Trustee

**OVERVIEW**

This position provides support to individuals living with mental health challenges that make be lacking in money management skills. The Trustee provides support for individuals to develop the necessary tools to manage their financial affairs at the highest degree of independence possible.

**Job Reports to**: Financial Planning and Reporting Lead

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Provides trustee support to individuals living with mental health challenges that are enrolled in CMHA Durham programs.
- Provides quality client service, developing trusting rapport and respectful communication.
- Manage, track and ensure that client’s funds are disbursed in such a way that their basic needs are met and that their expenses are paid in a timely manner.
- Assess current skill level of clients to provide the necessary skill training to enable clients to develop and implement short term and long-term plans for meeting their financial well being.
- Collaboration with other programs, ensuring the sharing of tools and resources, and provide Trustee support where necessary.
- Offer education money management advice to assist individuals to arrive at the highest degree of independence possible.
- Develop and promote partnerships with clients, family members and other service providers as appropriate.
- Negotiate with creditors/collection agencies and advocates for client rights.
- Support clients with preparation of yearly income tax returns.
- Document’s client contacts, client participation/involvement, assessments and other reports in a timely manner, as outlined in the CMHA Durham policies and procedures.
- Performs other tasks as assigned by management.

**RISK MANAGEMENT**
- Minimizes risks adhering to CMHA Polices and Procedures identifying, assessing, evaluating and controlling risks ensuring well-being of staff and clients

**SKILLS**
- Post-secondary education in a related area of study (i.e., mental health, social sciences or human services) and a minimum of two years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Sound knowledge of the _Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act_, social service benefits and related legislation in Ontario.
- Strong Communication skills, including listening skills, and motivational interviewing with the ability to advocate for clients and collaborate with multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to work in a wide variety of environments such as offices, on the road, viewing apartments, and client dwellings.
- Ability to work with diverse, marginalized, economically disadvantaged and occasionally challenging population.
- Knowledge of budgeting and financial management required.
- Ability to acquire and utilize community resources effectively to meet clients’ needs.
- Knowledge the Ontario Disability Support Programs (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), social service benefits and related legislation in Ontario.
- Valid Ontario Driver’s license, access to a dependable vehicle in safe working order and appropriate insurance coverage.
- Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook), as well as the internet.

**EFFORT**
- Sits at a desk, as well as stands and walks daily, in order to perform the duties of the job.
- Concentration, attentiveness and creativity required daily to attend meetings, develop the necessary tools to help clients manage their financial affairs, manage a caseload, prepare documents, listen to clients, etc.

**WORKING CONDITIONS**
- Works in office and work field environments
- Occasional exposure to abusive/irate clients, distractions, interruptions and deadlines
- Staff will be responsible for entering units of people who smoke and or have pets

**Please note that this is a contract position that is expected to last up to one year. This contract has a possibility of extension. Other opportunities may arise before the contract ends.