Children and Youth Mental Health System Navigators

Job Responsibility:

Lynwood Charlton Centre (LCC) is a publicly funded charitable organization in the City of Hamilton which provides a spectrum of innovative and evidence-based, mental health services. We provide residential, day treatment, and community-based services including in-home and school-based programs to children, youth, and families within the community.

Lynwood Charlton Centre is the Lead Agency for the Hamilton service area for Moving on Mental Health. This is a Ministry initiated plan to transform the experiences of children, youth and families dealing with mental health issues, and strengthen the community-based system for delivering mental health services to them. Through our Lead Agency role, we are responsible for leading and facilitating system reform in Hamilton. To do this, we work collaboratively with other child and youth mental health service providers, other affiliated community partners including our child welfare, health, and school board partners, and parents and youth engaged in our services.

What we Offer

• Competitive pay, inclusive of a pension plan
• Comprehensive group benefits plan inclusive of vision, dental and disability coverage
• Generous paid time off policies
• Onsite parking, casual dress and a fantastic team of co-workers
• Professional growth and development opportunities

We are currently looking for System Navigators to join our team in Hamilton. Though our preferred candidate is fluent in English and French, mastery of the French language is not required.

Role Overview

Directly reporting to the Manager of Access and Systems Navigation, System Navigators (including Navigator I and Navigator II roles) work as a team to effectively execute a single point of access and system of navigation for children, youth and families who require mental health services in the Hamilton area.

Responsibilities of all Systems Navigators

• Screen clients for a milieu of services using eligibility criteria and level of care assessment (CALOCUS-CASII/ESCII).
• Match clients and their families with the services that meet their required level of care.
• Use Trauma-Informed and LGBTQI competent engagement techniques to build a rapport with children, youth and families encountered.
• Prioritize patient, gentle, persistent engagement with the most vulnerable and highest acuity children and youth.
• Facilitate and maintain client records and data collection, including program statistics for the purpose of required reporting, evaluation and/or research.
• Operationalize client safety through adhering to established policies and guidelines that ensure consistency in the delivery of quality and safe care, and by identifying and reporting any client safety incidents.
• Abide by the specific requirements of Section 28 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as any further health and safety responsibilities outlined in the agency's policies and procedures.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and ethical standards in compliance with the agency's policies.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Specific Duties for Navigator I

• Answer, triage and navigate incoming calls and/or in-person inquiries from clients, caregivers, and community service providers in an effective, efficient, and client-centered manner.
• Provide support for LCC's chatbot system (Riley) by communicating online and providing information and resources to live chat users.
• Support clients by making referrals to and scheduling screening appointments with the Access and System Navigation team.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Specific Duties for Navigator II

• Provide information to youth, families, individuals, organizations, and the public on how to apply for available community supports, fee for service options, and/or other community and government programs.
• Work collaboratively with clients to co-create next steps for service.
• Support client flow by actively managing waitlists and communicating with clients to keep them updated.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Experience/Skills and other Requirements of System Navigators

• 1-5 years of experience working in children and youth mental health settings required.
• Bachelor's degree required in social work, social services or related field, or equivalent education relating to specific populations being served required.
• Established working relationships with Hamilton community service providers is an asset.
• Proficient in the assessment of psychomotor, treatment history, diagnostic information, functioning, substance use, trauma history and attachment styles.
• Proficient in the assessment of risk, crisis, violent threat, imminent harm to self or others, and development of appropriate safety plans.
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Suite programs at an intermediate level (i.e., Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint) required.
• Proficient in the use of technology as required of the position, including working in a virtual environment with Microsoft operating systems experience preferred.
• Familiarity of EMHware is an asset.
• Awareness of issues of personal power and privilege, dedication to cultural humility, and demonstrated high value for diversity and inclusion in work team is essential.
• Highly developed collaborative working style with the ability to work in a conciliatory, respectful manner within and between systems that service children, youth, and their families.
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to maintaining an optimistic, solution-focused, and strength-based approach.
• Satisfactory vulnerable sector background check required.

We appreciate all interest however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

We are committed to all forms of diversity and welcome all qualified applicants to apply. Selected candidates with disabilities who require special needs in the selection process will be accommodated to the best of our ability.

No Agencies Please

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: $30.79 per hour

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Hamilton, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Experience:

• EMHware: 1 year (preferred)
• mental health intake: 1 year (preferred)
• children's mental health sector: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person