Case Manager, Mental Health

CASE MANAGER, MENTAL HEALTH

Boarding Home West (BHW)

One (1) Bargaining Unit, Temporary Full-Time Position with Possibility of Extension

Existing Vacancy

Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

Compensation: $28.54/hour-$33.12/hour

About Cota

Cota is an accredited not-for-profit organization that has been providing community-based support to people living with mental health and cognitive challenges for over 50 years. At present, our wide array of services delivers much needed support to over 4,000 people/year who live with mental health challenges, psychogeriatric mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, developmental disabilities, dual diagnoses and/or the experience of homelessness.  These services include, but are not limited to, case management, supportive housing and adult day program services.  A full listing of our services can be viewed on our website at  https://cotainspires.ca/

Cota is presently seeking a dynamic and innovative individual to join our amazing team in the capacity of the role outlined within this posting.  If you feel you have the skills and qualifications to perform the duties of this role while consistently exemplifying Cota’s values Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview

The Case Manager, Mental Health requires the Service Provider to support individuals to live safely and successfully in the community of their choice and achieve improved personal health and wellness. This is accomplished by connecting Service Users to health and community care, support with obtaining identification, housing stability, employment, education, recreation, accompanying to appointments, etc.

About the Team

Cota’s Boarding Home West Team consists of 9 site support workers and two case managers. This team supports tenants living within 16 Habitat funded boarding homes in the west of the city. Tenants are adults living with mental health and/or addiction issues. The Boarding home team visits multiple sites, regularly, in-person through out the week to support tenants, the boarding home operators and their staff.

Services include the facilitation of group activities and events to foster tenant engagement, decrease isolation and social connections, skill development, and education. The teams provide education to the owner/operators and their staff, as well as individual support to tenants, facilitating community orientation, linking to resources and professional supports, situational dispute resolution and informal counselling and guidance when needed.

The case managers work primarily within the Boarding Homes to support tenants living there, but may be required to work elsewhere within the community and to accompany tenants to appointments. Additionally the case managers may be supporting other Cota programs in a case management capacity in addition to the boarding homes.  

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct face-to-face assessments with clients at their locations including but not limited to the Boarding Home, shelters, hospitals, and other locations as needed.
• Interact directly with referral source, physicians, and other services involved in client's care.
• Initiate services to clients at the point of intake to ensure that proper assessment and initial service response occurs, and discuss discharge planning.
• Develop coordinated care plans 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, safe beds, hospital and community to ensure a well-coordinated service system.
• Record client status/progress using the appropriate documentation system.
• Plan and facilitate group activities/events to promote service user engagement/participation, development of social networks and skills acquisition.

The Successful Candidate Requires:

• A combination of a post-secondary degree or diploma with 4 years direct experience in the delivery of community mental health services. 
• Sound theoretical and practical knowledge of mental illnesses and addictions.
• Sound clinical knowledge and understanding of the client population and demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively with individuals with serious mental illness, addictions and complex needs.
• Demonstrated ability to provide holistic and comprehensive case management services to all clients including initial and ongoing assessments, goal setting, short and long-term case.
• Plan development, crisis intervention, progress monitoring, individual money management, tenant education, advocacy and referrals.
• Knowledge of case management and harm reduction principles, theory and practice.
• Demonstrated ability to use problem-solving techniques to identify and assess client needs and develop appropriate intervention strategies. 
• Demonstrated ability to engage in a meaningful relationship 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.
• Excellent knowledge of community resources and demonstrated ability to negotiate with others on behalf of clients.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent clinical judgment and decision-making skills including a keen awareness of client-clinician boundary issues. 
• Experience in working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of and commitment to an Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression framework as well as an ability to articulate and implement Recovery Philosophies.
• Proficient in MS Office, and OCAN documentation.

Other Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Conduct visits in the clients' homes, hostels, hospitals and other community. Settings working in sometimes difficult conditions, including hoarding.
• Be comfortable working with a broad range of client groups.

Application Details:

Please forward a cover letter and your current resume on or before December 27th, 2024 by 4:00 pm with the reference Job Posting  IN332. 

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.

Screening Process: Please note that Cota uses AI to screen potential applicants for all roles.

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 hr_recruitment@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.)