Mental Health Care Coordinator

Date Posted: 12/17/2024
Req ID: 41150
Faculty/Division: UofT Mississauga
Department: UTM: Health & Counselling Ctr.
Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)
Position Number: #

Description:

About us:

U of T Mississauga—the second largest campus of Canada’s top-ranked university and the only research university in Ontario’s booming Peel Region—is one of the world’s great catalysts of human potential.

Our employee community hums with the energy of 3,400 faculty, librarians and staff, who power our campus with curiosity, connection and care. We work together to spark life-changing research and innovation, make an indelible mark on the world by building equitable cities and societies, enable healthy lives, create a sustainable future and ignite entrepreneurship. Above all, we prioritize student success, and seek to give our 16,500 students the lift of a lifetime through learning and discovery. We love to open opportunities available nowhere else for our community to achieve their ambitions and make their unique contributions to Canada and the world.

This work all comes together on a spectacularly green campus, alongside the Missinihe-ziibi (Trusting Creek or Credit River), where we seek to honour truth, reciprocity and reconciliation on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We’re thrilled to welcome those who want to learn more about us and to be part of what we do.

The Health & Counselling Centre (HCC) at UTM is a multi-disciplinary health clinic that provides student-friendly medical care, mental health counselling, and health education and promotion programs and services to a diverse student population of undergraduate and graduate students. The HCC strives to empower students to make healthier, evidence-based choices to support their growth and development, assists students in their pursuit of academic success, and promotes adoption of positive coping skills to foster greater resiliency in the pursuit of current and future goals. The HCC works closely with other departments across the University with the goal of ensuring students have timely access to quality medical and mental health supports.

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Lead Nurse, Health & Counselling Centre, the Mental Health Care Coordinator (MHCC) is responsible for supporting initial mental health needs of undergraduate and graduate students at UTM, diverse in age, culture, race, gender, sexual identity, educational background and ability. The MHCC is the first point of contact for students who present seeking new mental health support from a physician or psychiatrist. The incumbent will be expected to conduct brief preliminary assessments and/or mental health triage, complete Interim Accommodations assessments where appropriate, and assist with continuity of care for students being supported for mental health concerns. The MHCC provides crisis intervention on an emergency basis when available and needed. The MHCC will also provide psychoeducation for students on mental health conditions and/or behavioural issues that are impacting academic success, and identify students at risk requiring consultation with the Lead Nurse, Medical Director, or other physician designate.

The MHCC will provide initial brief screening and assessment, assist with coordination of appropriate services and supports tailored to each student’s unique needs, collaborate with other Health & Counselling Centre clinicians to provide regular updates to care plans, manage an evolving case load of students who would benefit from closer monitoring on their overall wellbeing, and help students develop appropriate connections on campus with other student affairs and academic services. The incumbent will provide case management support to students with urgent and/or complex problems requiring the coordination of multiple services. The MHCC will meet with members of the clinical team to provide support and assist with monitoring care plans for students with complex mental health concerns, including follow-up between physician and psychiatry appointments, monitoring post-hospitalization, etc. There will be opportunity to prepare and deliver occasional psychoeducational workshops and support the health promotion efforts of the department.

Your responsibilities will include:

1. Assessing the mental health of clients
2. Determining if there is a life-threatening situation, risk of self-harm or harm to others and independently applying appropriate interventions
3. Making informed referrals and supporting an individual in distress until referral contact is made
4. Liaising with a health care team to facilitate collaboration on cases
5. Providing case management support to students with urgent and/or complex problems requiring the coordination of multiple services
6. Maintaining continuity of care in the absence of a treating clinician
7. Providing initial clinical support and/or counselling to distressed students in crisis and making referrals to appropriate resources
8. Leading mental health workshops

Essential Qualifications:

1. MSW and a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers; or BScN combined with acceptable experience and is a member in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
2. Minimum of 5 years of recent independent clinical counselling and/or mental health triage experience. Related experience should be in a Community Mental Health Setting, and/or Outpatient Mental Health Unit where the incumbent has performed client intakes/assessments, crisis counselling, brief or short-term counselling to individuals and psycho-educational workshops.
3. Prior experience working in a highly diverse community with patients/clients from varied backgrounds and a variety of age groups, presenting with a range of difficulties and personal issues.
4. Prior experience with risk assessment and crisis support
5. Prior experience working within a multi-disciplinary treatment team
6. Experience with mental health and illness, behavioural issues, anger management, and conflict resolution
7. Prior experience with typical age post-secondary students (17-25 year olds) required
8. Familiar with the Mental Health Act and its implications for patients and providers
9. Knowledge of psychiatric symptomology, behaviour management, suicide intervention, various therapy modalities
10. Must demonstrate excellent judgment and decision-making skills around students at risk due to mental health, substance use, cultural, gender, sexuality, or socio-economic issues
11. Excellent communication (verbal & written) and interpersonal skills
12. Demonstrated skills/aptitude in cross-cultural communication
13. Strong risk assessment skills with an ability to develop a plan for students in crisis/at risk
14. Excellent time management/organizational skills.
15. Good flexibility and resourcefulness
16. Strong computer skills (MS Office, internet, Outlook/e-mail, EMR)

Assets (Nonessential):

1. MScN or CNA Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Certification an asset for BScN candidates.
2. Experience with Electronic Medical Records (e.g., Accuro) is considered an asset
3. Prior experience working in a primary care setting
4. Familiarity with Stepped Care model an asset

To be successful in this role you will be:

1. Adaptable
2. Communicator
3. Decisive
4. Perceptive
5. Resourceful
6. Self-directed

Closing Date: 01/10/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

USW Pay Band 15 -- $95,627. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $122,290. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Health & Wellbeing
Recruiter: Jessica Halteh

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline