January 18, 2012
Job Title: Social Worker – Addictions
Salary: $55,251-$69,003 per annum
Hours: Full Time
Purpose of the Position:
The Inner City Family Health Team is a multidisciplinary team which serves homeless clients with complex health needs. These include untreated chronic and complex multi-system diseases, an elevated risk of acute health emergencies, and serious and persistent mental health and substance use challenges. Clients are predominantly current or former users of Seaton House Shelter. Staff will work at our clinic on Queen Street, as well as at nearby Seaton House and other community locations on an episodic basis. Services are provided by the team using a holistic, client-centred model of care with an emphasis on recovery, harm reduction, disease prevention, chronic disease management and health promotion.
The Social Worker – Addictions collaborates with Inner City Family Physicians and Psychiatrists, our interdisciplinary team, and community and shelter staff to provide comprehensive addictions focused care. Key roles include facilitating intake, engaging in psychosocial assessments, and providing counselling, harm reduction, education, advocacy and case management services, to clients experiencing substance use and concurrent mental health challenges.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Assists clients in identifying and working toward their goals from a holistic client-centred harm reduction perspective.
- Supports clients through an understanding and application of the Recovery model.
- Provides individual and group counselling for a broad spectrum of care needs including harm reduction, treatment readiness, trauma, relapse prevention, psycho-educational and crisis intervention with an addictions and mental health focus.
- Assists clients with Risk Management by providing harm reduction education, assessing and identifying signs of relapse, mobilizing resources and intervening to prevent the onset or prolongation of crisis.
- Provides case management, coordinates referrals and facilitates access to other health care and community providers.
- Collaborates with clients, physicians, psychiatrists and other allied health members of the team to develop appropriate, client-centred, individualized care plans.
- Works closely with Seaton House and other community partners to further collaborative efforts that result in optimum client care.
- Participates in interdisciplinary team rounds/case conferences.
- Undertakes home visits and outreach services as required and appropriate.
- Collects, records and reports relevant data using the Inner City Family Health Team EMR system.
- Contributes to the development of learning resources and participates in health education.
- Advocates for Inner City Family Health Team Clients.
- Some evening and weekend work may be required.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- A Master’s Degree in Social Work or equivalent education.
- Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or relevant college or registering body as well as membership in the appropriate professional association.
- Working knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act, Healthcare Consent Act, Substitute Decisions Act and Community mental Health resources.
- A minimum of 3 years recent work experience with clients with addiction and mental illness.
- Experience working with homeless clients preferred.
- Extensive knowledge and experience working from a harm reduction perspective.
- Experienced in working from a Recovery model of mental health and addictions.
- Knowledge of and commitment to client–centred philosophy and principles and practice of community service delivery and chronic disease management models.
- Knowledge of community resources relevant to the provision of addictions supports, harm reduction, health promotion and illness prevention.
- Knowledge and proficiency in current, evidenced-based methods and social work practices in health care delivery, with an emphasis on addictions, mental health, health promotion and risk reduction.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in the use of the computer hardware and software, particularly in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook.
- Knowledge and experience in the application of electronic medical records (EMR).
- A sound understanding of and commitment to the Social Determinants of Health, and the ability to effectively participate in the efforts of an interdisciplinary team to contribute to comprehensive health care.
To apply please send a cover letter and resume by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 to:
Social Worker – Addictions Hiring Committee
or by mail to
Social Worker – Addictions Hiring Committee
69 Queen Street East, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON M5C 1R8
We thank applicants for their interest however we will only be contacting those selected for interview.
