MHSU Pediatric Emergency Clinician

Fraser Health Authority; New Westminster; On-site; CAD 61,785 - 77,173; Full time

Job summary

Fraser Health Authority in New Westminster is seeking an MHSU Pediatric Emergency Clinician. This role involves providing psychiatric assessments and crisis intervention for pediatric patients in emergency departments. Responsibilities include collaborating with teams, managing care plans, and facilitating community resource access. Qualified candidates must have a Master’s in Social Work or related fields and two years of clinical experience. A valid BC driver’s license and vehicle access are also required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Clinical Counseling, or a similar health‑related discipline.
• Two years of recent clinical experience in child or adolescent mental health.
• Eligible for registration with the relevant professional association.

Responsibilities

• Perform intake assessment and crisis intervention for pediatric patients.
• Collaborate with interprofessional teams for person‑centered care.
• Develop care plans and manage case follow-ups.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Mental health assessment

Counseling principles

Individual and group interventions

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in Social Work or similar

Job description

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $44.85 - $56.02 per hour.

Job Summary

We are looking for a MHSU Pediatric Emergency Clinician to join Fraser Health. This role supports pediatric patients in the Emergency Departments, providing psychiatric assessment, crisis intervention, and coordinating care across the health system.

Detailed Overview

The MHSU Pediatric Emergency Clinician performs intake assessment, crisis intervention, and collaborates with interprofessional teams to deliver person‑centered care for psychiatric and concurrent disordered pediatric patients. The clinician works across multiple emergency department sites, assists with patient flow, develops care plans, and offers case management and short‑term follow‑up services.

Responsibilities

• Screens psychiatric referrals, gathers background information, and determines service priorities.
• Provides comprehensive mental‑health/psycho‑social assessments to identify patient and family needs and formulate treatment recommendations.
• Assesses the need for psychiatric evaluation, facilitates arrangements with community psychiatrists, and develops treatment plans.
• Actively case‑manages care plans, offers crisis counseling, and follows up short‑term per approved treatment plans.
• Communicates with Emergency department staff, community resources, and other service providers to coordinate care and discharge planning; organizes interprofessional conferences.
• Provides patient advocacy, documents all assessments and interventions, and participates in patient care conferences.
• Facilitates transition to after‑care by sharing outcomes and care plans with Mental Health & Substance Use staff, and acts as an advocate for community resource access.
• Coordinates violence de‑escalation and suicide prevention initiatives, providing guidance to team members.
• Consults staff on community resources and supports services continuity.
• Develops educational workshops for mental health professionals, hospital staff, community partners, and parents on mental health, crisis management, early intervention, and prevention.
• Networks with community agencies and local hospitals to enhance intra‑agency cooperation.
• Attends team meetings, participates in multidisciplinary meetings, identifies personal learning needs, and engages in professional development.
• Participates in quality improvement activities to identify patient care issues, collect data, and recommend practice changes.
• Maintains a safe environment for patients, families, and staff by adhering to safety and emergency practices.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience

Master's degree in Social Work, Clinical Counseling, or a similar health‑related discipline. Two (2) years of recent clinical experience in child or adolescent mental health, including assessment and interventions, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Eligible for registration with the relevant professional association.

Valid BC Driver’s License and access to a personal vehicle with appropriate business insurance coverage for work‑related purposes.

Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of community response procedures, mental‑health assessment, general counseling principles, and intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention theory and demonstrated skill in crisis intervention with children, adolescents, and families.
• Comprehensive understanding of systems theory and ability to apply it to mental‑health assessments and treatment interventions.
• Demonstrated skill in individual, family, and group interventions.
• Knowledge of developmental stages and family life cycle psychosocial issues.
• Familiarity with child and adolescent mental health problems, including substance abuse, ADHD, FASD, pervasive developmental disorders, Tourette’s, seizure disorders, and neuropsychiatric conditions.
• Understanding of psychiatric diagnostic criteria prevalent in the child/adolescent population.
• Ability to establish rapport and conduct comprehensive assessments.
• Knowledge and skill in program evaluation.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
• Effective teamwork skills with hospital and community agencies.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Operational competence with related equipment and software applications.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and meet physical job demands.