Counsellor, Mobile Crisis Response Team

Direct Service:

• Work directly alongside police officers during regular work hours to assist in de-escalation of crisis
• Complete mental health and addiction assessments with individuals and family members who come into contact with police based on theory of crisis management including rapid response to identify:
  • the impact of psychiatric symptoms on functioning, 
  • risk factors related to safety of client and others
  • opportunities for de-escalation and stabilization
• Establish a therapeutic relationship to maximize the benefits of engagement with the individual and their family members
• Provide short-term telephone and in-person follow-up support to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as needed
• Coordinate and facilitate referrals to internal and external services and supports for individuals or for their family members
• Advocate as necessary in order to facilitate access to services and supports with the objective of remediating immediate crisis situation
• Engage emergency services when it is determined that additional intervention is require
• Facilitate access to secondary healthcare services where voluntarily agreed to by an individual as part of an intervention or upon enforcement under the Mental Health Act, liaising directly with health care professionals (e.g. hospital) to ease the transition from police custody to acute mental health care
• Assess barriers to successful community living (e.g. treatment options, transportation, finances, etc.)
• Obtain information, as needed, from other relevant sources
• Interact and provide support and assessment in a nonjudgmental fashion and provide care that demonstrates sensitivity to individual diversity (e.g. culture, race, age, sexual orientation, gender, beliefs and values).
• Support the individual in developing skills for self-advocacy to learn new behaviours and develop coping skills fostering healthy interdependence through limit setting.
• Provide health teaching and information regarding coping techniques and strategies, e.g. grounding, breathing techniques, self-care, nutrition, sleep hygiene, techniques to enhance overall well-being.
• Where requested by officers, to participate in death notifications and link individuals to victim services or other supports as required
• Act as a resource for officer wellness providing system navigation for their own mental health support based on training and orientation to the respective police service’s internal wellness resources
• To keep abreast of current principles, best practices, standards and models of mental health service provision through active pursuit of professional development, training and networking opportunities
• To meet and communicate regularly with CMHA Leadership to discuss attendance, scheduling, training needs, professional development, clinical service provisions, work performance and operational changes

Crisis Intervention:

• Provide short term, psychotherapeutic intervention to assist individuals in gaining insight and improving coping skills within the framework of the crisis model
• Perform in a calm, competent and efficient manner in an emergency situation acknowledging the individual's need for privacy and dignity
• Utilize harm reduction principles to identify, reduce and remove risk factors

Crisis Follow-up:

• Refer individuals for additional assessments as is determined to be necessary and/or appropriate
• Assist the individual to identify and connect with personal/natural supports
• Provide follow-up support and/or check ins to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as appropriate

Coordination and Advocacy:

• Demonstrate knowledge of community resources and its place within the mental health and addiction care system
• Assist in building positive working relationships across the service system including CMHA, respective police partners and other social or health care providers (e.g. hospital)
• Participate in committees, working groups or Situation tables as needed to promote effective service coordination and collaboration, and deliver presentations as needed
• Participate in public education and advocacy
• When appropriate, act as liaison with caregivers and/or service and support providers who are involved with the individual to facilitate a coordinated approach to service provision

Documentation, Privacy and Confidentiality:

• Thoroughly review and accurately document risk factors
• Complete required documentation related to participants as per organizational standards
• Complete other required documentation (e.g., monthly time sheets, vacation requests, education requests, travel claims, expense claims) as per required time frames
• Submit a copy of valid vehicle insurance (insurance that is appropriate for the role) each year upon renewal
• Maintain and document accurate recording of all police incidents arising in the course of the work as well as any follow-up completed
• Maintain dual records, recording both in the format required by CMHA and in accordance with the documentation and record storage policy and procedures of policing partner
• Compile and maintain program statistics as required by respective police partner and CMHA TV and to provide narrative detail or write-ups when requested in order to support future grant and funding proposals
• Adhere to the privacy policies of and privacy legislation of respective police partner, and CMHA TV collection and disclosure of information, undertaking responsibility for maintaining awareness of the unique differences between the privacy frameworks of municipal services, provincial services, and health services
• When necessary, compile documentation such as affidavits or will-say statements where required by respective policing partner or where compelled by court
• When necessary, testify professionally and accurately at hearings, trials and such other judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings as may be compelled from time to time, arising from nature of the work

24/7 Reach Out Addiction and Mental Health Crisis Line responsibilities as assigned:

• All Crisis Services Staff are to provide support to individuals through Reach Out.
• Provide crisis intervention services and supports on Reach Out via phone, text and web chat.
• Respond to voicemails from Reach Out.
• Establish a therapeutic relationship with individuals accessing Reach Out, and work with individuals to address their immediate concerns.

We require the following qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in a related field (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Valid Driver’s License and access to a vehicle with adequate insurance to carry out job duties
• Completed successful background check required by Middlesex Ontario Provincial Police and Strathroy-Caradoc Police Services
• Current, clear Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Ability to attend work regularly

We prefer the following qualifications:

• Currently registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, the College of Nurses of Ontario, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, or the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario 
• A minimum of 3 years' direct client support experience in the community mental health sector, with preference given to applicants who also have experience working with individuals with addictions or problematic substance use
• Extensive knowledge of serious mental illness as well as trends as best practices in the delivery of support services to individuals accessing mental health supports
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery model
• Bilingual both official languages, preferred; préférence sera accordée aux candidats qui sont compétents dans les deux langues officielles du Canada