Community Crisis Worker

STARLING COMMUNITY SERVICES IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE EXPERIENCES MENTAL WELLNESS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.

To better serve the diversity of our community, the agency is committed to embedding anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices, and perspectives into the fabric of our organization. We have implemented mandatory antiracism training, we are actively building safe spaces to host brave conversations for learning, and we are fostering a culture of belonging for all, but especially BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, historically and presently marginalized individuals and communities.

**There is one Full-Time contract Community Crisis Worker position available starting on January 20, 2025, and ending on January 04, 2026, working 37.5 hours per week.**

**Your Role**:
Assists children, youth, and families to stabilize through an urgent response, strengths based and client-centered service approach. Provides a brief, community-based risk assessment along with de-escalation and crisis stabilization for children, youth and families experiencing elevated and acute stress. Provides advocacy and resource linkages to develop the most helpful pathways to supporting the mental health needs of those we serve. Serves in partnership with both key internal and external partners along the crisis continuum of programs. Works intentionally from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and equity perspective to further create a sense of belonging at the Agency.

**Tasks**:
Client Service:

- Conducts community-based risk assessments to gain an understanding of the factors contributing to the current difficulties and risks to safety for children, youth and families.
- Completes and scores Heads-ED brief assessment to triage needs and ensure most helpful pathways of service.
- Evaluates the severity of the crisis situations and determines type of support warranted based on need (referral to hospital/police, phone diffusing, virtual or in person meeting).
- Responds to the client in the home or community utilizing crisis intervention strategies, de-escalation techniques when delivering virtual or in person services.
- Responds to referral sources, gathering all relevant information, and determines the most helpful pathways of service based on client risks and needs.
- Responds to a variety of telephone inquiries, provides program information, and directs clients appropriately to internal and external resources.
- Develops crisis and safety plans utilizing family strengths and augmenting community resources.
- Liaises with the client, family, and internal/external service partners regarding safety planning around risk factors, consultation, treatment planning and/or referrals.
- Coaches clients to utilize crisis intervention strategies and safety planning techniques.
- Recommends and coordinates services and resources and provides interim support while waiting for other child & youth mental health programs.
- Advocates for the client and/or family within the school, community, mental health, legal and other systems that they are involved in to ensure proper support is in place to assist them.
- Provides home-based/community-based support to increase parenting skills, and to increase the child’s/youth’s emotion regulation skills, social skills and overall coping skills.
- Provides psychoeducation to clients and families about mental health and related issues, as well as education about community resources and service systems.
- Attends case conferences and meetings to support clients as needed.
- Follows all worker safety protocols when working within a community outreach approach.
- Works closely with the team and supervisor in regard to all high-risk situations and utilizes on call support for input after regular business hours.

Administration:

- Participates in program evaluation through collection and completion of research measures, adherence to identified program procedures and structure, and participation in further program evaluation activities as required.
- Follows program procedures for use of client database (EMHware) and maintains compliance with clinical record guidelines (client data set, program case data forms and reports).
- Ability to interpret and make decisions based on the Child and Family Services Act.
- Educates the community of the capabilities and limitations of the type of service provided.
- Informs and updates team members and supervisor with regards to high-risk situations and daily whereabouts.
- Communicates high-risk client situations to supervisor and consults with supervisor regarding treatment direction and follows direction accordingly on an ongoing basis.

Other:

- Participates in the development of procedures and program planning.
- Participates in supervision with Program Supervisor or Manager.
- Participates in team meetings and peer supervision.
- Acts as a resource to clients and families in need of support.
- Represents the Agenc