Mental Health Worker, Racialized Youth

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An organization focused on mental health services is seeking a Mental Health Worker to support racialized youth facing barriers accessing services. This role involves direct engagement in community settings, providing assessments and developing treatment plans. Candidates should have relevant degrees and experience, demonstrating strong advocacy skills and the ability to address systemic barriers. Multilingual abilities will be beneficial.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience working with racialized youth with mental health and addiction difficulties.
• Knowledge of anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices.
• Willingness and ability to travel and work in various community settings.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active clinical caseload, providing assessments, consultations, interventions, follow-up, and transition planning.
• Collaborate with youth, families, and team members to define support strategies and linkages.
• Advocate for social justice and identify educational needs for clients and families.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Advocacy

Communication skills

Multilingual abilities

Conflict resolution

Education

Degree/diploma in nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, or related field

Job description

Temporary assignment - approximately 6 months

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary responsibility of the Mental Health Worker will be to contribute to the achievement of core program functions, including engagement and relationship-building, intake and screening, specialized assessment, care planning, clinical intervention and follow-up, transition support, system navigation, advocacy and referral, consultation, education and support, program and system development, and service and program evaluation.

The role of the Mental Health Worker is to respond to racialized youth experiencing mental health and addictions concerns who face barriers accessing MHA services.

This is a mobile position within a small, specialized interdisciplinary team that meets racialized youth in community-based and non-traditional settings.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree/diploma in nursing (RN), Social Work, Occupational Therapy, or related health/social science field (e.g., psychology), or current registration with a relevant college in good standing.
• Demonstrated experience working with racialized youth with mental health and addiction difficulties, including lived experience of racism.
• Knowledge of anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices.
• Minimum 3-5 years of relevant experience working with the target population.
• Knowledge of youth-specific clinical interventions, engagement strategies, and mental health assessments.
• Ability to perform comprehensive assessments and build rapport with racialized youth.
• Skills in conflict resolution, crisis intervention, health teaching, advocacy, system navigation, and networking.
• Understanding of psychotropic medications, psychiatric diagnosis, and mental health assessments.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a transdisciplinary team and community partners.
• Understanding of social determinants impacting racialized youth.
• Willingness and ability to travel and work in various community settings.
• Strong communication skills; multilingual abilities are a plus.
• Proficiency in basic computer skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain an active clinical caseload, providing assessments, consultations, interventions, follow-up, and transition planning.
• Develop client-centered treatment plans aligned with program goals, addressing systemic barriers and racism.
• Collaborate with youth, families, and team members to define support strategies and linkages.
• Monitor client progress, communicate significant changes, and coordinate additional services as needed.
• Assess for risk, intervene appropriately, and support crisis services when necessary.
• Document all clinical findings and interventions accurately and maintain records per program requirements.
• Identify educational needs and provide relevant education to clients, families, and providers.
• Demonstrate awareness of systemic racism's impact on access to mental health services and advocate for social justice.