RESPONSIBLE TO: Jointly to the Patient Support Services Manager, and the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Mental Health Services Manager
The Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA), in conjunction with the Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH), represents a partnership between LWDH and KCA to bring greater continuity and level of care to people accessing the emergency department. The Emergency Department Mental Health Therapist/Social Worker is an employee of KCA situated at the LWDH, and jointly supervised via various functions such as consistent team meetings, working groups and individual touchpoints.
The Emergency Department Mental Health Therapist/Social Worker shall provide wholistic, culturally safe, and trauma informed therapeutic intervention and care coordination that serve clients across the lifespan with an emphasis on First Nation children and youth presenting to the hospital emergency department. The successful candidate will be utilising the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Assessment, along with other clinical screening and assessment tools, engaging clients and supports to ensure quality, ongoing care is in place post-discharge. The worker will leverage their role within an expanded interprofessional team within the hospital, in addition to community based mental health and addictions services provided by KCA to maximize First Nation clients’ ongoing connection to services and community supports. The worker will also conduct timely follow-up with clients from the emergency department over the phone and in person. The successful applicant will have opportunities for supervision, debriefing, and professional development.
Summary of Duties:
- Utilise evidence-based assessments to determine client level of risk and need
- Communicate assessment findings to doctor providing care and support implementation of plan
- Utilise safety planning tools to support safer discharge
- Connect with community services to ensure continuity of care following admission or discharge
- Provide care coordination to ensure clients discharged from the ED back to First Nations receive timely, supportive mental wellness care
- Deliver short-term therapeutic interventions relying on both mainstream best practice while facilitating access to Anishinaabe traditional healing and ceremony where appropriate
- Foster a culturally safer environment for patients to access mental health assessment services
- Work in an integrated manner with staff at the LWDH and KCA
- Participate in quality improvement activities and data collection
- Support clients attending the emergency department to communicate their needs, and work to support their access to resources and supports
- Participate in clinical supervision and debrief
- Maintain healthy and professional boundaries with clients
- Keep accurate, timely client contact records in accordance with program requirements
Qualifications:
- Possess an understanding of Anishinaabe healing and ceremonial practices, customs and protocols
- Ability to speak or understanding of Anishinaabemowin is an asset
- Knowledgeable of trauma-informed therapies and working from a client-centered focus
- Proficiency in conducting mental status assessment & suicide risk assessments
- Excellent communication and effective interpersonal skills
- Demonstrates ability to approach situations in a non-judgmental manner
- Demonstrates ability to function independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Awareness of, and maintains good professional boundaries
- Ability to foster and maintain relationships with other community agencies
- Ability to effectively chart & develop a care plan
Education and/or Experience:
- A Degree in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or Social Work, or other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
- OCSWSSW, CRPO or COTO membership is an asset but not required.
Position Requirements:
- Class G driver’s license, driver’s abstract, and access to a reliable vehicle
- Willing to travel (when required) to all KCA First Nation communities
- Current satisfactory criminal reference check with vulnerable sector search
- To work at LWDH on shift with irregular and weekend hours to meet the needs of clients and the team.
Please forward your resume cover letter and 3 references to:
Human Resource Department
Kenora Chiefs Advisory
P.O. Box 349- 240 Veterans Drive, 3rd Floor Kenora ON P9N 3X4
Fax: 807-467-2656
Email: resume@kenorachiefs.org
**We thank all that apply, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
*** Traditional practices involve burning sacred medicines including tobacco, sweetgrass, sage and cedar within the work setting
***In accordance with company policy, it is mandatory for all employees to either provide proof of their Covid vaccination or undergo Covid testing twice a week