Case Manager, Substance Use Dependence Clinic and Mental Health Programs

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Case Manager, Substance Use Dependence Clinic

and Mental Health Programs provides person-centred, recovery-oriented, case management to support individuals with a serious mental illness. The incumbent will participate as a member of a team, managing an assigned caseload of mental health clients within a variety of community settings as well as on-site at the Medication-Assisted Treatment Program to support the Substance Dependence Clinics. The incumbent will perform other duties as required, which may include, but are not limited to, data entry, report generation and community education. Services are delivered to individuals and their families (or their personal support networks).

The location for the provision of these services will be primarily in the Goderich area but vary throughout Perth and Huron counties and surrounding areas, and services are delivered in-person, by phone, and virtually based on client need.

ORGANIZATIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In addition to specific key job responsibilities identified in this position description, the incumbent is also responsible to contribute and support the overall culture and working environment of the organization by:

Demonstrating and exemplifying the organization’s mission and values in day to day work

Acting with the highest standard of professionalism with clients, family members, community partners, the general public and colleagues.

Working in a manner that preserves and respects the privacy and confidentiality of personal health information.

Working from a harm reduction perspective.

Working in a manner that is fiscally responsible.

Working in a manner that promotes and maintains the reputation of the organization and minimizes risk of harm and/or liability to the organization.

Working in a manner that complies with the organization’s policies and procedures.

Working in a manner that meets Health and Safety requirements to ensure a healthy and safe workplace.

Acknowledging, respecting and affirming the diverse needs of our community, clients and the organization’s employees with the goal of reducing disparities in health outcomes

Contributing to the organization activities to collect, analyze and report data.

Maintaining competence, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development and where applicable, a professional license to practice.

Contributing to the organization’s work by promoting awareness, participating in committees and agency event.

KEY POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Case Manager:

Provide education, consultation, crisis management, assessment, treatment planning, referral, advocacy, case management and community treatment as appropriate, to individuals that are living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) including problematic substance use.

Demonstrate strong collaboration with the clinic nursing team as well as other agencies who support this client population.

Engage clients in developing clear recovery goals that promote long-term stability and growth.

Ability and willingness to travel to clients’ homes, independently or in the company of local services to complete assessments and to independently provide assessment to local ER physicians and physicians in offices when required. 

Ability to identify and mobilize resources in crisis situations. To act confidently and independently in the formulation of future interventions and to appreciate the individual’s role in decision making, where appropriate. 

Support and facilitate the completion of referrals including preparing plans for housing, income support, mental health and/or addictions, risk management, schedule of upcoming appointments, etc.

Collaborate with the individual and those in his/her circle of care to develop and implement a plan and provide follow through/evaluation to ensure quality of life.

Provide psychoeducation about illness, symptom management, medication side effects, and coping skills.

Assist clients who are homeless or in poor housing situation to find safe and affordable housing, including supporting housing applications and referrals.

Develop effective working relationships and liaise with community organizations, police, hospitals and the public.

Knowledge of consent and capacity issues and legislation: Mental Health Act, Public Guardian Trustee, Substitute Decision Maker Act, Health Care Consent Act, and PHIPA.

Self-directed, motivated team player with a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Engage in community awareness, education and outreach as designated and appropriate, representing the agency in a professional manner.

Be flexible in work environment while maintaining personal safety and the safety of the client at all times.

Administrative

Maintain a complete, accurate and comprehensive clinical record of each client contact.

Report statistics about clinical activities using designated agency format as required.

Complete monthly, annual and other reported documentation as required in a punctual and comprehensive manner.

Maintain administrative and clinical records, including client files and data entry, as per Policy and Procedure Manual.

Maintain adequate levels of harm reduction supplies, placing orders when supplies are low.

General

Participate on internal agency committees and/or outside community committees as appropriate.

Adhere to policies and protocols as outlined in the Human Resource and Procedure Manual.

Attend and actively participate in any team and staff meetings, the Annual General Meeting, and periodically scheduled strategic planning, team building and agency events

Assist with the orientation and training of new agency staff, volunteers and interns/students as designated and need.

Provide coverage of CMHAHP AMHS services for other team members as needed.

Help ensure the organization and program objectives are met.

Work harmoniously with colleagues, including not behaving in ways that are likely to be offensive in any manner to others and confronting such behaviours by others.

Conduct self in a responsible, professional manner.

Perform other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

EDUCATION: A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or other related discipline such as Nursing, or a Diploma from a recognized college, with specific focus on mental health and/or addictions.

EXPERIENCE: 3-5 years experience in intake, assessment, supportive counselling, and an understanding of issues facing individuals with substance abuse and mental health concerns is preferred. Knowledge of current community mental health and addiction resources is an asset.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Broad knowledge of addiction and mental health treatments and explanatory theories, homelessness, and community resources. Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and techniques of case management of mental illness and addiction and their application. In addition, the incumbent will demonstrate integrity and ethics, good coping skills, flexibility and commitment to the work.

ABILITIES: Communication-written and oral, planning, leadership, interpersonal, negotiating, directing/motivating, organizing, and decision making.

COPING: Able to maintain a mature problem-solving attitude while dealing with interpersonal conflicts, hazardous conditions, personal rejection, hostility or time demands.

DECISIVENESS: Able to make decisions quickly on available information and take action, make commitments and not change decisions when challenged, deal with emergencies as necessary.

DECISION MAKING and PROBLEM SOLVING: Able to take action in solving problems while exhibiting judgement and a realistic understanding of issues, able to use reason, even when dealing with emotional topics. 

CREATIVITY: Able to develop unique and novel solutions to problems; use intuition and a new way of thinking to give birth to new ideas; present information in an attention-getting and interesting manner.