Clinician, Short Term Assessment and Response Team (Start)

The Clinician, Short Term Assessment and Response Team (START) provides comprehensive assessment, treatment and referral coordination for youth/families in acute crisis, educates and consults with hospital and community personnel, networks with community agencies, participates in research and assists in program and resource development.

1. Conducts comprehensive assessments to identify client and family's social, emotional and cultural needs, in order to formulate appropriate treatment recommendations.
2. Assesses the need for psychiatric evaluation and makes arrangements for this utilizing the community psychiatrist available to the program.
3. Provides comprehensive therapeutic clinical counseling by providing short-term individual and family therapy, using various therapy and intervention models such as Brief Therapy Model and Crisis Intervention Model.
4. Develops treatment plans and acts as case manager, liaising and consulting with community resources.
5. Provides consultative and direct services to clients, families and staff regarding community resources and access to these resources in order to facilitate a continuum of services between hospital and community.
6. Assists in the development and delivery of in-services, education sessions, presentations and training to clients, families, staff and other caregivers through methods such as collaborating with staff, determining relevant content and required handouts, conducting literature searches and planning and coordinating seminars.
7. Networks with community agencies and Fraser Health hospitals to develop relationships that enhance intra-agency/hospital cooperation.
8. Participates in ongoing social research as required.
9. Completes statistics, case records, assessment reports and other relevant documentation according to the policies and procedures established by the program. Analyzes and assists with interpretation of those statistics.
10. Participates in program and community resource development from both the hospital and community perspective, in order to respond to identified gaps in service and recognized patient needs.
11. Attends team meetings and multi-disciplinary meetings as required.
12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Master's Degree in an applicable social or health sciences program such as Counseling Psychology.

Two (2) years of recent, related experience in adolescent crisis intervention in a mental health setting or hospital emergency department, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Eligible for registration with relevant professional association. Valid BC Driver's License and access to personal vehicle for work-related purposes.

Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of Crisis Intervention Theory and demonstrated skill in crisis intervention with adolescents and families.

• Comprehensive knowledge of Systems Theory and an ability to incorporate this into both the mental health assessments and treatment intervention.

• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in group and family therapy.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the developmental stages of the individual and within the family life cycle and of the issues that may occur in relation to this.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the broad range issues pertaining to adolescent mental health problems, including issues related to substance misuse among adolescents and families.

• Knowledge and understanding of the diagnostic criteria pertaining to the psychiatric diagnoses most prevalent in the adolescent population.

• Knowledge of theory and evidence-based practice related to Developmental Pediatrics; Neuropsychiatric conditions such as complex ADHD, FASD, Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Tourette's Disorder; Seizure Disorders.

• Ability to establish rapport with clients and families in order to explore issues beyond the initial presenting concerns.

• Knowledge and ability to conduct social science research.

• Ability to organize workload and prioritize responsibilities, and ability to work effectively with others, both within the hospital and with community agencies utilizing a multi-disciplinary team model.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work in continuously changing and complex environment.

• Problem solving and decision making skills and ability to exercise sound judgement.

• Ability to deal effectively with others.

• Physical ability to perform duties of the job.