Clinical Counsellor (CC)

Program Overview Community Care Health Access Taylor Massey
The Clinical Counsellor - HATM is accountable to the Manager Counselling & Support Services for providing support to individuals families communities and primary care providers associated with Health Access Taylor Massey and surrounding neighborhoods with a particular focus on mental health substance use and newcomer communities.
Working within an anti-oppressive anti-racism trauma-informed harm reduction and mental health recovery framework the incumbent provides service in East Toronto priority neighborhoods including but not limited to Taylor Massey and Oakridge. The Navigation and Resource Specialist - HATM works collaboratively with the physicians nurses and allied health care professionals as part of Health Access Taylor Massey / community wellness team to provide shared care for residents in these communities.

What You Will Do

DIRECT CLIENT CARE:

• Respond to referrals from clients providers and community partners
• Provide confidential and timely client intake to ensure a positive client experience
• Perform clinical assessments (psychosocial psychological and geriatric) to determine service needs and to formulate recommendations or treatment plans.
• Identify appropriate and credible resources responsive to client needs taking into consideration culture language reading level accessibility and health literacy.
• Account for each clients values preferences and circumstances to support the development of client-centered goals.
• Connect clients and/or their families/caregivers to a range of community resources and supportive services designed to promote economicsocial and health self-sufficiency. This may be done through active case management service co-ordination system navigation short-term and long-term planning and follow-up support.
• Provide supportive/therapeutic counseling to clients utilizing a wide range of approaches that best meet the clients needs and circumstances.
• Provide settlement-related crisis intervention and practical assistance to clients.
• Encourage active communication between clients and/or caregivers and health care providers to optimize client outcomes.
• Provide preliminary assessment of risk in crisis situations consult and devise an intervention and action plan and provide crisis intervention.
• Create maintain and update appropriate client records in a timely efficient manner.
• Keep accurate and current documentation including statistical data and reports and enter data to relevant data management systems.
• Provide advocacy support and advocate with clients and/or their family or caregivers.
• Protect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information obtained in the course of service.
• Provide navigation services follow up supports and warm connections to existing patients and clients of HATM providers and services as well as to community members and HATM providers to ensure people get access to needed healthcare community and social care resources.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:

• Receive and process HATM referrals including those for the East Family Practice Network IPC team.
• Identify and communicate opportunities to improve the intake and navigation processes to ensure efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Conduct data collection via relevant databases
• Collect information related to health and social barriers and basic needs (including but not limited to comprehensive primary care food security housing finances mental health and substance use newcomer/immigration and non-medical forms)
• Create collaborative relationships with HATM staff providers and partners to promote collaboration and multi-system coordination
• Conduct needs assessment to determine the needs of community members and develop a service delivery plan to address needs.
• Work closely with primary care to support positive settlement and health-related outcomes.
• Ensure the coordination of services and a continuum of care.
• Facilitate and coordinate group programs including online workshops to provide information relating to settlement health and wellness.
• Plan implement and evaluate outreach plan that promotes the range of opportunities available to newcomers and their families.
• Keep current about services available in the community and actively engage service providers in all areas to maximize community members access to resources and to enhance capacity for services.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Ensure the organizations policies and procedures are carried out.
• Maintain all aspects of confidentiality relating to clients volunteers staff programs community members and community partners.
• Provide mentorship training and/or supervision to student placements and volunteers.
• Participate in team and unit meetings regularly and promote the healthy functioning of the team and unit.
• Participate in ongoing training and education.
• Participate in supervision sessions and annual performance appraisals with supervisor.
• Maintain appropriate records and documentation in a timely manner and collect statistical data required for the accountability of the program.
• Represent the unit on internal and/or external staff committees as directed by program manager.
• Perform other duties as assigned

What You Bring to the Team

• Masters of Social Work (M.S.W.) or graduate degree in a relevant field. Registered Social Worker (R.S.W.) or Psychotherapist (R.P.) in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
• Demonstrated ability in supporting individuals who have complex mental health and/or addiction issues history of trauma violence/abuse chronic physical health issues etc.
• Knowledge of experience with and demonstrated ability in providing therapeutic and supportive counseling utilizing various modalities (e.g. Narrative Therapy CBT DBT etc.).

What Will Set You Apart
Proven working knowledge of theories of addiction evidence-based treatment models and best / promising practice approaches.
Training in clinical interviewing and evidence-informed interventions is recommended
Knowledge and experience providing addictions counseling and support.
Demonstrated experience in crisis response/intervention and commitment to a harm reduction approach
Comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the mental health addictions health sector and community resources.
Solid understanding of the intersectionality of systemic barriers and social determinants of health including racism discrimination and oppression.
Demonstrate knowledge of issues affecting marginalized communities policies legislation programs and other issues related to scope of practice and social determinant of health.
Proven ability in providing system navigation and care coordination.
Superb assessment skills and comfort with standardized assessment tools.
Strong de-escalation and crisis intervention skills
Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Excellent documentation skills.
Self-directed and independent but also proven experience working effectively as a team member with other community professionals.
Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment flexibility problem-solving and conflict management skills.
Applied computer skills (MS word Excel Internet) and ability to use client information systems.
Ability to demonstrate an anti-oppression approach to practice and work from a client-centered anti-racism harm reduction trauma informed and disability justice approach is required
Excellent oral and written English communication fluency.
French or other second language(s) is a strong asset.