolescent Day Program aims to improve the social and learning skills of youth with serious mental health and/or addiction challenges. The program provides group, family and individual therapy while also providing education in a small classroom setting. This program is for youth in grades eight to 12 who have not responded as expected to previous therapy.

Children’s Day Program

The Children’s Day Program aims to improve the social and learning skills of children with serious mental health and/or addictions challenges. The program provides group, family and individual therapy while also providing education in a small classroom setting. The program is for children in grades three to six who have had a mental health assessment completed within the last six months.

Preschool Day Program

The Preschool Day Program provides specialized early childhood mental health care in a small classroom setting. The family and care team work together to support the child’s social, emotional, academic and physical development. The program is for children ages four and five who are experiencing severe challenges managing their emotions and behaviour.

CASA House

CASA House is a live-in program for teens who need support with significant mental health and/or addiction challenges. Teens stay at CASA House for an average of four months. The program involves parents and caregivers as active participants in treatment. Treatment includes individual, group and family therapy, social and life skills training, and on-site schooling in small classroom settings. CASA House is for youth in grades seven to 12 who have not responded as expected to previous therapy.

CASA Classrooms

CASA Mental Health is partnering with the Government of Alberta, community partners and school divisions to deliver mental health care in classrooms. CASA Classrooms will address the need for services closer to students by bridging a child’s mental health and school needs, through a coordinated approach by a mental health team and a teacher. The first wave will introduce CASA Classrooms to two schools in the Sturgeon area in February 2023, expanding throughout Alberta until 2025.

Triage and Transition

CASA’s Triage and Transition team manages patients’ entry into and exit from mental health services within CASA.

The Triage and Pre-Admission Clinic team works with children, youth and families at the beginning of their CASA journey. Staff provide families with a timely assessment of their mental health concerns and direct them to the appropriate level of care. The clinic is designed to allow patients to flow through services more effectively, receive the right level of care, and reduce wait times for urgent mental health service needs.

The Transition and Community Services team works with complex cases transitioning out of CASA programs that will require connections to ongoing services in the community. This program is designed to eliminate gaps in services while offering a warm hand-off to community partners.

Please quote the following competition number in your application materials 23-047.