Mental Health Support Worker

**Temporary Position Covering Maternity Leave**

**15 hours per week $41.35/hour Contract (6 months)**

Bridges Niagara is searching for a passionate professional with experience providing front-line support to individuals in a social service sector. The Mental Health Worker is part of a team of dedicated professionals who provide client centered service in ways that are aligned with Bridges Niagara's core values. By joining our dynamic team, your work will be meaningful and will have an impact locally and beyond.

Reporting to the Mental Health Program Coordinator, this position is responsible for working with refugee/newcomer adult clients. They will facilitate mental health support sessions with individuals, groups and families, conduct assessments, short-term crisis intervention, referrals and ensure clients' access to appropriate mental health services in a social setting.

**Position Summary**:

- Verifies eligibility and determines suitability for service/programming; evaluates individual's needs and priorities; follows established case management procedures; maintains client confidentiality.
- Provides internal and external referrals to other programs/services as appropriate.
- Quality assurance - prioritizes accuracy and thoroughness in the capturing, organizing, maintaining and reporting of all client data, forms, statistics and databases.
- Provides coordinated and integrated services according to the needs of clients.
- Collaborate with clients and professionals to determine support needs for case planning.
- Assess client needs, design support goals and plans, monitor client progress.
- Implements case management techniques, prepares reports and makes referrals.
- Work from a strength-based perspective and use multi-model support approaches.
- Provides behavioural intervention in one-on-one or group setting.
- Provides behaviour management and crisis intervention as required.
- Ensures all confidential information is stored and released only in accordance with agency policies.
- Keep up to date with knowledge of community resources and mental health services.
- Participate in the evaluation of program goals and objectives making recommendations on changes to current program activities to improve service delivery.
- Participates in meetings, activities and professional development opportunities that promote understanding of newcomers and are relevant to career growth; this may include case conferences with others involved in supporting the client.
- Takes initiative to work with their team to identify and close service gaps. Performs other duties as required.

**Qualifications / Required Experience / Skills**:

- MSW, BSW, MSC Psychology, Psychotherapy certification, or equivalent in mental health, counselling, or social work with a minimum of two years relevant experience.
- Crisis intervention and conflict mediation training.
- Minimum of two years of experience in a front-line, client-first, case managed role, one year of which, we would prefer experience with facilitating group sessions.
- Comprehensive knowledge of mental health concerns, addictions, cross-cultural approaches to social well-being in newcomer and refugee populations.
- Experience facilitating individual and group mental health support sessions in social settings.
- Knowledge of community resources such as hospital resources, addiction providers, community mental health services etc.
- Strong understanding of cultural responsiveness, AOP/anti-racist approach, empowerment-oriented practice, client-centred approach, trauma and violence-informed care.
- Experience in developing and maintaining community relationships and partnerships.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to participate and lead meetings and/or case conferences.
- Strong interpersonal, time management, problem-solving and motivational support skills.
- Proficien**cy in Arabic or Spanish** languages preferred.

We thank all applicants for their time and interest in our organization; however, only those selected for an interview will be notified. No phone, in-person or on-line inquiries please.

**About Bridges Niagara**:
Bridges Niagara (Formerly The Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre) is a charitable, not-for-profit organization incorporated as the Folk Arts Council of St. Catharines in 1970. Its mandate is to support and assist the ethnocultural and newcomer community in Niagara through a broad range of programs and services.