Duties:
- Provides comprehensive specialized social work assessment and consultation for referred clients in psychosocial situations in assigned geographic area. Works in client’s home, Long Term Care home or clinic setting.
- Works in collaboration with the Geriatric Mental Health Outreach teams providing specialized social work assessment according to client cognitive and mental health needs, utilizing population-specific and evidence-based assessment strategies.
- Identifies social, psychosocial and emotional health issues precipitated by illness.
- Assesses all areas of risk or potential risk and intervenes as appropriate when risks are identified.
- Provides the interdisciplinary team a perspective and enhanced understanding of the individual stressors related to the adjustment and acceptance of changes that clients and families/informal care partners encounter during times of cognitive-mental illness.
- Uses evidence-based treatment strategies and engages/supports clients and their families/informal care partners in establishing and achieving person-centred treatment goals, including promotion of self-management skills.
- Provides short-term intervention to improve social functioning e.g. counselling; using population specific interpersonal strategies (PST; CBT: DST; other).
- Provides education for families/informal care partners to adjust to and support cognitive mental health changes in client.
- Supports clients, families and/or informal care partners in accessing community resources (social and financial) to address identified issues.
- Identifies, advocates and communicates with other involved agencies and supports as appropriate for the client’s need, including their family and/or informal care partners, hospital(s), Home and Community Care, the Alzheimer Society, Community Support Services and other as required.
- Works in a manner that complies with staff and patient/client safety practices, policies and procedures of The Royal.
- Ensures a work environment that is conducive to the Royal’s Anti-Racism, Harassment, Discrimination-Free Workplace and work safety policies and practices.
- Demonstrates commitment to health equity, values diversity and contributes to an inclusive working environment.
- Maintains working knowledge of relevant legislation including and not limited to the Mental Health Act, LTCH Act. Health Care Consent Act, Substitute Decisions Act, PHIPA, and Excellent Care for All Act.
- Participates in other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Master degree in Social Work from an accredited university.
- Minimum of three (3) years of clinical Social Work experience working in a community setting or equivalent specialized education in seniors’ mental health and experience working independently with seniors living in the community.
- Member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
- Experience in providing counselling to the geriatric population, couple, family and caregivers.
- Experience and expertise in seniors mental health, psychosocial assessment of older adults with complex cognitive and mental health issues, consultation, non pharmacological intervention and treatment
- Experience in assessing educational needs and/or developing educational programs for colleagues, service providers, clients and family members
- Demonstrated recent experience in working in collaboration with families/caregivers of geriatric clients and community support services.
- Demonstrated knowledge of psycho-social issues and financial issues with experience accessing relevant community resources related to an older person living with complex cognitive-mental health needs.
- Strong client- and family-centered approach.
- Understanding of recovery-based treatment and programs of clients with severe and persistent mental illness.
- Experience in individual, family, and group therapy/intervention, psychosocial assessment, risk assessment and management, discharge planning and liaising with community service providers is an asset.
- Education completed or experience working in the PIECES framework is an asset
- Certification in Gentle Persuasive Approaches, Positive Approaches to Care and/or Montessori Methods for Dementia/Dementiability is an asset.
- Community development experience, preferred.
- Experience in providing the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy to geriatric clients with serious disorders an asset.
- Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle
- Willingness to work variable hours, evenings and weekends if required.
- English level A- is mandatory in oral expression, oral comprehension, reading and writing. Bilingualism (French/English) is an asset.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Minimum of three (3) years of clinical Social Work experience working in a community setting or equivalent specialized education in seniors’ mental health and experience working independently with seniors living in the community.
- Works in collaboration with the Geriatric Mental Health Outreach teams providing specialized social work assessment according to client cognitive and mental health needs, utilizing population-specific and evidence-based assessment strategies.
