Manager, Social Care and Student Well-being

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we work, stand and create._

OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community. The University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles—driving positive impact, decolonization, indigenization, and equity, environmental sustainability, emerging as a vibrant hub, student-centered approaches, innovation in learning, teaching, and research, and financial stewardship.

Reporting to the Director, Student Wellness Centre (SWC), the Manager, Social Care and Student Well-being, is a member of the SWC leadership team and institutional Management team, responsible for the effective supervision and leadership of a team of multi-disciplinary front-line staff providing counselling, case management, peer support and social care initiatives for the OCAD University student community. Grounded in principles of equity, inclusion and anti-oppression, this position will foster integrated and trauma-informed approaches in all aspects of service delivery and employee supervision. The Manager, Social Care and Student Well-Being, will monitor best practices, and continually evolve SWC social care services to promote innovative and accessible programming, focused on promoting and supporting student wellness goals. This role will provide direct day to day consultation and supervision, including escalated/urgent response, therefore need to make quick decisions in high-risk complex clinical situations, providing direct student support as required.

As a member of the SWC management team, this position will work closely with the Director, SWC and Dean of Students, to effectively supervise and support staff, fostering collaboration and a culture of team cohesion and resiliency, as well as continual review of policies, processes, and programs related to the provision of wellness services for individual students and campus wide mental health initiatives.

**Summary of Responsibilities**
- Clinical Leadership and Supervision_
- Conduct risk/safety assessments for imminent risk of suicide, homicide, self or other harm, ensuring timely, effective, and deescalating response to situations
- Provide consultation for students of concern and actively participate in case management planning
- Continually review Social Care and Student Well-being programs and identify and implement operational and procedural adjustments as required
- Lead the recruitment, hiring, and on-boarding process for new programmatic hires
- Provide ongoing supervision, including goal setting, progress, professional development, performance management and discipline of program staff, including annual performance reviews
- Provide triaging support and training to front desk staff in complex and/or urgent cases
- Monitor and assess staff session volumes and students of concern, intervening as needed
- Research and maintain currency with respect to professional standards and government regulations for services, including record keeping, confidentiality and all other ethical requirements
- Support and direct or delegate the development of group counselling programs/workshops, collaborate with Student Life and OCADU Student Union on scheduling of workshops/groups and other mental health-related events
- In collaboration with SWC leadership, support and encourage an integrated multi-disciplinary team within the Student Wellness Centre
- Provide guidance of a clinical nature regarding setting goals and objectives for programs, individual staff and the Student Wellness Centres based on the needs of the student population
- Liaise closely with student support personnel and service areas. This includes, but is not limited to, working closely with the Dean of Students, other Student Wellness Centre professionals, Accessible Learning, Learning Services, Sexual Violence Response Safety and Security Services
- Monitor and approve requests for leave as submitted by staff members, ensuring staffing ratios and coverage needs are met to maintain service integrity
- Student-centred Care and Urgent Response _
- Manage intake processes with students, including response to questions, ensuring proper documentati