Mental Health Clinician - Calgary, AB, Canada - Thealex

Description

Do you have a passion for working with youth? Are you interested in supporting youth while using a theoretical approach to achieve stability and wellness? If so, this position may be for you

Who we are and what we do:

The Alex provides wrap-around health care, housing, social and wellness programs to Calgary's most vulnerable citizens. Using a patient and client-centred, multi-disciplinary model of care, The Alex envisions a healthy and caring community where every person is valued and can thrive. Our core purpose is to improve quality of life through accessible and integrated health, housing, and social services.

With five decades of experience innovating and working in the community, The Alex has a reputation for tackling tough health and social issues by walking alongside people on their journey from crisis to wellness, and from challenge to change.

Health. Home. Humanity.

The Youth Health Centre (YHC) has been making a difference in the lives of Calgary's youth aged 12 – 24 since 2008. We understand the unique challenges faced by vulnerable youth in our community. Our dedicated team of professionals are passionately committed to providing services and support that break down barriers to a healthy future.

Reporting to the Clinic Manager, Youth Health Centre, the Mental Health Clinician is a key member of the Youth Team and is responsible for utilizing a variety of theoretical approaches to support clients to achieve stability and wellness. The Mental Health Clinician offers evidence-based therapies to individuals and groups, facilitates skills and process groups, and works closely with an interdisciplinary health and social team. While carrying a case load and completing required assessments, evaluation instruments, and other documentation, Mental Health Clinicians seek to resolve clients' issues and support their move to independence or other community support where appropriate.

What you will do:

• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based therapies within the session guidelines
• Move clients off caseloads within session guidelines and be receptive to taking new clients
• Provide 50-minute therapy sessions to 4-5 clients daily at minimum
• Offer culturally sensitive services
• Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and respective of professional college requirements
• Conduct assessments as appropriate and contribute to individualized service plans
• Use evidence-based treatments in the areas of mental health and substance abuse to address participant needs (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectal behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, etc.)
• Work from a harm reduction or recovery approach based on the client's readiness for change
• Work collaboratively with clients, families, and community partners to assist clients in achieving treatment and recovery goals
• Facilitate group programming for clients using principles of psychoeducation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other evidence-based models when appropriate
• Provide same-day therapy to clients where needed, appropriate, and possible
• Assist in data collection and entry as directed

What you will bring:

• Master's degree in psychology, Social Work, or a related field
• Eligible for registration with their professional discipline in Alberta
• Social Workers must be authorized to perform psychosocial interventions
• Minimum two years of experience as a Mental Health Clinician
• Awareness of FOIP, HIA, and HIPA and doctrines such as the Mature Minor
• Knowledge around working with suicidal individuals and how to handle such situations appropriately while considering confidentiality and client safety.
• Specialized training in evidenced-based therapies is an asset (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, solution focused therapy, etc.)
• Experience in same-day access is an asset
• Ability to set goals and work with clients within appropriate timelines and refer to other agencies/programs if needed
• Awareness of the importance of evidence-based treatments and flexibility to practice from different perspectives
• Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues.
• Awareness of increased complexities in providing therapy virtually
• Understanding of harm reduction and trauma informed care
• Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture
• Ability to work in high-stress situations with clear and open communication
• Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility
• Strong initiative in times of limited supervision
• Awareness of the value that research and evaluation bring to therapy
• First Aid (either Standard/Intermediate or Emergency/Basic) - Level C CPR within 30 days of hire date certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance and a Child Welfare Intervention Check
• Knowledge of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC) 94 Calls to Action is an asset
• Willingness to work within anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks and actively engage in ongoing learning about these frameworks
• Location: Main Building nd Ave SE)
• 0.60FTE (22.5 hours/week)
• Standard hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm
• Continuous extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking (sometimes up or down stairwells)
• Occasional physical action requiring the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (up to 20 lbs.) throughout shift

Working Conditions:

This position requires frontline staff, in some cases, to be exposed to emotionally disturbing events, such as medical distress, threatened/actual serious injury, violence, abuse, and death. There may also be exposure to situations where clients may be experiencing fear, terror, hopelessness, rage, self-harm and conflict. It is understood and accepted that this position will be working in distress/high-stress situations, which may include emergency response where resiliency, stress tolerance, and the ability to maintain composure is imperative. This position may also be exposed to bodily fluids. The health and safety - both physical and psychological- of our employees is a priority. The Alex is focused on providing a safe, supportive and healthy work environment.

Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:

• Sick/Wellness Days
• Personal Days
• Floating Holiday
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Employee Family Assistance Plan
• Health or Wellness Spending Accounts
• RRSP and/or Student Loan Repayment Program (up to 5% match)

How to apply:

If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people's lives, please visit our career centre: Jobs at The Alex | The Alex .

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will make every effort to accommodate candidate's schedules and needs in all parts of the hiring process.

In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

*The term "racialized" is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms "racial minority, "visible minority", "person of colour", or "non-White".

For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website at