Join Our Team as a Compassionate Advocate for Mental Health!

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness and substance use disorders? We're searching for dedicated candidates with a Master's Degree in Social Work or Counselling Psychology, combined with at least two years of invaluable experience working directly in a clinical setting for child and adolescent mental health, including assessment, individual, family and group interventions.

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka'pamux Nations. Our team of 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

We invite you to apply today and find out why employees recommend Fraser Health to their friends as an exceptional place to work. We are committed to planetary health, we value diversity in the work force and seek to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring and Trust.

In accordance with the Mission and Values of Fraser Health, and working collaboratively and in partnership with the interprofessional care team in the provision of person-centered and recovery oriented care, the MHSU Pediatric Emergency Clinician performs intake assessment, offers crisis intervention, and provides input into the care of psychiatric and concurrent disordered pediatric patients in the Emergency Departments. Provides input into the care of pediatric psychiatric patients awaiting transfer for further assessment or inpatient admission. Assists with ensuring effective patient flow for assessed pediatric patients through collaboration with Emergency Departments and or inpatient unit interprofessional team, community mental health and substance use interprofessional team and other community service providers. Assists in care planning to address psychiatric care needs, with final dispositions authorized by the Emergency Room Physicians or consulting Psychiatrist. The MHSU Pediatric Emergency Clinician, works in collaboration with the interprofessional community Child & Youth mental health team, agencies and other community service providers. May provide short-term follow-up treatment and case management services for pediatric patients treated in the Emergency Department or on the inpatient unit. This position requires travel to and/or work at various site Emergency departments within Fraser Health.

1. Screens psychiatric referrals from a variety of internal and external sources, gathers background information and determines service priorities. Works with Emergency Department/inpatient unit staff in the identification of potential psychiatric referrals.
2. Provides comprehensive mental health/psycho-social assessments to identify client and family''s social, emotional and cultural needs in order to formulate appropriate treatment recommendations
3. Assesses the need for psychiatric evaluation and makes arrangements for this by utilizing a community psychiatrist available to the program. Develops treatment plans and acts as case manager by liaising and consulting with community resources.
4. Develops care plans with final dispositions authorized by the Emergency Room Physician or consulting psychiatrist and provides general and crisis counselling to patients and their families including short term crisis follow-up in accordance with approved treatment plans.
5. May provide short-term follow-up treatment and case management services for pediatric patients treated in the Emergency Department.
6. Communicates and consults with Emergency department staff, other emergency service providers, the interprofessional community mental health and substance use team and other community service providers on patient care issues, resources and discharge planning; organizes and participates in interprofessional conferences; engages patients and their family in plan of care and refers patients to other services as required.
7. Provides patient advocacy services with other agencies, services and service providers.
8. Documents assessments, care plan, observations, interventions, patient/family responses, outcomes/evaluations, and referrals according to practice standards and Fraser Health procedures.
9. Participates in patient care conferences of admitted pediatric psychiatric patients as required to ensure appropriate discharge planning and linkages to appropriate community mental health services.
10. Liaises with appropriate departments and professionals and facilitates transition to aftercare by sharing emergency treatment outcomes and care plans with Mental Health & Substance Use staff. Acts as patient advocate by assisting patients and their family members to access appropriate community resources.
11. In accordance with established policies and procedures, provides guidance to interprofessional team members involved in caring for pediatric psychiatric patients and provides input for team members actively involved in violence de-escalation and suicide prevention.
12. Provides consultative and direct services to clients, families and staff regarding community resources and access to these resources in order to facilitate an effective continuum of services.
13. Assists in the development of educational workshops for mental health professionals, hospital staff, community partners, and parents to provide educational presentations on mental health issues, crisis management, early intervention and prevention.
14. Networks with community agencies and local hospitals to develop relationships that enhance intra-agency/hospital cooperation.
15. Attends team meetings and multi-disciplinary meetings as required. Identifies own learning needs/goals, reviews these with the Manager or designate and engages in a variety of activities to meet these needs/goals.
16. Participates in quality improvement activities by identifying patient care issues, collecting data, and identifying needs and recommendations for corrective action and changes to practices, procedures or protocols. Provides input to the Managers regarding policies, procedures, and operational requirements by observing service needs and providing spoken or written suggestions that address patient and family needs and promote effective use of resources.
17. Maintains a safe environment for patients, families and staff by adhering to established safety and emergency practices and procedures.
18. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education, Training, and Experience

Master's Degree in Social Work, Clinical Counselling, or other relevant health related discipline. Two (2) years' recent related clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health, including assessment, individual, family and group interventions, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Eligible for registration with 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 counselling principles and intervention techniques.

• Knowledge of Crisis Intervention Theory and demonstrated skill in crisis intervention with children, adolescents and families.

• Comprehensive knowledge of Systems Theory and an ability to incorporate this into mental health assessments and treatment Intervention.

• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in individual, family and group interventions.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the developmental stages in the individual and within the family life cycle of psychosocial issues.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the broad range issues pertaining to child and adolescent mental health problems, including issues related to substance abuse among adolescents and families.

• Knowledge of theory and evidence-based practice related to Developmental Pediatrics; Neuropsychiatric conditions such as complex ADHD, FASD, Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Tourette's

  Disorder; Seizure Disorders.

• Knowledge and understanding of the diagnostic criteria pertaining to psychiatric diagnoses most prevalent in the child/adolescent population. Ability to establish rapport with clients and families in order to explore issues beyond the initial presenting problems in order to conduct comprehensive mental health assessments.

• Knowledge and ability to conduct program evaluation.

• Ability to organize workload and prioritize responsibilities.
• Ability to work effectively with others, both within the hospital and with community agencies utilizing a multi-disciplinary team model.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to operate related equipment including related software applications.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.