Community Mental Health Worker - Child and Adolescent Brief Intervention (CABI)

The Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) is a clinician who provides psychosocial assessment, consultation and evidence-informed counselling intervention and psychosocial rehabilitation to individuals referred to the mental health program for mental health related problems. Through the application of therapeutic skills that promote and build on individual’s strengths, the CMHW assists the individual/family to maximize independence, self-responsibility and promotes personal wellness, community integration and social justice. Depending on individual needs and particularly when working with individuals with enduring mental illness, the CMHW applies case management functions that focus on functional assessment and skill development, relapse prevention, and rehabilitation.

Services are based on the principles of recovery, empowerment, self-determination and responsibility and are part of a continuum of mental health services. Clinicians operate within a collaborative care structure and provide time-limited, goal-oriented, change-focused interventions and/or consultations that are based on informed consent, voluntary participation and within individual capacity. The CMHW requires a diverse and comprehensive knowledge base about trauma informed psychiatric care as well as other adopted mental health therapies and the ability possess and integrate into practice crisis management and suicide intervention skills.

As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, the CABI clinician will provide solution focused therapy and short-term support to children and youth who have been identified in crisis and/or needing acute intervention. The clinician will endeavor to support stabilization of those accessing the service through the provision of expert mental health and addictions clinical counselling interventions. Services are provided within a framework of advanced clinical practice, including consultation, assessment and brief, solution focused therapeutic interventions. The CABI clinician will work collaboratively with the Provincial Child & Youth crisis services system and schools within the region, functioning as a liaison between provincial and regional supports available to the individuals accessing services.

The CMHW exercises the appropriate level of initiative and independent judgment in determining work priorities, work methods to be employed and action to be taken on unusual matters. The Community Mental Health Worker works to the full scope of practice and engages in ongoing education and maintains competency congruent with Southern Health-Santé Sud policies, professional standards of practice, the appropriate college and code of ethics and the Regulated Health Professions Act. The position functions in a manner that is consistent with the mission, vision and values; and the policies of Southern Health-Santé Sud.

• Minimum two (2) years of work experience in a clinical setting with children, youth and their families.
• Minimum of two (2) years supervised counselling experience.
• Additional training and experience in Brief Intervention, Solution Focused Therapy and/or Behavioural Interventions are considered an asset.
• Experience in providing mental health services for adults or children and adolescents or adults with serious mental illnesses, or senior’s mental health.
• Experience in completing psychosocial assessments and mental status examinations.

• Graduate of an accredited post-secondary education in Health-Related Social Sciences (e.g. BSW, BScMH, BScPN, BN, RPN). Other relevant educational qualifications and experience may be considered.

• Active license and registration to practice as required by professional association and provincial legislation.
• Certificate in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST).

• Advanced knowledge of mental health and addictions services, including consultation, education, therapy, and advocacy to children, youth, and their families with a brief intervention mode.
• An advanced understanding of family dynamics, child development, common psychological difficulties of children and adolescents, and the reporting process for child protection issues.
• Ability to be flexible with work hours to support individuals and systems.
• Knowledge and understanding of all aspects of mental health service.
• Advanced mental health psychosocial assessment skills and knowledge of appropriate evidence informed therapeutic counseling models, approaches and interventions.
• Advanced knowledge of human developmental theory and mental health concerns typically identified for various populations across the age spectrum including signs and symptoms of mental illness.
• Knowledge of recovery principles in the treatment of mental illness.
• Knowledge and understanding of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of commonly prescribed psychotropic medications for mental disorders across the age spectrum.
• Knowledge of mental health self-help and client and family engagement in mental health treatment.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and standards in Manitoba i.e. Personal Health Information Act and others as specified by Southern Health-Santé Sud and program area.
• Proficiency with MS Office suite of programs and other technological applications (i.e. telehealth).
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare written communication.
• Demonstrated ability to complete psychosocial assessment, including mental status examination, preparing diagnostic impressions, and identifying crisis intervention plans.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a culturally informed manner within a range of cultures.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team and across service sectors.
• Given the cultural diversity of our region, the ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population is required.
• Proficiency of both official languages is essential for target and designated bilingual positions.
• Demonstrated ability to respect confidentiality including paper, electronic formats and other mediums.
• Good work and attendance record.
• Requires a valid Class 5 driver’s license, an all-purpose insured vehicle and liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.00.

• Demonstrated ability to meet the physical and mental demands of the job.
• No hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions.
• May work occasionally evenings and weekends as necessary.
• May be required to travel to other regional facilities as the position duties may require.