Community Support Worker

The Manager of Outpatient Services is currently seeking a Community Support Worker to provide clinical intervention and support to individuals with a serious mental illness living in a community setting and/or preparing to live in the community. The Community Support Worker will provide liaison, education and consultation services between Waypoint, long term care facilities, group homes, community agencies, boards and committees.

Key Accountabilities:

- Assessing and recording client treatment and responses; and assessing activities of daily living and general health issues through interviewing and observing client, family, significant others and other service providers; administering clinical assessment tools (e.g. Mental Status Assessment) and by reviewing medical and other relevant documentation.
- Planning, implementing/coordinating, evaluating, modifying and recording therapeutic treatment strategies in collaboration with the client, family, significant others, and other service providers to meet client goals through supportive counselling, symptom management, health teaching and consultation, and/or monitoring the use and effects of medication and side effects.
- Supporting the clients' rehabilitation and community reintegration by assessing rehabilitation/discharge readiness and developing, implementing, evaluating and modifying, in collaboration with the client, family and other service providers, holistic rehabilitation/discharge goals; supporting goals through life skills and health teaching and through developing the clients' relationship with community resources and supports.
- Planning, implementing and evaluating crises management strategies by negotiating a proactive crises management plan with client, family and other service providers and by providing direct/indirect crisis intervention (e.g. verbal de-escalation) provision of services to support Community Treatment Order legislation; consultation, education for other service providers; providing risk management strategies as required (e.g. risk appraisal tools, direct supervision of forensic clients).
- Liaising with community agencies, facilities in order to serve as a resource for educational consultation in the community, to meet the needs of the specialty population being served, their caregivers and to improve public awareness of specialty mental health issues; representing Waypoint/specific program on community committees and in other forums; providing information to community agencies/groups; promote & advocate for community based programs & services.

Requirements/Qualifications:

- Diploma or degree in a health related field
- Minimum 3-5 years experience in mental health services preferred
- Job requires valid CPR and First Aid Certificates and a valid Ontario Driver's Licence.
- Demonstrated interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills
- Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills
- Results oriented work ethic to work independently and undertake tasks needed to accomplish work objectives and deliver quality, consistent and timely results
- Knowledge of relevant sections of relevant legislation to ensure compliance and consistency, and to ensure that legislated patient entitlements such as consent to treatment are observed. (Mental Health Act and Community Treatment Order protocols, Long Term Care Act, Health Care Consent Act, Homes for Special Care Act, Regulated Health Professions Act, etc.)
- Knowledge of counselling techniques (e.g. supportive), life skills and health teaching techniques and symptom management in order to support the development, implementation, evaluation and modification of client goals and activities (e.g. to assist the client in resolving interpersonal matters).
- Knowledge of psychotropic and other medications and their side effects in order to assess client reaction by monitoring the use and effect of medication and administer as appropriate and as required.
- Proven ability to adapt readily to change
- Models and promotes core ethical practice, Waypoint Values, and reflects an optimistic and positive attitude
- Preference for proficiency in French/English language skills
- You must meet the requirements of our COVID-19 Immunization Policy by providing proof of full vaccination, or a request and receipt of an accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including a medical exemption.

How do I apply?