Victoria, BC (February 19, 2019) – “Significant new funding for child and youth mental health and substance use services will begin to fill the huge gap that exists between the needs of BC’s children, youth and young adults, and available services, and support implementation of the Province’s anticipated child & youth mental health plan,” said Kendra Milne, Senior Director, Policy and Planning of the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division. “We know that many mental health and substance use problems arise in childhood or youth and it is a key time to ensure we support kids and young people to thrive and be well – these new investments have the potential to improve lifelong outcomes for kids who need them.”
Key Worker – Gordon Place
Founded in 1956, the Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna and District (CMHA Kelowna) is part of Canada’s oldest national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness.
At CMHA Kelowna, we are dedicated to Mental Health in our community. No matter how old or how young, we provide support for families and individuals through programs that promote positive mental health and support recovery, while championing the elimination of barriers that can prevent people from thriving. We are a dynamic, innovative and visionary organization. We are seeking individuals who share our vision of a mentally healthy Kelowna and are passionate about making a difference in our community by bringing their particular expertise to our organization.
We are seeking a qualified, experienced, and passionate Key Worker for our Gordon Place Supportive Housing program. This is a full-time position that will be on a rotating schedule of two weeks of day shifts and two weeks of evening shifts (7am-3pm/7:30am-3:30pm rotating to 3pm-11pm/3:30pm-11:30pm). Ideal candidates will share our vision of a mentally healthy Kelowna and are passionate about making a difference in our community by bringing their particular expertise to our organization.
Key Workers within our organization provide coordination of services and supports housing program residents. Key Workers support individuals in creating their own plans for obtaining and/or maintaining housing and contribute to the development of group and generic services.
FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Participates in case planning with participants and/or service providers by performing duties such as interviewing participants to identify problems and needs, obtaining required information from a variety of sources such as families and care providers, documenting participant needs and wants, and assisting participants to determine appropriate programs;
- Advocates for participants by problem solving in areas such as financial assistance, accessing community resources, and obtaining volunteer placements;
- Observes participants, identifies and assesses potential emergency situations, and develops short-term strategies to deal with such situations. Reports medical, behavioral, and other problems as required. Provides feedback and input regarding participant needs, performance, and progress;
- Provides supportive counselling, demonstrations, modeling, and behavior management to participants, to assist with the development of physical, social, emotional, and life skills such as maintaining personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, meeting financial obligations, making and keeping appointments, and interpersonal skills;
- Monitors medication to participants and provides medication reminders, in accordance with established policy;
- Identifies available social, economic, recreational, and educational services and resources in the community that will meet participants’ needs. Provides participants with related information;
- Facilitates participants’ physical, recreational, educational, and employment needs by performing duties such as arranging for participants to be transported to programs/services, assisting participants to attend appointments, and implementing programs;
- Carries out administrative transactions such as petty cash, client accounts, collecting rents and money from clients for personal items, and making deposits and withdrawals;
- Completes and maintains related records and documentation such as care plans, progress reports, statistics, and daily logs;
- Receives participant feedback, and inquiries and complaints, and responds as required;
- Provides direction to volunteers/practicum students as required;
- Assists participants with activities of daily living;
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Degree or Diploma in Community Social Services or related field;
- Experience working with marginalized populations;
- Experience working in Residential an asset;
- Class V BC Driver’s License;
- Certificates in CPR, First Aid, and Food Safe;
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position;
- Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others;
- Ability to operate related equipment;
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing;
- Ability to organize and prioritize;
- Ability to observe and recognize changes in participants;
- Ability to establish and maintain rapport with participants;
- Ability to instruct;
- Ability to analyze and resolve problems;
- Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills;
- Advocacy skills.
To apply for this exciting new position, please forward a cover letter and resume by February 11th, 2019 to John West, Human Resources Coordinator @ john.west@cmha.bc.ca
CMHA is an equity employer and encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people, people of all sexual orientation and genders, and others who may contribute to our further diversification.
We appreciate and thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Kelowna Rockets and CMHA Kelowna team up to raise mental health awareness
The Kelowna Rockets and CMHA Kelowna Branch are teaming up to raise awareness about the importance of mental health during an upcoming Rockets home game.
The Rockets game on Saturday, February 2nd at 7:05 pm will feature:
- A CMHA-run kiosk so fans can learn more about mental health
- Videos featuring Rockets players talking about the importance of mental health
- Public address announcements about mental health
The awareness campaign is part of the ongoing commitment by the Rockets and CMHA Kelowna to implement Talk Today. Talk Today provides mental health support to players and raises awareness about mental health and suicide prevention throughout communities across the Western Hockey League
A key piece of the Talk Today program has been to educate players about mental health and suicide prevention. Over the last three years, every Kelowna Rockets player has had the opportunity to participate in safeTALK suicide alertness training. WHL teams are now connected to their local branches of CMHA, which provide mental health resources to those in need.
“We know that the stigma associated with mental health issues often keeps people from seeking help when they need it,” said Aaryn Secker, Community Education Facilitator at CMHA Kelowna. “This Talk Today event aims to reduce that stigma by starting a conversation about mental health and encouraging people of all ages to seek help when they need it.”
“We’re extremely grateful to partner with the CMHA Kelowna to host a Talk Today event to increase public awareness and to promote mental health in our community,” said Anne-Marie Hamilton, Director of Marketing/Game Operations of the Kelowna Rockets.
Tickets for the game are still available through Select Your Tickets