Social Worker - Urgent Response Services

Interested in working with an amazing team that really cares? Then you should join Lumenus! At Lumenus we illuminate a seamless pathway to optimal wellbeing for our clients.

As one of the largest mental health agencies in Ontario, we offer a broad range of high-quality mental health, developmental and community services for infants, children, youth, individuals, and families across Toronto.

We are a passionate, dynamic and growing agency. We offer a competitive salary, employer paid benefits, ongoing training, and career development opportunities!

Lumenus Community Services is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We value a recruitment and selection process that is inclusive and barrier-free and we encourage applications from all individuals including, but not limited to, all cultures, religions, racialized communities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.

Lumenus Community Services is looking to hire Social Workers as part of its community-based Urgent Response Service team.

This team will support children and youth with autism and their families with an identified urgent need to prevent further escalation of risk or harm to a child or youth, other people or property based on the identification of key high-risk factors.

The Urgent Response Social Worker will work directly with children, youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families in providing therapeutic supports for a time limited period.

This position is designated to provide time limited therapeutic supports including counselling, safety planning and serving as a key member of an inter disciplinary team.

This development includes the transdisciplinary perspectives of the team members involved in the care of the client. This position is designated to carry out the activities regulated through the controlled act of psychotherapy and requires registration with a regulatory college that permits the act of psychotherapy.

In the execution of all activities, registered social workers will be competent to use a range of treatment modalities, including : cognitive behavioral therapies, experiential and humanistic therapies, psychodynamic therapies, somatic therapies, and systemic and collaborative therapies.

This position also includes carrying out advocacy, case coordination, coaching, coordinating, supportive teaching in the areas of social skills development and emotional regulation, safety planning tracking, intake and referral, and problem-solving.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Perform strengths-based assessments and develops an assessment plan through this process using standardized evidence informed measures / tools in collaboration with clients from a client- centered perspective
• Perform system and service coordination
• Provide Crisis intervention
• Gather information from multiple sources and with clients through in person meetings, on the telephone and virtually
• Use integrated formal assessment tools as well as evaluation and outcome tools
• Gather information and supports clients in variety of stages of need
• Utilize a systems / ecological perspective to ensure a holistic view of the client’s strengths and needs
• Coordinate with internal and external service providers as applicable
• Engage clients by building and maintaining effective working relationships gaining trust and respect through a diversity and equity lens
• Participate in the planning and implementation of community outreach activities through the development of collaborative partnerships with other services such as schools, agencies, child welfare, and ethno-specific organizations and communities
• Liaise with community services (i.e. school system, social service organizations, community groups) by providing public education, and collaborative services, as appropriate
• Organize and facilitate parent / caregiver education groups and sessions
• Organize and participate in educational seminars, workshops, and training for youth, families, service providers, and staff, where need, interest and ability exist
• Provide, where appropriate, consultation services to individuals, families, and other service providers regarding the issues, concerns and needs of children, youth and families
• Formulate treatment plan and oversee this plan in collaboration with client and supports the multi-disciplinary team providing service (where applicable)
• Produce client file documents that track the life of the case from entry to discharge (assessments, treatment plan and treatment reviews, and progress / contact notes)
• Ensure the client record is kept up to date and meets accreditation and best practice guidelines within the policy and procedures of the agency

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE :

• M.S.W. degree (or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience).
• 3+ years of related professional experience or, a combination of education and experience that will meet the needs of the position
• Membership in good standing within the appropriate related professional regulatory body (OCSWSSW or CRPO)
• Experience working with children and youth with a diagnosis of ASD and co morbidities ((depression, anxiety, strained, self-injurious behavior, trauma, psychiatric diagnoses, difficult family dynamics, learning disabilities etc.)
• Experience in delivering therapy through a variety of therapeutic interventions differentially according to client needs.
• Developmental knowledge across the life span; family systems understanding; knowledge of unique needs of neuro atypical clients and their caregivers

SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE :

• Strength based anti-racism and anti-oppression philosophy of service provision
• Competency in range of effective evidence- informed strategies to address client needs articulated in formulation and treatment plan
• Thorough knowledge of the principle techniques and methods of individual / family therapy and treatment techniques with ability to apply them as needed
• Proven group facilitation skills, preferably utilizing Evidence Based Practices
• Proven assessment and advocacy skills
• Suicide risk assessment and intervention skills
• Ability to develop collaborative working relationships with other staff ability to connect and build rapport with adolescents
• Ability to work with and integrate knowledge from other professional staff, i.e. psychologists, psychiatrists, into the overall treatment plan
• Ability to formulate psychosocial assessments; knowledge of diagnostic and treatment procedures utilized by related disciplines
• Sound knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development
• Knowledge of community and agency programs including transitional age youth and adult services
• Demonstrated sound judgement related to the development of collaborative approaches working with youth and their families;

including high risk circumstances and safety planning

• Ability to demonstrate and work through a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, religion, culture, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity, etc.
• Ability to identify clinical learning needs and seek consultation and support through supervision
• Advanced communication & interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment, exercising professional judgement in conflictual and stressful situations
• Well-developed writing skills with a strong record in completing documentation properly and in a timely manner
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS :

• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Screening process
• Flexibility in terms of work hours is required; evening and weekend work may be required weekly or on an as-needed basis

We ask applicants to make any accommodation requests for the interview or selection process known in advance by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Human Resources will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process which will enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.

Lumenus believes that immunization against COVID-19 is an individual and societal responsibility and that we must do everything possible to protect our clients, families, employees, students, volunteers and contractors against the spread of COVID-19.

As a condition of employment, proof of full vaccination or exemption under the Ontario Human Rights Code must be submitted to Human Resources seven (7) calendar days prior to start date.