Current Openings at Stella's Place
Intake Social Worker
Description
ROLE: Intake Social Worker
TERM: Full-time, 40 hours/week
LOCATION: Toronto - hybrid three days per week in office
APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: April 18, 2025
ABOUT US:
Stella’s Place is a community-based mental health agency dedicated to supporting young adults (ages 16-29) experiencing mental health challenges. We provide innovative, evidence-based services in a low-barrier and youth-friendly environment, including individual therapy, group programs, peer support, and system navigation.
Mission: Partnering with young adults 16-29 years old and professionals to provide a collaborative, innovative model of mental health services.
Vision: Healthy, resilient young adults living the lives they choose.
Values: At Stella’s Place, we fundamentally value the capabilities and contributions of young adults as we seek breakthrough innovations that benefit our community and society as a whole.
We also value:
- Inclusivity, diversity, and equity
- Accessibility and a sharing of knowledge
POSITION OVERVIEW:
If you’re a Social Worker with proficiency in Cognitive or Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and a sound working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and a Trauma-Informed Approach, join Stella’s Place in this opportunity to work with our young adults who are seeking mental health support.
As an Intake Social Worker with Stella’s Place, you will play a crucial role in providing initial assessments, support, and guidance to young adults seeking mental health services.
You will be responsible for conducting intake assessments, assessing and escalating participants when needed, notifying participants of our various programs, supporting the learning plan of placement students, and supporting the referral process to our psychiatrist and physician.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
INTAKE ASSESSMENT
- Conduct assessments with our young adults to gather information about their mental health challenges, social background, and any relevant history. Use standardized assessment tools and techniques to evaluate and adequately assess their needs.
- Respond to immediate mental health walk-ins by assessing the situation, de-escalating when necessary, and connecting participants to the appropriate pathway.
- Educate young adults about available mental health services, program options. Offer emotional support and guidance throughout the intake process to help alleviate anxiety and build rapport.
- Maintain accurate records: Document all intake assessments, and case notes, and keep confidential records of all interactions and interventions in a secure manner.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team: Work closely with other professionals, including therapists, clinicians, peers, psychiatrists, physicians, and management to coordinate service, share information, and ensure continuity of care for the participants.,
- Stay updated on best practices:
- Engage in ongoing professional development to stay informed about current trends, research, and evidence-based interventions in the field of young adults' mental health.
- Apply this knowledge to improve service delivery and enhance the agency’s intake procedures.
- Participate in meetings and trainings:
- Attend team meetings, case conferences, and staff meetings to discuss cases, receive feedback, and contribute to the overall improvement of Stella’s Place services.
- Reporting to the Manager of Clinical Recovery, you’ll be responsible for intake and screening assessments, supportive counseling, education, system navigation, disposition support, and program and system development. Additionally, you will be involved in evaluation to support the program and ensure that clients are referred and connected to the most appropriate program.
- As a Social Worker (MSW), you’ll use a variety of treatment modalities and skills in providing integrated clinical best practice, motivational interview assessments with participants experiencing mood disorders, including anxiety and depression. You will be involved in providing therapeutic interventions in a group setting, with some individual support, you must work effectively both on an independent basis and collaboratively within the inter-professional team.
Open Space Cafe and Access Programming (or “Other Responsibilities”)
- Support our Open Space Cafe with drop-in Participants, Cafe programming, and general on-site coverage
- Support with our Access and Clinical Programming and development when co-facilitating groups
- Attend regular supervision meetings with the Clinical Manager and clinical team
- Participates in team meetings, at least one committee, and, planning meetings on request
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
To join our dynamic team as an MSW / Social Worker, you must be an experienced, collaborative and flexible professional. The ideal candidate is a critical thinker with a knowledge base and skill set that includes:
- Master's Degree in Social Work
- Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is in good standing with ability to submit credentials upon hire.
- A minimum of three (3) years related clinical experience in a mental health setting.
- Extensive knowledge of Stella’s Place services, as well as community mental health and addiction resources.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive psychosocial mental health assessments (including risk assessment and substance use assessments).
- Demonstrated knowledge and three (3) years' experience in the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Trauma-Informed Therapy in a clinical, mental health setting.
- Demonstrated experience in facilitating psychotherapeutic groups, specific to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Trauma-Informed Therapy.
- Demonstrated superior skill in engaging with participants who may be skeptical to seek help and establish rapport.
- Strong ability to build effective internal and external partnerships to support care planning, care transitions, and system navigation.
- Good understanding of mental health diagnoses and working knowledge of psychotropic medications.
- Demonstrated knowledge of OCSWSSW Standards of Practice and commitment to maintaining reflective practice standards as described by the Ontario SWSSW.
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act and Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
- Demonstrated commitment to professional development, ongoing education and integration of research into clinical practice.
- Demonstrated organizational, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution and critical thinking skills.
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills and effective oral/written communication skills.
- Ability to foster collaborative working relationships, and work both independently and as part of the inter-professional team.
- Ability to apply Stella’s Place core values, professional practice standards, and recovery/participant-centered philosophy to client care and service.
- Willingness to work flexible hours to reflect participants’ population needs.
- Ability to maintain consistent, regular attendance.
- Proficiency in both written and oral English.
- Current Vulnerable Sector Screening Required
HOURS & REPORTING:
Regular communication, coaching, mentoring, professional development, and evaluation will take place with the Manager of Clinical & Recovery Services on a regular basis.
This is a full time position working 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Weekend and evening work will be required occasionally, depending on programming.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a passionate team making a meaningful impact on young adults’ mental health.
- Opportunity to innovate and shape programs in a progressive, participant-centered agency.
- Competitive salary and benefits package, including professional development opportunities.
- Work in an international award-winning building - European Healthcare Design Champions Award in the Mental Health Design category.
YOUR APPLICATION:
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their cover letter outlining your interest in working with Stella’s Place along with a detailed CV by April 11, 2025.
We thank all candidates for their interest. We regret that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCOMMODATION:
Stella’s Place is committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of the City of Toronto in general and of our participants in particular. We strongly encourage applications from racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and all those who can provide and contribute to diversification of perspective at Stella’s Place.
Stella’s Place is committed to hiring practices that are inclusive and barrier free. Stella’s Place will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodation during all stages of the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code in order to ensure the equal and fair assessment of all job applicants. Applicants are asked to make any accommodation request in advance.