Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values, Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Professional Practice Leader, Social Work, works collaboratively with management as part of an interdisciplinary team, within a Trauma-Informed model of care and Indigenous cultural lens at the designated site, participates in the planning and coordination of Social Work services, practice standards, goals and objectives, and collaborates on various staffing and quality control issues. Provides leadership, direction and guidance on areas related to research and education, practice teaching and fieldwork experience for Social Work students. As required, provides Social Work assessment and treatment services.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Provides leadership in Social Work professional standards and practice and participates in the planning and coordination of Social Work services at the designated site by methods such as providing clinical guidance and expertise, mentoring and coaching, and facilitating workplace solutions; developing, establishing, communicating and evaluating professional practice standards; developing and overseeing a review system to ensure compliance with standards; developing, communicating and evaluating goals and objectives for the discipline to ensure practice is consistent with program and service goals and objectives; and providing advice on professional practice standards, codes of ethics and issues such as registration.

2. Collaborates with the Clinical Services Manager and/or Program Director in various staffing issues as they relate to the clinical practice as required by methods such as providing input into employee performance evaluations to promote quality work performance, acting as a resource to clarify the role of the discipline in delivering patient and client care services, providing clinical performance support and creates practice plans to meet professional standards, participating in the development of Social Work job descriptions, assisting in determining orientation and training requirements, discussing progress, referring items requiring disciplinary action to the Clinical Services Manager and/or Program Director and assisting with staff selection by participating on interview panels and providing recommendations regarding evaluation of candidates to facilitate optimal hiring decisions.

3. Provides leadership, direction and guidance in Social Work education, practices, and special initiatives by methods such as developing an education plan to provide continuing education for Social Work staff -discipline specific and interdisciplinary; identifying, promoting and supporting professional development initiatives by practice members in collaboration with the Clinical Services Manager and/or Program Director and/or Director, Professional Practice; providing relevant education and training to multidisciplinary staff; and developing an orientation material for new social work staff and assisting by providing orientation to new social work staff at the designated site.

4. Conducts comprehensive concurrent disorder, mental health and/or substance use, and psycho-social and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the client and/or family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the client’s family, environment, living situation, and financial status, and interpreting the data to therapeutically impact the client's and family's coping abilities.  Formulates assessment and plan of intervention and intervenes in cases of complex social-emotional or family issues.

5. Provides clinical intervention in the context of evidence-based care to clients and their families through individual, family, and group therapy. Provides individual, family and group counselling services by methods such as exploring emotional responses to illness/injury in order to identify problems, personal concerns and treatment objectives and to facilitate change in coping style, behaviour, attitude, feelings and adaptive responses to an adverse life event. Refers to community services for follow-up as necessary.

6. Collaborates with designated care management personnel to facilitate the management of cases with complex discharge needs. Receives referrals from care management personnel and other members of the interdisciplinary team to assist patients/families with complex emotional or social presentations, as well as facilitate care through the continuum.

7. Establishes and maintains effective collaborative and constructive liaison relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including clients and families and others, such as community providers, MCFD social worker, schools, hospitals, and other agencies in order to coordinate services across the continuum of health care.

8. Develops and arranges training and education plans for practicum students by developing education plans, providing instruction and supervision to social work practicum students, and by liaising with educational institutions and coordinating the placement of practicum students.

9. Participates in quality improvement and risk management activities and provides leadership and direction on research and development initiatives for Social Work services by evaluating, developing, and/or implementing new programs or research projects in cooperation with clinical teams, other disciplines, educational institutions or agencies; identifying corporate projects and initiatives specific to the discipline; identifying best practices and researches/promotes evidence based practice; and develops, implements, and evaluates policy in collaboration with the Clinical Services Manager and/or Program Director.

10. Maintains and updates relevant knowledge and understanding of Social Work practice, community mental health, Social Work standards of practice, and the applicable sections of the Freedom of Information and Protection and Privacy Act. Sets measurable goals and objectives within a team or individual environment, by methods such as reviewing literature in specialty areas, consulting with clinical and community experts within the field, evaluating clinical practice, participating in professional development activities to improve care through new practices, and developing a plan in collaboration with the Clinical Services Manager and the Director of Professional Practice for professional development; reviews progress to ensure that goals are achieved within established time frames.

11. Provides leadership in coordinating the management of client flow and providing Social Work assessment and treatment, as required, according to established standards by performing duties such as assessing needs, planning, implementing, evaluating and documenting Social Work services to an individual client or group of clients, and exchanging information with physicians, nursing staff, other allied health professionals and external agencies as required to ensure optimum client care. Counsels client and family on matters such as identified problems, concerns and treatment objectives.

12. Provides leadership for management of client caseloads in collaboration with management and the interdisciplinary team as per required at the designated site by assigning individual clients to social workers’ caseloads organizing group schedules, and assigning groups for facilitation to social workers and other allied health professionals.

13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited university.
• Three (3) years' recent related experience providing treatment services to individuals with complex concurrent psychiatric disorder and/or substance use issues and/or individuals who have a developmental disability and concurrent mental health and/or behavioural issues including one (1) year in a supervisory capacity or an equivalent combination of social work education, training and experience.
• Current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.

Skills and Abilities

• Broad knowledge of complex concurrent mental health and substance use issues and developmental disability with concurrent mental health and/or behavioural issues, including current trends, best practices and modalities of treatment.
• Broad knowledge of mental health and substance use service delivery system, service mandates, referral guidelines, legislation and government policies.
• Broad knowledge of Trauma-Informed Practice and its application to the defined population
• Demonstrated ability to conduct mental health and social work bio psycho social assessments, and to provide treatment planning and case coordination.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Social Work theory, and practice within a client and family centred model.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the developmental stages in the individual and family life cycle and of psychosocial issues that may occur in response to changing health and dependency needs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of evidence-based practice related to clinical areas.
• Comprehensive knowledge of organization policies, procedures, and standards of care.
• Comprehensive knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.
• Comprehensive knowledge of research process and methodology.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, supervision, work direction and training.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with (both verbally and in writing), and to deal effectively with co-workers, physicians, other health care professionals, clients and their families, and external agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to function as an effective team member, leader, mentor, coach and facilitator.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with and/or guide others in resolution of conflict issues.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve.
• Demonstrated ability to develop project plans and implement new projects.
• Demonstrated skill and ability to operate related equipment and techniques appropriate to clinical areas.
• Demonstrated physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Demonstrated ability to develop educational programs and materials.
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized patient care information system.