The Concurrent Disorders Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program is a new innovative partnership initiative between Unity Health Toronto (St. Michael’s Site) and Toronto Public Health. The program relies on an inter-professional team to provide community-based assertive community treatment services (home visits, community visits) to individuals living with serious mental illness and substance use disorders in downtown Toronto.

Services provided by the social worker are individualized for each client. Clients may require support with medications, symptom monitoring and management, physical health needs, substance use issues, finances, housing or shelter, access to basic needs such as food and clothing, activities of daily living, educational issues, work or meaningful activity, legal issues, social activities, family issues, and support networks.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Social workers in health care provide in-depth bio-psychosocial assessments, diagnostic, treatment and evaluation services for individual, family group and couples. Counseling, discharge planning, resource referral, consultation and collaboration, teaching research and patient/family education.
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge of consumer/survivor issues and psychosocial rehabilitation principles
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge of the Assertive Community Treatment
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge regarding housing, social, financial, family, and other community resources in downtown Toronto
• Demonstrates excellent clinical skills in engaging, assessing, counselling, and monitoring individuals with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, homelessness and concurrent disorders
• Demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills in establishing therapeutic relationships with hard-to-engage clients
• Able to work effectively as a member of an interprofessional team, collaborating with other disciplines to provide comprehensive patient care
• Contributes to the academic mandate of the organization as an educator, resource or support for staff, students and members of the academic and professional community
• Identifies and addresses educational needs for patients and their families
• Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development in order to continue to provide optimal patient care
• Is committed to, and participates in, ongoing quality improvement in the organization
• Provides patient care in accordance with all professional and organizational standards
• Demonstrates excellent punctuality and attendance record

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have completed an accredited Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) program
• Must be currently licensed by and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) for practice in all applicable clinical areas
• Current CPR certification
• Minimum 2 years' experience working with individuals with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders required
• Recent community experience working with severely mentally ill clients and/or individuals with substance use disorder is an asset
• Excellent communication, critical thinking and interpersonal skills
• Proven flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent time management, organizational and prioritization skills as relates to patient care
• Demonstrated commitment to and involvement with own profession (e.g. membership with professional association, etc.) preferred
• Must be willing to work on-call, evenings and/or weekends as directed by the Program.

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.