Social Worker-oap Urgent Response Services

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is looking to hire a motivated, client-focused permanent full-time (1.0 FTE) Social Worker as part of its community-based OAP Urgent Response Service team.

This team will support children/youth with autism and their families with an identified urgent need to prevent further escalation of risk or harm to a child or youth, other people or property based on the identification of key high-risk factors. The Urgent Response Social Worker will work directly with families and children receiving Urgent Response Services through the Toronto Autism Service Network, and will be responsible for delivering brief therapeutic supports over a time-limited period. Services may include, but not be limited to: psychotherapeutic counselling services (e.g. ACT, DBT, CBT), crisis de-escalation and safety planning supports, and serves as a key team member supporting familial mental health within each family’s care plan. This role will be a highly collaborative role, and require strong consultative skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to respond flexibly to changing client and network needs as they emerge within the first year of this program.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Conducts strengths-based Social Work assessment and consultation for families of diverse backgrounds whose children primarily have a medical diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Assesses individual family dynamics and function, including strengths, areas of need and high risk situations
- Provide supportive counseling to support client/family mental health throughout 12-week time limited Urgent Response Service blocks
- Provides crisis-de-escalation supports as required within service blocks, referring to emergency medical services as needed.
- Identifies need for social work intervention through case screening and case finding methods
- Works collaboratively with Toronto Autism Service Network staff, and documents client care within identified URS and HB systems
- Supports and respects the client/family’s rights to make decisions based on their own values, beliefs and experiences
- Initiates, implements, co-ordinates community referrals appropriate to client and family needs
- Advocates for client and family needs for service within Holland Bloorview and the community
- Bases practice on established Holland Bloorview policies, procedures, evidence and best practice
- Documents accurate workload statistics
- Attends and participates in program and professional staff meetings
- Adheres to Holland Bloorview’s Documentation Policy
- Communicates in a timely and effective manner
- Contributes to the development of program/service activities
- Ensures the maintenance of the OCSWSSW Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for Social Workers
- Identifies learning needs and establishes annual goals
- Remains current with professional literature and best practice guidelines
- Shares new knowledge and best practices with colleagues, staff, students and the community
- Participates in quality improvement initiatives, supports the maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment and advances a culture of client/patient safety through work and daily practices

**Qualifications**
- MSW Degree from an accredited University, Faculty of Social Work
- Current member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
- Current member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers preferred
- Previous job related experience working with children and families with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder is preferred
- Training and experience delivering counselling for mental health and/or urgent/crisis related needs is strongly preferred
- Paediatric Social Work or health care experience preferred
- Experience working in an interdisciplinary setting preferred
- Works effectively as a member of the interdisciplinary team
- Demonstrates ability to manage and respond to crisis calmly and effectively
- Demonstrates ability to organize time and meet deadlines
- Demonstrates initiative and self direction