Community Resource Worker

**POSITION OVERVIEW**:
The **Community Resource Worker **is responsible for improving access to community mental health services for families with children ages 4 to 17 throughout Waterloo Region. The Community Resource Worker will also collaborate with a variety of community partners, including school boards, to develop the capacity to identify and intervene early to support students and families at risk of mental health challenges. This is a continuum of service that focuses on early intervention to more targeted support and includes three main components
- group and workshops facilitation, brief consultations, as well as more intensive service navigation. Services will be provided in a way that promotes the integrity and positive worth of the children and families and is grounded by the Community Well-being Philosophy and the 4 main bodies of knowledge that together form the Carizon Children’s Mental Health Service Philosophy - Wellness, Resilience, Trauma Informed and Attachment Based Philosophy and Practice.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Provide services that will lead to the creation and maintenance of constructive collaborative relationships between the child, family, school and community
- Engage with families, guardians, and community partners to ensure optimum coordination of services
- Support children, and families to pursue their own wellness, build resilience and encourage their own healing
- Provide emotional support, psychoeducation and coaching to caregivers to assist them in supporting their children and accessing appropriate resources
- Provide consultation to caregivers to identify resources, services and interventions that support the current needs of the children, youth, and families
- Facilitate workshops and groups addressing various topics which support caregiver capacity and/or the mental health of children and youth
- Represent the agency and maintain professional relationships with community agencies and clients, providing expertise in the children’s mental health system
- Meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities, including the completion of individualized reports, & attending appointments with clients
- Maintain up to date and accurate case notes, client files and additional documentation
- Ensure that service targets for Ministry of Health are met
- Complete and utilize standardized assessment and outcome tools to inform decision-making and planning.
- Participate in regular team meetings, department meetings, and case consultation sessions.
- Attend monthly supervision, peer supervision and participate in various trainings.
- Demonstrate flexibility in responding to evolving client needs at an individual and program level
- Always perform work safely and in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

**REQUIREMENTS**:

- BSW, CYW, BA or education in applicable field of study, or an equivalent combination of experience
- Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in the mental health field working with children, youth, and families
- The ability to provide service in an additional language is considered an asset
- An understanding of the challenges that come with systemic racism, oppression, and inequity as a Black, Indigenous, or racialized person and/or member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community is preferred.
- Membership in good standing in a relevant professional association, as required
- Working knowledge of the education system, community and mental health resources, trauma-informed principles and attachment
- Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with families, children and communities
- Willingness to come along with Carizon on our equity journey, through ongoing self-reflection, unlearning and learning
- Commitment to the rights of children and the integrity and worth of all individuals which is consistently reflected in practice
- Strong understanding of professional boundaries and limitations to scope of practice
- Ability and desire to collaborate with internal and external service providers
- Excellent communication (both oral and written) and interpersonal skills, including group facilitation skills with children, youth and adults
- Ability to engage in difficult conversations and manage unpredictable situations with families independently
- Exceptional organizational skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment where juggling multiple demands and priorities is the norm
- Proven experience working independently and within a broader team providing excellent customer care
- Must be able to commute throughout Waterloo Region
- Must be able to provide either proof of vaccination or documentation providing a satisfactory reason under the Ontario Human Rights Code for not being vaccinated
- Must be legally eligible to work in Canada