Social Worker/Registered Psychotherapist - Couchiching Family Health Team (Orillia)

Job Description:

Position: Social Worker/Registered Psychotherapist
Reports To: Mental Health Team Lead
(Two positions, each 1.0 FTE Permanent with benefits)

Position Summary:
As a key member of The Couchiching Family Health Team (CFHT), and an integral part of an interdisciplinary health care team, you will provide mental health counselling/therapy and other therapeutic services for individuals, families, and groups as part of an interdisciplinary team. Your primary roles are to work in partnership with the CFHT to perform intake (via a semi-structured interview), patient biopsychosocial assessments, and provide short-term counselling, education, and advocacy. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Semi-structured Assessments (Intake)
• Review referrals & patient charts
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments of referred clients
• Assess urgency and recommend for short term counselling or refer to community resources as appropriate
• Involve patients in decisions about their own mental health, identify client strengths 
• Record/discuss other resources for patients (ie: benefits or EAP)
• Flag cases for presentation at MH Team meetings for case assignment

Biopsychosocial Assessments

• Provide biopsychosocial assessment of patients and families
• Monitor, record and report symptoms and changes in patients’ conditions
• Collect information by developing a relationship with the client

Treatment/Management 

• Provide counselling/treatment including instrumental, therapeutic, supportive, psycho-educational and crisis interventions all within the scope of best practices
• Provide mental health treatment in the form of individual, family, and group therapy
• Caseload with a balance of short/long-term therapy services, with particular regard to individual/family issues and decisions that impact the health of the patient/family
• Provide brief counselling through the Single Session Walk-In Clinic on a weekly basis
• Coordinate referrals and facilitate access to other health care providers and community organizations
• Maintain communication with patients, families, and their physicians with consent
• Monitor patient goals and outcomes through ongoing assessment and documentation of treatment progress
• Participate in treatment planning with other team members 
• Consult with team members and external professionals involved in the care of patients 

Education/Advocacy 

• Initiate group programs to promote and support patients as they strive to achieve the highest possible level of mental health 
• Act as an advocate for patients and their families 
• Assist in overcoming barriers within health care system for timely delivery of services
• Help patients identify and use health resources, including those available in the community and from community agencies 
• Involve patients in decisions about their own health, encourage self-management initiatives 
• Participate in case presentations/reviews and discussion within the team
• Develop/research learning resources for health care providers 
• Present on various aspects of social work to FHT to assist them in their practice
• Coach/mentor peers, students and other members of the health care team 
• Maintain current discipline specific standards of practice
• Maintain awareness & understanding of current Mental Health legislation

Referrals/Collaboration 

• Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
• Liaise and consult with other agencies/programs/services as required
• Provide communication to hospital and community staff and other inter-professional team members, as required, to ensure smooth transition for care between care sites
• Review current policies annually to provide input and offer suggestions for change

Administration/Reporting

• Receive patient phone calls, provide consultation and arrange for follow-up appointments as necessary
• Collect accurate and comprehensive patient-related information and document on clinical management system
• Complete documentation required to facilitate care for the patient (reports, referrals, forms, etc)
• Keep monthly statistics for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) as requested
• Maintain an organized appointment schedule
• Monitor referrals from the team and assist with waitlist mgt
• Participate in program planning and evaluation within the team or externally as appropriate 

Skills/Knowledge Requirements: 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to adjust language and terminology to suit the individual patient or patient group (including cultural sensitivity)
• Strong clinical skills; demonstrated ability to utilize best practices for mental health treatment
• Autonomous and able to function with minimal supervision
• Ability to work effectively with all members of the health care team
• Ability to work in an inter-professional team environment
• Ability to prioritize, manage time effectively and be flexible in a very active work environment
• Work in compliance with Health and Safety laws adhering to safe work practices and procedures established by the CFHT 
• Other duties as required

Computer Skills

• Familiarity with a PC OS environment
• Experience with scheduling and electronic medical record keeping using a clinical management system (Practice Solutions) is an asset
  Language Skills
• English required; Second language not required but would be an asset
   

Education/Specific Job Requirements:

• Minimum Education: Masters Degree in Social Work or Psychotherapy/Counselling or equivalent experience
• Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or College or Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act
• Flexibility to work evenings, if required
• Police Record/Vulnerable Sector Check
• It is a condition of employment that you receive the necessary vaccinations to protect against infection of COVID-19, or any similar infectious diseases, which may be recommended by governmental and public health authorities from time to time
   

Experience: 

• A minimum of 3 years of experience working in youth and adult mental health
• Clinical experience working collaboratively with a community-based agency preferable
• Experience working with those with chronic health conditions an asset
• Teaching and experience facilitating treatment groups an asset