Crisis Worker - 988 Helpline

Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin; Brampton; On-site; CAD 77,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks accrued vacation

18 paid sick days per year

$250 annual education funding

$350 annual wellness allowance

Pay for performance

Job summary

The Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Dufferin Branch is seeking two full-time Crisis Workers to join our team of dedicated professionals. You will respond to individuals in crisis via the 988 helpline and provide crisis intervention according to SOPs and program standards, with occasional coverage on the 24/7 crisis line.

Based in Brampton at our 60 West Drive office, this on-site role offers a rewarding path in mental health support, with a base salary of $76,759.31 to $89,160.03 per

Qualifications

• University degree in Social Work, Nursing, or Occupational Therapy is required or eligible to become Regulated Health Professional/RSW within 6 months.
• Experience in acute mental health/crisis settings is preferred.
• Ability to engage with diverse populations and maintain professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate crisis response on the 988 helpline and perform crisis intervention per SOPs.
• Assess factors contributing to current difficulties and develop working formulations.
• Offer post-crisis support and connect clients to follow-up services.

Skills

Crisis intervention techniques

Verbal communication

Written communication

Cultural competence

ASL knowledge (asset)

Education

University Degree in Social Work, BSc. Nursing, or Occupational Therapy

Job description

Support your community. Advance your career. Fulfill your purpose.

Joining the Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Dufferin Branch means you’ll be part of something meaningful. For starters, we’re honored to have received the Canadian Non-Profit Employer of Choice Award for our efforts to help people live better. Providing support and services to those who live with mental illness and addictions, we’re committed to increasing awareness and addressing the stigma surrounding mental health. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to create a diverse organization that represents the communities we serve – and the people we help.

What We Offer

As a community-based agency, we’re dedicated to the mental, physical, and social health of everyone – including our team members. That’s why we’re proud to offer a total rewards package that helps our team members balance their professional and home life. You’ll also be empowered to keep learning new skills and reaching your goals – from developing a career growth plan to participating in training sessions.

In addition to competitive benefits like Employee Family Assistance Plan and optional extended health and dental benefits, we offer our team members some unique perks that really stand out:

• 4 weeks accrued vacation
• Up to 18 paid sick days accrued per year, plus 2 flexible days each year
• Ongoing professional development plus $250 annual funding for continuing education and certifications
• $350 annual allowance to invest in achieving your personal wellness goals
• Participation in organizational pay for performance incentive program

We're looking for two full-time Crisis Workers - 988 Helpline to join our team!

The primary responsibility of the Crisis Support Worker (CSW) will be to respond to individuals in crisis who are calling the National 9-8-8 suicide crisis helpline and may be experiencing symptoms of mental illness and addiction. A secondary responsibility will include providing back-up coverage on the 24.7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin crisis line as required.

The CSW will alternate between a rotation of day shifts and a rotation of night shifts during the training period (3 months). After the training period, the shift schedule will be determined based on 9-8-8 call volume. This may transition to a more consistent shift schedule to align with the peak network call hours including evenings and overnights.

Status: Full-Time permanent, 12 hours shifts including evenings, overnights, weekends and statutory holidays. Note, this posting is for an active vacancy.

Base Salary: $76,759.31 - $89,160.03 annually (Candidate qualifications will be considered when determining the starting salary)

Location: This position is based out of our office at 60 West Drive, Brampton. Due to the nature of the program, this role is on-site and community based.

What you will do

• Provide immediate response on the 988 helpline and provide crisis intervention as per the standard operating procedures for the 988 service and best practice guidance as per program standards.
• Crisis intervention to understand the factors contributing to the current difficulties for adults, in developing a working formulation.
• Provide support and follow-up post crisis with ongoing telephone support or by connecting clients to appropriate follow-up agencies.
• Contract with consumers and families the need for further clinical service, including mobile crisis response as appropriate
• Complete a mental health assessment for clients in crisis as per program standards.
• Recommend measures to help protect others by developing safety plans.
• Support the caregivers by working to reduce conflict between the client and their caregivers.
• Engage police to respond to live mental health calls where emergent safety issues exist.
• Utilize their sound working knowledge of resources, partnerships and working relationships and participate in ongoing professional development and supervision around crisis work.
• Assist in identifying and developing goals towards understanding prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals with mental illness.
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and other client-related meetings and program meetings as required

This posting description indicates the key responsibilities and core functions of the position. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities.

What You Need to Join Our Team:

• University Degree in Social Work, BSc. Nursing, or degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Must be a Regulated Health Professional or a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and adhere to standards of practice as per designated college OR eligible and willing to become regulated health professional or RSW within first 6 months of employment
• Minimum 3 years of experience working in acute mental health sector, preferably in the community
• Demonstrated experience with crisis intervention techniques and theory-based practice in working with the seriously mentally ill
• Experience working with police services would be an asset
• Experience working in crisis response setting, supporting clients through text and/or phone would be an asset
• Ability to work with clients of diverse cultural and social backgrounds is necessary
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A good understanding of the Mental Health Act and DSM V as it relates to crisis intervention
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to approach, listen, build trust, and communicate across diverse cultures and intersectionality. Willingness to continually improve understanding around cultural competence
• Openness to operate from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and intersectional framework
• Willingness to learn and apply practical understanding of different elements of diversity, such as gender identity/expression, race/cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, disability, immigration and precarious status, family status, etc.
• Fluency in a second language, including ASL (American Sign Language) is considered an asset
• Valid Canadian driver’s license and access to an insured automobile in good repair

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday August 25th at 5:00 PM

At the Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Dufferin Branch, we provide a wide array of community services, resources, and care for people with mental illness. In your role, you’ll not only assist people who are struggling, you’ll help them return to good health and reintegrate into the community. In everything we do, we work together to make the world a better place – one person at a time.

CMHA Peel Dufferin strives to be an equitable employer. We are committed to supporting inclusive recruitment and selection processes, work environments, and a qualified workforce reflective of the diverse populations we serve. We acknowledge that removing existing barriers and preventing new barriers is required to foster dignity and independence for people of all ages, genders, cultures, and abilities. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including but not limited to, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) populations, ethno-racial communities, people with disabilities, *2SLGBTQIA+ communities, women and gender diverse people, low-income communities, those with a personal lived or living experience navigating mental health, substance use and/or addiction challenges and personal recovery and all equity-deserving groups.

*2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and a range of gender and sexual diversity categories not listed).

Accessibility Statement

When contacted by CMHA Peel Dufferin for a career opportunity, please advise the People and Culture Department of any accommodation needs that may make your experience through the recruitment process more comfortable. We are committed to working with you to meet these needs by providing reasonable accommodations, ensuring you have access to a fair and equitable process. We are continuously working to improve our accessibility practices and welcome any feedback or suggestions on how we can better accommodate candidates with accessibility needs. Should you have feedback, please email us at [e-mail]

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment

To streamline our recruitment process, we utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage and organize applications. While the ATS aids in efficiency, the essential review and evaluation of candidates is carried out by members of our People and Culture team. This approach ensures a personalized assessment that allows us to gain a comprehensive view of a candidate’s experience, skills and potential. AI is not used to make any decisions in our recruitment process.

Next Steps

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. We retain all applications submitted for one (1) year after the closing date of the posting for consideration in future career opportunities.