Job Summary

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority, client safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Consistent with the interdisciplinary trauma-informed setting of the Correctional Health Services Clinic, the Social Worker 2 works under the supervision of the Health Care Manager and in alignment with professional practice and provides health, mental health and/or substance use assessments and intervention to assist clients and their families presenting with serious health, mental health and/or substance use issues through the lens of Indigenous cultural competency within a trauma informed framework. Intervention services provided by the Social Worker include; family assessments, crisis intervention, short-term counseling, individual, family and group therapy, outreach services, peer involvement, advocacy, liaison with community services; coordination of resources, consultation with teams, collaboration with community agencies, education, program planning and research to improve access, integration and coordination.. Social work services are provided to clients and their families to address social and emotional stressors resulting from the interaction of physical, social, cultural, and psychological outcomes associated with assessment, diagnosis and treatment. The Social Worker provides consultation to team members and relevant community agencies regarding child welfare concerns. The Social Worker promotes family-centered care on a case by case basis within the Correctional Health Services, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services and the community.

Duties/Accountabilities

Conducts comprehensive health, concurrent disorder, mental health and/or substance use, and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the client and family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the client and family and formulation of assessment and plan of intervention, in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies. Provides clinical intervention in the context of evidence-based care to clients and their families through individual, family and group therapy. Supports clients and their families by providing education, short-term counselling and crisis intervention after the client’s release from the provincial correctional centres regarding concurrent disorder, mental health and/or substance use issues, child welfare and custody proceedings and change or loss in health functioning. Facilitates comprehensive discharge planning for designated clients with the team, client, family and community agencies to ensure psycho-social follow-up. Establishes and maintains effective collaborative and constructive liaison relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including clients and families, community providers, MCFD social workers, schools, hospitals and other agencies, in order to coordinate services across the continuum of health care. Caries out community outreach services, peer involvement, and community partner resource engagement by methods such as liaising about client resources and access to these resources; engaging with community partners and working collaboratively, providing input from a clinical perspective and to coordinate resources, and acting as an advocate for the program and clients. Actively engages with and supports the clients to access community service providers on a scheduled and as needed basis. Participates in program planning and development as part of an interdisciplinary team within Correctional Health Services, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services and the continuum of health care. Identifies, promotes and participates in program planning strategies to enhance system processes and resources for clients and their families. Promotes client and family care by participating in relevant committee work within the Social Work discipline, specialized program, correctional setting, and/or continuum of health care. Collaborates with team members in many forums, both informal and formal, in case consultations by attending team meetings, rounds, and psycho-social forums relevant to client and family centered care. Provides consultation to team members and relevant community services regarding child protection concerns by being knowledgeable of risk indicators and helping in the identification of risk situations in keeping with the Child, Family, and Community Services Act and provides consultation from a psycho-social perspective. Advocates for the client and family or caregiver for resources within the correctional centre and the community by determining financial and other material needs through assessment and working in coordination with community resources to meet these needs. Supervises Master level social work students on field education practicum within the program by performing duties such as demonstrating and explaining procedures and processes and providing input regarding progress. Provides students with the opportunity to observe and take an active role in the treatment of clients and their families. Provides orientation to new employees and social work staff by explaining the scope of practice within the program. Provides information and/or in-services regarding the social work role, scope of practice, psycho-social comprehensive assessment and interventions, needs of families and family dynamics, and relevant legislation concerning correctional health and child welfare issues. Provides information on formalized agreements between Correctional Health Services and MCFD relevant to child protection protocols and other formal agreements with community agencies. Provides clinical information on psycho-social issues indicators of referrals and priority setting with interprofessional team members by presenting at team days and case rounds. Presents at in-services within the hospital and community. Participates in psycho-social research activities and program planning and development relevant to the needs of the client and family by methods such as collaborating with members of the interprofessional team, conducting literature searches and planning forums for presentation of findings. Implements appropriate evidence based research outcomes into planning and professional practice in collaboration with the Correctional Health Services Director of Professional Practice. Maintains current knowledge on social work evidence based practice in health, concurrent disorders, mental health and/or substance use by such methods as reviewing literature, consulting with clinical and community experts in the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities in order to improve care through new practices. Participates in Correctional Health Services planning and professional practice by attending regular meetings. Performs administrative tasks by maintaining clinical documentation, progress notes, workload statistics and updating health records in accordance with established standards. Performs regular security functions to maintain the safety and security of clients, staff, families and the general public at all times and takes immediate action to mitigate risks, as well as reporting all real and potential risk issues. Assesses individual client risk factors and incorporates risk mitigation strategies into clients’ care plans in order to optimize safety and security for staff, other inmates and the general public. Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work, including relevant graduate level mental health courses and mental health practicum. Minimum 1 year recent related clinical experience working within a correctional health or other related setting; must include experience in child protection, child development and grief and loss, women’s issues, women abuse and harm reduction model; or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience. Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. Valid BC Driver’s License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.

Skills And Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of Social Work theory and practice, trauma informed care. Demonstrated ability to conduct and document a comprehensive psychosocial and family assessment in a correctional health context. Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to provide crisis intervention, short term counselling and individual, family and group therapy. Knowledge of the psychosocial needs of clients and their families. Knowledge of the criminal justice and corrections systems. Demonstrated knowledge of common health, concurrent disorder, substance use and mental health diagnoses as they relate to inmates. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work with mental health and substance use issues including DSM and mental health assessment of depression, suicide and anxiety. Knowledge of Mental Health Act, Infants Act and Child and Family Community Services Act. Demonstrated knowledge of community resources for inmates. Knowledge of child protection issues and relevant legislation concerning children, consents and FOIPPA. Knowledge of formalized agreements between Correctional Health Services and MCFD relevant to child protection protocols and other formal agreements with community agencies. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work with grief and loss issues. Working knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively in an inter-professional environment. Demonstrated ability to communicate both verbally and in writing, and to deal effectively with co-workers, physicians, other health care professionals, clients and their families, and external agencies. Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work. Demonstrated ability to deal with and/or guide others in resolution of conflict issues. Demonstrated ability to teach Social Work students and other team members both formally and informally. Ability to present at in-services within Correctional Health Services and community. Demonstrated problem solving abilities. Knowledge of community resources. Demonstrated ability to advocate for clients and their families as they navigate the corrections and health care systems. Working knowledge of research processes and methodology. Demonstrated physical ability to perform the duties of the position. Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system.