Casual Integrated Mental Health Worker (Maple Ridge)

ROLE PURPOSE
This position will provide casework, in-unit and community support to individuals living in an approved home, who are requiring enhanced support due to severe and persistent mental illness, substance use and behavioural challenges. This role provides enhanced support to individuals to enhance their quality of life, prepare for community re-integration, and to maintain the goals of the rehabilitative plans. This position will work alongside VCH to support individuals to maintain clinical stabilization utilizing a trauma-informed approach while respecting individual autonomy and rights to self-determination as it aligns with the Mental Health Act.

STATUS AND CLASSIFICATION
Unionized. This position is open to applicants of all genders.

HOURS 

• Shift Hours:
  • Morning: 0800 - 1600, 0830 - 1630
  • Evening: 1600 - 0000, 1630 - 0030
  • Overnight: 0000 - 0800, 0030 - 0830
• Casual employees must be available for at least 21 shifts per month, of which seven are overnight shifts.
• If you are working full-time, or if you are a full-time student, we ask you for 15 shifts of availability per month of which five are overnight shifts (this is subject to employer or enrollment proof).

WHAT WE OFFER?

• Committed Living Wage Employer
• 2022, 2023 and 2025 Canadian Nonprofit Employer of Choice Award from NEOC
• 2023 High-Performance Culture Award from Supporting Lines
• Competitive benefits package, including health, wellness, and pension plan
• Career and personal development, with the ability to grow in a diverse range of programs and departments
• Access to a range of staff mental health supports, including an in-house counsellor, Employee Family Assistance Program, and Critical Incidents Stress Management
• Access to On-Demand Pay to withdraw earned wages before payday
• Connective is part of a portability program where employees moving from a CSSEA-member employer to Connective will port their service hours for vacation and wage purposes (within last 12 months)

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
As an Integrated Mental Health Worker, your responsibilities will include:

• Providing input to the Program Manager and/or other staff regarding the development of appropriate care plans to achieve the service user’s and care objectives under the Mental Health Act. 
• Supervises the activities of the designated facility while on shift, including maintaining case notes and the logbook.
• Offering support to the recovery of individuals living with severe and persistent mental illnesses who require resources beyond the scope of secondary mental health services due to the intensity, complexity, or intractability of their symptoms.
• Providing psychosocial education and support to service users on a one-to-one and/or group basis by performing duties such as providing feedback on service users’ behaviour, teaching coping techniques and adaptive behaviour and providing guidance and support.
• Maintaining effective liaison with other agencies, professionals, government officials, and the community to contribute to the success of the case/care plan of the service user.
• Assessing service users emotional and behavioral challenges and provides emotional support, feedback, crisis intervention, and skill building to service users and their families.
• Work as a member of an interdisciplinary tertiary mental health team to provide comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation services within a recovery framework utilizing best practices and standards.
• Recognizes, analyzes, and deals with potential emergency situations such as a service user’s aggressive behavior to ensure no harm comes to them and/or the public often using persuasion or influence methods to manage the service user’s behavior. Reports problems to the supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
We seek candidates who meet the following qualifications and requirements:

• Diploma or degree, preferably in psychology, behavioural sciences, social work, community social services, or criminology, or equivalent, with two years of related experience
• Ability to successfully complete a Vulnerable Persons Criminal Record Check
• Ability to successfully pass a reference check
• Current First Aid Certificate (please refer to the Certificates accepted in B.C. - WorkSafeBC)
• Valid Class 5 Driver's License
• Demonstrated ability to respond efficiently in crisis and escalated situations
• Advanced knowledge of de-escalation strategies for service users experiencing a psychiatric crisis
• Food Safe Certification

COMPENSATION
As Connective is a unionized environment, the starting wage is $30.95 up to $35.52 per hour. Plus, benefits enrollment as per the Collective Agreement.