Case Manager, Youth Mental Health

CASE MANAGER, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH 

Access to Resources and Community Supports (ARCS) for Youth Program

Two (2) Bargaining Unit Positions, Temporary Part-Time 

5.5 Hours a Day

About Cota

Cota’s core values of Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Collaboration and Innovation are at centre of who we are and what we do.

We are seeking a dynamic and innovative individual who will work enthusiastically to deliver recovery oriented support to service users and their families. This support should be service user centered, comprehensive, and responsive to their needs. Additionally, the incumbent should ensure the safety of service users and actively contribute to a quality improvement framework aimed at enhancing quality and quantitative outcomes of our services. Service Users and family centered care is the guiding principle at Cota that helps improve decision-making processes, health outcomes and service users experiences. The successful incumbent will embed this guiding principle into their work. 

Cota is seeking to recruit a temporary full-time Case Manager – Youth Mental Health for its ARCS for Youth program.  This Case Manager will work primarily with newcomers and Black youth identified and referred by Eva’s Initiatives (Eva’s).

This role is an integral component of an exciting new initiative sponsored by the Slaight Family Foundation involving Cota, Eva’s Initiatives and North York General Hospital.  The goal of the initiative is to provide short term, community-based, mental health case management to newcomers and Black youth in order to enhance their wellbeing and connection to community-based resources, thereby reducing unnecessary reliance on hospital emergency services.

About the Participating Organizations:

• Cota is an accredited community based organization that provides a wide range of services and support to individuals living with mental health and cognitive challenges across Toronto.
• Eva’s operates youth shelters in Toronto and helps young people move from crisis to stability with the ultimate goal of moving to independence.  They work with each young person to develop an achievable action plan, attain their goals, and build strong community connections.
• North York General Hospital is a leading community academic hospital in Canada offering acute care ambulatory and long-term services.  They are the sponsor of the Slaight Family Foundation initiative and will be actively coordinating the initiative and the evaluation of its impact.

All participating organizations are committed to applying Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Oppression lenses to their work in supporting Black Youth experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges who have been historically and continually underserved and marginalized across the health and social services systems.

About the Position

The ARCS for Youth Case Manager will need to have a deeply rooted understanding of needs of newcomer and Black and urban youth. The Case Manager will provide community based short term mental health case management supports to eligible individuals referred by Eva’s. The Case Manager will work collaboratively with each youth to:

• Conduct an assessment of needs,
• Develop a comprehensive client centered goal plan,
• Provide direct support and guidance in the areas of service navigation, managing situational crises and promoting personal wellness.

ARCS for Youth Case Manager will provide some of their work on-site involvement at Eva’s to conduct intake interviews with potential clients and engage directly while providing support.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Initiate services to clients at the point of intake to ensure that proper assessment and initial service response occurs.
• Engage with youth to assess needs and determine existing connections to community based mental health & addictions services 
• Re-establish/mobilize existing connections to community based mental health services (e.g., Mental Health Case Management, ACTT, primary care ).
• Provide short term support (up to 3 months) to meet the youth’s immediate/priority needs and assist in service navigation and connections to longer-term support options.
• Have excellent knowledge of community resources and/or demonstrated ability to search for applicable resources/information.
• Develop and lead coordinated care plans, safety plan with/ for clients and complete the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) and other assessments as required.
• Collaborate with other systems, organizations and individuals from courts, probation, short-term residential beds program, hospital and community to ensure a well coordinated service system.
• Facilitate for clients’ discharge when appropriate by developing a comprehensive discharge plan.
• Record client status/progress using the appropriate documentation system.
• Work collaboratively and professionally with representatives of participating organizations at all times.

The Successful Candidate Requires: 

• A minimum of Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (i.e. Psychology, Social Work, Health Science, etc.), and 3 years of direct experience, assessed as being relevant to the specific target population being served is required.
• Post-graduate certificate or diploma in Mental Health and Addictions from an accredited educational institution is an asset.
• Comprehensive understanding of the issues of homelessness, youth homelessness and the barriers facing youth, particularly Black youth seeking housing and integration into society.
• Understanding of Anti-Oppression, Anti-Black Racism, Critical Disability, LGBTQ2S and Trans-positivity, Trauma, Harm Reduction, Recovery approach in support to mental health and strengths based principles into practice.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with youth.
• Ability to engage, listen and advocate for improved systems outcomes for youth.
• Sound clinical knowledge and understanding of the client population and demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively with the mental health population.
• Experience, alignment and commitment to harm reduction, and knowledge of substance use interventions.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in a meaningful relationship in a short time with a broad range of clients, including those who are resistant.
• Skillful in assertive outreach and follow-up using a flexible approach to support/assist clients in remaining engaged.
• Demonstrated ability to use problem solving techniques to identify and assess client need and develop appropriate intervention strategies.
• Knowledge of principles of case management theory and practice using a client centred and mental health recovery philosophy.
• Excellent knowledge of community resources and/or demonstrated ability to search for applicable resources/information.
• Excellent clinical judgement and decision making skills including a keen awareness of participant clinician boundary issues.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) knowledge and Motivational Interviewing is an asset.

Working Conditions and Other Requirements:

• The Case Manager will typically provide in-person services on-site at Eva’s Phoenix location, with the potential of supporting other sites at Eva’s as required.
• The Case Manager will, in some cases, also conduct in-person services at client homes and/or other community settings, as well as virtually where required.
• Some daily travel between locations and/or client appointments will be required.
• Must have access to a vehicle for travel in order to effectively perform daily work duties.

Application Details: 

Please forward a cover letter and your current resume on or before May 6th, 2024 by 4:00 pm with the reference Job Posting IN235. 

Cota is deeply committed to promoting diversity, advancing equity and fostering a culture of inclusion. Being part of Cota, you know that we recognize everyone’s contribution. We are also respectful of each individual’s dignity, unique experience, potential and protected rights in line with the grounds laid out by the Ontario Human Rights Code. As an equal opportunity employer, we remain dedicated to sustaining an experienced workforce that reflects the diversity of the clients and communities that we serve.

Additional Information:

Interview Process: Cota may choose to conduct parts/all of the hiring process virtually. Please note that as part of maintaining an agile workforce, all Cota staff may be required to be reasonably reassigned to support the operational needs of our essential services.

Accommodation: Cota is an equal opportunity employer and strives to ensure that its recruitment and selection processes meets the needs of all persons with disabilities. As such, Cota will provide reasonable accommodation for any applicant, as requested during the recruitment process. For any recruitment related accommodation needs and/or requests please contact the HR Department via humanresources@cotainspires.ca 

Cota values diversity: We welcome applications by qualified candidates from equity-deserving groups, including people with disabilities, Indigenous and racialized people, and queer, trans and gender non-conforming people.

Scent Free: Cota encourages a scent-free environment. Onsite employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.)