Mental Health Therapist

Alberta Health Services is currently seeking an experienced Mental Health Therapist to join the North Zone, Seniors Health, Specialty Teams. The Mental Health Therapist, Specialty Teams (Palliative Care and Complex Care Support Teams) plays a key role in the care of clients served in Continuing Care within the North Zone. As a Mental Health Therapist with the Seniors Specialty Teams, you will be a member of a mobile/virtual interdisciplinary team providing consultation services for two groups of clients/families: palliative/end of life care and adults with complex behaviors related to cognitive/behavioural/mental health concerns. By using a patient and family-centered care approach, you will work with local clinicians and other team members to provide specialized assessment, care plan recommendations and follow-up to patients in consultative and limited direct service model. In this role you will provide coaching and education to other care team members to build capacity in the care of patients with complex behavioral needs. There is a strong focus on multidisciplinary and collaborative processes. As a Mental Health Therapist, you will participate in assessments, case reviews, and consultation with other team members. You will liaise with representatives in Continuing Care, Home Care, Acute Care, Addiction and Mental Health, community agencies and others as needed for assessment and care planning. You will use information gathered from direct care staff to identify system and client specific barriers and provide leadership in system navigation. In addition to a competitive rate of pay, AHS currently has a Fort McMurray Allowance in place to an annual maximum of $12,480. This allowance is non-pensionable and is payable on an hourly basis for all hours paid at the basic rate of pay.

As the Mental Health Therapist, you will be required to use a variety of treatment modalities (individual, family, and group) to persons experiencing significant mental health difficulties. Working both independently and as a member of a collaborative multidisciplinary team, you will provide evidence informed and best practices in crisis intervention, assessment, consultation, referral, case management and treatment.

Master's degree in Psychology; or master's degree in Social Work (clinical specialization) including education in mental health assessment and psychotherapy; or master's or bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy including training and experience in mental health assessment and provision of psychotherapy; or master's degree in Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing including training and experience in mental health assessment and provision of psychotherapy. Active or eligible for registration with the applicable Alberta regulatory college.

This position supports patients in North Zone, with the position location based out of Fort McMurray, Alberta. The position location may be negotiable within the North Zone. This position includes virtual work and face to face patient consultations. Travel is required in the North Zone. Minimum of five (5) years’ Mental Health Therapy experience. Minimum of one (1) years’ experience within the last five (5) years Continuing Care, Brain Injury, Mental Health, or other relevant clinical area. Proven leadership experience. Competent and comfortable with MS office suite and virtual meeting venues (TEAMs, ZOOM etc.). Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP). Able to work independently in different environments (weather conditions) and must be physically capable of carrying approximately 25-30lbs. Ability to provide clinical supervision to other Mental Health Therapists on the team.

Knowledge of Continuing Care service- including delivery options, assessment/placement criteria, and community supports and agencies. Additional preparation in Psychiatry, Mental Health and/or Palliative/end of life care. PIECES, Supportive Pathways, NVCI, capacity assessment or other related education. Completion of McMaster Case Management Level Il. Previous experience with providing adult education. Meditech, Connect Care, and RAI-HC trained.