Mental Health Legal Services Navigator - Dartmouth, Canada - Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission

Description

NOVA SCOTIA LEGAL AID COMMISSION

Mental Health Legal Services Navigator

Available Position:12-month Contract


Location:
Mental Health Legal Services, Dartmouth Criminal Wyse Road


Salary:
PR 14 ($68,656.83 to $83,602.85)


Closing Date:
July 10, 2023 at 4:30 pm


Who we are:

Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission (NSLAC) delivers quality legal aid services throughout the Province, providing some level of help to all Nova Scotians with a focus on assisting those who are systematically disadvantaged.

NSLAC's focus is in the practice areas of criminal, family, and social justice law.

NSLAC employs staff in 24 offices and 3 sub-offices throughout the Province.

Our staff are comprised of Staff Lawyers, Legal Assistants, Paralegals, Court Support Workers, Social Workers, a Social Justice Support Worker, and a Prison Law Support Worker.

Our staff help thousands of clients every year.

We are committed to helping overcome historical and ongoing barriers to access to justice and our Staff Lawyers have litigated many important cases to protect the rights of individuals.

Primary Functions:

Reporting to the Mental Health Legal Services Managing Lawyer, the Mental Health Legal Services Navigator deals with a diverse group of internal and external clients at all levels and a commitment to client service is imperative.

Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize and organize a specialized workload.

You will play a key role in improving service delivery and providing support of Mental Health Legal Services across NSLAC.

The Navigator must be reliable, flexible, people-oriented, friendly, patient, fast learning, quick thinking, and illustrate initiative and responsibility to anticipate needs and takes proactive measures within the scope of authority.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Survey, assess and compile Mental Health Legal Support in each criminal office
• Create plans, and identify deficiencies to improve systems, staff and training
• Coordinate and maintain training to improve staff competency
• Liaise with internal Social Workers and regional community partners to create a knowledge base and connections with NSLAC offices and maintain these connections
• Liaise with government administrative agencies, such as, the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act (IPTA), and the Criminal Code Review Board (CCRB) ) to improve processes
• Create a referral system for complex cases where the Navigator will provide support to Lawyers across the province
• Oversight of the various systems put in place to track service and to provide feedback to the Managing Lawyer and Executive
• Centralize dispatch of IPTA files from the IPTA ADMIN to the four regions in the Province
• Survey and inventory staffing deficiencies in the Province in the area of MHLS and suggest and implement learning opportunities to fill the gaps
• Liaise with Social Workers, Court Support Workers as well as our community partners to assist lawyers in finding appropriate mental health and housing supports for our clients
• Knowledgeable in what is available to our clients in the community and to make the connections necessary to create and strengthen these relationships.

Ideal Abilities and Skills:

• Be able to work with clients who have complex needs, creatively problem solves and works independently in a fastpaced environment as well as part of a team
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key partners
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively
• Must be skilled in negotiation, debate, and persuasion techniques
• Compliance with NSLAC's policies and procedures
• Training or advocacy experience in relation to mental health issues
• Demonstrated time management and ability to deal with conflicting priorities and deadlines
• Ability to investigate facts, identify issues, ascertain organizational objectives, consider alternative solutions, analyze risk, and advise clients
• Demonstrated ability to use latest communication technologies
• Experience and proficiency with computer software packages

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and several years of progressive, practical experience.
• Equivalent training and/or related relevant experience will be considered.

We value a workplace where diversity, in all its forms, is encouraged and recognized for its contribution to a more creative, rewarding workplace that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve.

We encourage qualified individuals from communities, including equity deserving populations that are systemically disadvantaged. Applicants wishing to self-identify may do so on their cover letter or resume.

If you are talented, hardworking and want to be a member of a team that is highly experienced, very caring, dedicated and committed to their clients, we would like to hear from you.

Job Types:
Full-time, Fixed term contract

Contract length: 12 months


Salary:
$68,656.83-$83,602.