Mental Health Worker – Safe Beds

Job title: Mental Health Worker – Safe Beds

Job description: About this position:

This position resides within the Safe Beds program, a residential setting that provides short term residential stays for individuals who are in crisis or require a period of intensive support. Staff provide mental health support, crisis intervention, support to develop and use coping strategies, illness and medication management and education, connections to community services, and support to individuals affected by mental illness, addictions, trauma and crisis. Staff must be willing to work rotating shifts including night shifts and weekends as this is a 24-hour program.

Statement of Equity

At Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge, (C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.) we embrace the dignity, integrity, beliefs, and culture of each personal and seek to continuously provide safer work environments for recovery.

We are committed to equity across the organization: in the our services to clients, in our workforce composition and practices, and in our organizational culture. While we always seek to improve our demonstration of this commitment, candidates should know that equity is a cornerstone of our commitment to all communities in the region.

We understand that there may be differences in applicant’s geography, race, ethnicity, sexual and gender diversity, Indigeneity, class position, disability, religion, and other areas of equity, and we seek to create opportunities for all.

Successful candidates must be committed to working effectively with diverse populations and are supported to strengthen such capacity if hired.

The information about yourself that you share with us through the recruitment process can be personal. We commit to respecting the sensitivity of your information and treating it respectfully and safely.

Vaccine Policy Statement

C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. will require all new staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination status before the first day of employment. For this purpose, an individual is defined as fully immunized equal or greater than 14 days after receiving their second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or their first dose of a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine series that is approved by Health Canada.

Key Responsibilities

1. Mental Health Supports

• Assess individuals for access to the Safe Beds program
• Provide intensive short-term support, crisis intervention and service coordination in a residential setting to Safe Bed clients
• Provide ongoing assessment of individual client needs and level of support required throughout the clients Safe Bed stay
• Develop individual goal plans, crisis plans, and discharge plans with clients
• Assist individuals to access/navigate community resources and supports e.g., Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Works, landlords, counselling, utilities, shelters, food banks
• Assist with emotional well-being of clients – behavioural, mental health and physical issues
• Education regarding crisis, medication, and illness management
• Advocate on behalf of, and with the client and those within their network of support
• Liaise with other staff and community partners as necessary with respect to individual client needs
• Promote positive and supportive attitudes toward people who have experienced mental health problems
• Refer on to other CMHA programs and community partners as necessary

2. Residential and Client Supports

• Identify needs and develop goals through assessment
• Promote client strengths through the application of psychosocial rehabilitation principles
• Assist with the planning and implementation of services that promote life skills and social skills
• Develop and promote programs and activities to empower clients to work towards their goals
• Provide clients with crisis intervention and support
• Provide coaching and skill teaching to clients within a residential setting
• Maintain professional conduct, boundaries and ethical standards
• Assist individuals with medications – teaching, prompting, monitoring
• Assist and encourage residents with activities of daily living
• Assist with budgeting
• Assist with personal hygiene products/skills
• Assist with obtaining identification such as health cards, housing, furniture, clothing etc.
• Responsible for all household duties: meal preparation, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, sanitizing bedrooms and washrooms, garbage disposal, etc.

3. Documentation

• Update client records such as: Client Record Management System (C.R.M.S.), Release of Information Forms, Ontario Common Assessment of Need (O.C.A.N), statistics, Safety Reports

4. Performance Management and Professional Development

• Participate cooperatively in the agency performance management process/system
• Stay current on relevant legislation and best practices, current research, policies and procedures
• Participate in ongoing professional development and mandatory training
• Actively engage and participate in supervisory process

5. Health and Safety – Worker Responsibilities

• Work in compliance with the Occupational Health And Safety Act, applicable regulations and all organizational health and safety requirements and procedures to ensure the health and safety of clients, staff/colleagues, volunteers and students

6. Client Safety

• Adhere to C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. client safety programs including program policies as well as infection control and prevention procedures. In partnership with clients, family members, and fellow staff, maintain open lines of communication to assist the organization in identifying and achieving quality outcomes for client safety. Report client safety incidents and suggested improvements to manager or delegate.

7. Other Duties as Assigned

• Attend, participate in team/staff meetings, and all-staff meetings as required
• Participate in agency quality improvement activities, e.g. accreditation projects, committee work, special events
• Participate in quality improvement activities at the team/program level
• Participate in external committees as required
• Duties may change from time to time

Requirements of the Position:

A: Education and Training

Successful completion of post-secondary education (diploma or degree) in the social/health science disciplines.

We recognize that completion of this training before hire is an asset, however, successful completion of the following mandatory training applicable to this role shall be requirements for continued employment in this position:

• Health and Safety Training (including but not limited to the following):

• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (W.H.M.I.S. 2015)
• Infection, Prevention & Control
• Workplace Violence
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
• Verbal Intervention Training
• Ontario Common Assessment of Need (O.C.A.N).
• Client Record Management System (C.R.M.S.)
• First Aid/C.P.R.
• Safe Food Handling
• Privacy Training
• Harm Reduction Training

Assets with regard to this position:

• Training/experience in mental health interventions including CBT, DBT, MI, brief narrative therapy, concurrent disorders, trauma informed care

B: Related and Relevant Experience

Mandatory experience

• Minimum of two years’ experience in the delivery of residential or/and community supports to clients, specifically within the mental health services and addictions, dual diagnosis, and/or crisis intervention fields
• Demonstrated understanding of the crisis theory and recovery model, crisis intervention, mental illness, psychiatric medication and the Mental Health Act
• Demonstrated ability to apply a person centered, trauma and concurrent informed approach to care
• Demonstrated conflict resolution and crisis intervention abilities
• Proven assessment skills, sound judgment and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated observation and active listening abilities
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with the Safe Bed team and management
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated computer and organizational skills

Preferred experience

• Intermediate to advanced minus proficiency in French

C: Competencies

Refer to C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R Competency Matrix

D: Other

• Satisfactory police records search and vulnerable sector screening
• Satisfactory references
• Valid driver’s license
• Automobile in good repair and insurance coverage as required by agency policy
• Proof of receipt of full COVID-19 vaccine

E. Working Conditions

• Work primarily in a residential/group home setting, in the community

• Work directly with individuals living with mental illness, Dual Diagnosis, acquired brain injury, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (F.A.S.D.) and/or concurrent disorder, who experience crises, instability and various levels of functioning, and who may be in conflict or are at risk of coming in conflict with the criminal justice system

• This program runs 24/7, 365 days a year – the requirements are for staff to have the flexibility and availability to work day, evening and overnight shifts, weekends, public and statutory holidays
• Required to work rotating shifts – days, evenings, nights and weekends, public and statutory holidays to meet program needs
• There are multiple competing demands which require time management skills, the ability to be flexible and to prioritize
• Work in a stressful environment where there are mental and emotional demands
• On occasion, there is a high volume of work as well as the unpredictable
• Work environment may include noise, odors and/or body fluids.
• Work environment is a multi level building with no elevator and staff must be able to meet the physical demands

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