Adolescent Mental Health Support Worker

**Adolescent Mental Health Support Worker**

Recognized for its diversity, dedication to inclusion, and strong partnerships with the community, the Richmond School District is among one of the largest districts in British Columbia with some of the highest graduation rates in the province. With a long history of providing high quality experiences for students, the Richmond School District strives to be “The Best Place to Learn and Lead.”

Richmond School District operates 38 elementary schools, 10 secondary schools, alternate programs, continuing education and a number of additional facilities. The district enrolls approximately 21,000 students (K-12) and employs over 3000 dedicated staff.

This position is intended to work as an integrated and interdependent member of a District Team to support secondary school-based teams in addressing the social, emotional and behavioural needs of students experiencing complex Mental Health or substance misuse problems. Incumbents will be expected to assist school teams in articulating and implementing preventative proactive support systems as well as support students who require more specific, targeted intervention and/or connect them to support from community agencies. The incumbent adheres to guidelines and policies regarding confidentiality and the duty to report. This position is under the supervision of the Director of Instruction, Learning Services or designate. The incumbent will take overall direction from the District Mental Health Consultant and will work in response to student needs as identified by counsellors and school administration.

**Major Duties and Responsibilities**

(This is not an exhaustive list of the duties to be performed.)
- Works primarily throughout the secondary school system providing social, emotional, and behavioural consultation and support to teachers, administrators, and families regarding students with complex mental health and/or addiction needs.
- Works closely with the Adolescent Mental Health Consultant, Community Outreach Teachers and other support workers and assists with individual student cases as deemed necessary.
- Assists the Adolescent Mental Health Consultant in providing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) education and support to the school district.
- Collaborates with school staff and assist with writing behavioural support plans to meet the complex needs of the student.
- Assist or prepare functional behvarioual or other pertinent assessments.
- Establishes and maintains an active, visible and positive presence in secondary schools, establishing and maintaining effective communication and rapport with at risk students while supporting their complex needs.
- Attends and contributes to meetings with school staff, student's families and/or community agencies.
- Reports student's progress and problems to appropriate school staff as needed to enhance the student's opportunities for success.
- In collaboration with the Adolescent Mental Health Consultant, regularly track high-risk students to ensure their safety and the safety of others are maintained. Such monitoring will occur over an extended time period.
- Assists in helping vulnerable students transition into schools from environments such as The Maples, BC Children's Hospital, other facilities or school districts into secondary schools.
- Provides as an extension of school-based services, direct student support regarding strategies and skill building to students who require extra support to improve their school success. May provide District training as required/requested.
- **Required Qualifications**
- Minimum requirements include a Bachelor of Social Work or Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, plus over 3 years recent experience working with adolescents and families.
- Demonstrated skills recognizing mental illness and/or addictions problems and assisting in developing support/safety plans with school staff.
- Demonstrated capacity to be able to equip educational professionals with information in order to meet the complex social, emotional, mental health needs of students they work with.
- Current professional knowledge including a working knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders (DSM V) diagnostic classification system.
- Training and demonstrated ability in the preparation of Functional Behavioural Assessments.
- Broad knowledge of children and youth mental health resources and other community service providers.
- Broad knowledge of normal growth and development of children and youth.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, with children and youth, and their families, physicians, and other community resources as needed.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with teachers, administrators and community agencies.
- As travel is a requirement of this position, the incumbent must have a vehicle with business insurance.
- Demonstrated computer literacy.
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