Housing Based Case Manager Pulse Project

**About Lanark County Mental Health**:
As an extension of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, Lanark County Mental Health (LCMH) offers both Crisis and Community Mental Health & Addictions services. LCMH serves as the lead community-based mental health agency supporting transitional aged youth and adults.

LCMH is an inter-disciplinary team comprised of clinical social workers, psychotherapists, community mental health nurses, case managers and psychiatrists, who work in collaboration with local partner agencies, hospitals and family doctors, to support transitional-aged youth and adults experiencing mental health and addiction challenges. Counselling and other clinical services are also available to support adult victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Services are provided confidentially, respectfully and within a Stepped Care, shared care, client-centered model of treatment which promotes recovery.

**About the Position**:
The Housing Based Case Manager works as a member of an inter-professional team and is responsible for providing housing based case management services to individuals with a serious mental illness and/or substance use challenges who are living in the community. This position works in close partnership with Lanark County Social Services, specifically the By Name Committee and other community health and social service agencies to provide assessment, intervention, supportive counselling, service coordination and follow-up to transitional-aged youth and adults who are experiencing homelessness or who are precariously housed.

All services are provided in accordance with the mission, vision, values and established protocols of LCMH and PSFDH.

**About the Project**:
PULSE Lanark County aims to enhance collaborations between human service agencies and police through **P*revention, **U**plifting, **L**earning, **S**upporting and **E*ngaging. This initiative employs a full-time Housing Based Case Manager specializing in substance use and mental health issues for those who are homeless or precariously housed, a part-time coordinator to consistently support ongoing efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion through social media and outreach, as well as continuation and enhancement of the existing Victim Advocate program to provide system navigation and support for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking and additional court support capabilities. It would also facilitate the development of curriculum for anti-oppression/anti-racism and for an existing initiative (See It Name It Change It) that aims to work upstream to stop and/or prevent the cycle of violence by reaching young people; and to continue efforts through the Community Safety and Well-being Plan to educate about Indigenous trauma and reconciliation. To support the need for increased suicide awareness and prevention, this project seeks to train individuals in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), as well as a commitment to continue efforts to provide widespread trauma-informed care training for police and human service agencies. As highlighted in the CSWB Plan, this project would support the work of Planet Youth Lanark County to collect data leading to initiatives to help combat and prevent substance use in children and youth. Overall, PULSE Lanark County offers a range of opportunities to continue to support the successful collaborations demonstrated for many years in connecting vulnerable populations with the services they need most and, working upstream to prevent harm from happening in the first place and to reduce interactions with police.

**Minimum Qualifications**:

- Three years relevant experience providing services to individuals who live with a serious mental illness, substance use challenges, and homelessness, preferably in a community setting.
- Ability to work within a Housing First framework
- University Degree in a health-related discipline.
- Certification in First Aid and CPR an asset.
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) an asset.
- Experience working within a case management model, preferred.
- French Language proficiency considered an asset.

**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**:

- Knowledge of Stepped Care principles
- Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of mental health symptoms, issues, psychotropic medications and associated side effects.
- Knowledge of issues related to substance use, addictions and harm reduction
- Knowledge of and the ability to incorporate best-practices in community support for individuals living with a serious mental illness.
- Demonstrated assessment and crisis intervention skills with broad knowledge of emergency mental health and crisis stabilization.
- Demonstrated advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.
- Ability to effectively utilize community resources and supports to meet the needs of individuals.
- Ability to work under pressure within a changing environment.
- Working knowledge of th