CharityVillage

DATE: January 26^th, 2024
LOCATION: Toronto, ON – Social Medicine Initiative                                       
COMPENSATION: $56,806 - $72,368 Annually Prorated
CONTRACT DURATION: 1 year 


LOFT Community Services is a unique and dynamic charitable organization that supports people living with complicated issues such as mental and physical health challenges, substance use challenges, poverty and homelessness. Serving approximately 19,633 annually and providing 1,861 units of supportive housing last year, LOFT is one of Ontario’s largest mental health service providers of its kind. LOFT is also recognized as a Nonprofit Employer of Choice™ Award (NEOC) recipient.
 
To help fulfill its mission, LOFT is hiring a Behavioural Support Specialist.


Job Summary

As a Behavioural Support Specialist, you will be a member of interdisciplinary team that provides direct care, education and support to individuals who are demonstrating responsive behaviours that may be associated with various types of dementia, delirium, mental health, addictions or other neurological conditions. The Behavioural Support Specialist will provide direct service to support the client, family members and/or caregivers to mitigate escalating responsive behaviours.  In doing so, you will collaborate with the other members of the interdisciplinary team on the development and delivery of effective Behavioural Support Plans comprised of behavioural management approaches, psychosocial supports and education to referred individuals and their caregivers.  You will also liaise with community agencies, other practitioners and key partners to coordinate care for clients.   In addition, you will provide education and support to staff of the interdisciplinary team to ensure current knowledge and trends in behavioural support.

Social Medicine Initiative is an interdisciplinary team of providers from the University Health Network and LOFT Community Services that provides wrap around services to individuals with concurrent conditions that span physical and mental health challenges and social and economic vulnerability who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their housing.  Social Medicine delivers clinical hands-on support to those with complex healthcare needs providing outreach and case management services with access to psychiatric and medical assessment, consultation, and access to treatment, service planning, advocacy, and system navigation support. The aim of this partnership is to provide low barrier access to housing for these individuals, while assisting in stabilizing their physical and mental health, substance use, behavioural, psychosocial, and social drivers of health challenges. The Social Medicine team works from a housing first and harm reduction approach. The goal is to work with individuals in getting connected to housing and follow up support that meets the level of need required for each individual to live successfully in the community.


What You Will Do

• Provide clinical assessment and treatment recommendations through a comprehensive behavioural approach.
• Design and ensure implementation and monitoring of skill promotion and behaviour intervention programs for identified
• Provide risk management and urgent care planning for referred individuals and their caregivers. 
• Support client and other members of the interdisciplinary team in the development and implementation of Behavioural Support Plans tailored to the client’s needs and issues designed to improve quality of life and assist in the mitigation of responsive behaviours.
• Act as a liaison and client advocate among those involved with the client’s care including interdisciplinary team, other care-givers, medical and other multi-disciplinary providers;
• Provide support, on-going training and consultation to colleagues, interdisciplinary team and other care-givers to assist in mitigating escalating responsive behaviours;
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current and developing behavioural support models and trends and disseminate this information to the teams;
• Develop respectful and trusting relationships with clients using Recovery and Psychosocial Rehabilitation principles;
• Maintain strict confidentiality and follow all other required policies and procedures;
• Effectively participate as a member of the Social Medicine Interdisciplinary Team; attend staff/team meetings, client care conferences, other multi-disciplinary meetings, committee meetings etc. as required;
• Attend and actively participate in all required training;
• Collaboratively participates in ongoing supervision with the Manager of the Social Medicine Initiative.
• Liaise, collaborate and coordinate with other professionals, service providers and partners within the LOFT Behavioural Support Services.

What You Bring

Must Haves

• Completion of an undergraduate degree in one of the following health professions: Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Psychology;
• Completion of an Advanced Diploma in Behavioural Science Technology:
• Minimum three years related experience in providing support to vulnerable individuals with responsive behaviours related to mental illness, addictions, dementia or other neurological conditions;
• Demonstrated experience and skill in developing and delivering behavioural management interventions;
• Extensive experience in training and educating colleagues, clients and key stakeholders on strategies and interventions aimed at addressing  responsive behaviours;
• Knowledge of current and developing behaviour support models and the ability to implement the key components of those models into practice with clients;
• Training/knowledge of P.I.E.C.E.S., Recovery/Psychosocial rehabilitation approaches or willingness to receive training;
• An understanding of recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation principles and the therapeutic relationship;
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices related to mental health, substance use, dementia and the social drivers of health;
• Knowledge of community resources and supports;
• Sound understanding and commitment to the principles of LOFT’s Behavioural Support Services;
• Crisis intervention skills, with well-developed problem solving abilities and interpersonal skills;
• Good oral and written communication skills and computer literacy, including MS Word and Excel;
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other members of inter-professional care teams, clients, family members and community team members;

Nice-to-Haves

• Understanding of cultural competency and anti-oppression framework;
• Reflective of a multi-barriered group, as serviced by the program, a strong asset
• Experience working with individuals who are homeless and/or at risk of homelessness  

 

What We Offer

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• E-learning program available all year round
• Starting vacation time above minimum standard,
• Additional paid personal and paid sick days
• Corporate Gym membership rate with GoodLife Fitness
• Access to Perkopolis, a comprehensive corporate discount program
• Access to unlimited DEI trainings through partnership Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
• A chance to push your ideas from inception to execution
• Satisfying work with a fun, energetic and supportive leader
• An opportunity to be a change maker in an organization that reaches people that are often overlooked

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

LOFT Community Services is a values-driven organization with a deep belief that each person has the ability to grow and change. We value compassion, collaboration, and community delivered with dignity, innovation, and excellence. LOFT’s vision is that together, we can all live successfully in our community. Our client population reflects Ontario’s diverse community and it is LOFT’s goal to build a workforce who also reflects that diversity. LOFT believes there are many ways to develop skills and build experience and expertise. So even if you don’t “tick all the boxes” but think you’d thrive in this role, you are encouraged to apply.


Note: All LOFT employees are required to be COVID-19 vaccinated as a condition of hire in accordance with LOFT’s Vaccination Policy; unless they are employed in or work regularly with staff who are employed in, non-client facing roles.

Note: A satisfactory vulnerable sector check (VSC) is also required.

CLOSING DATE: February 9^th, 2024 (& or Until Filled)