The Rexdale Community Health Centre (RCHC) is a multi-service centre providing primary health care, health promotion and community support services, including settlement and community development activities for families, children, youth, adults and seniors of diverse backgrounds.

Rexdale Community Health Centre is expanding the services available to African Canadian & Caribbean Youth through its partnership with the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health- CAMH and its Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian & Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY).

The Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY) provides culturally responsive services and care to youth (between ages 14 and 29) from the Black community.  SAPACCY’s model is rooted in holistic, healing-centered, Afrocentric, and culturally responsive care. Offering a range of prevention, early intervention, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented services to assist youth and their families/caregivers in reducing harm, moving toward recovery, and making healthy choices for themselves and their families.

This position will work largely with Black youth/clients and their families, as appropriate, who are dealing with mental illness and/or co-morbid addiction and, as necessary, provide consultation and referrals to other providers serving this population. The successful incumbent will deliver care within the SAPACCY model that recognizes the lived experience of Black youth who have faced anti-black racism and oppression as it relates to the many aspects of their lives.

Responsibilities:

• Devise and deliver goal-focused, trauma-informed assessments and treatment in partnership with youth and, at times, their families and other supports working toward improving functioning in the community and overall well-being.
• Engage with clients to develop a trusting, supportive and sustained long-term relationship.
• Utilize a strengths-based approach and provide support, encouragement, information and feedback that enable youth and family members to realize their goals.
• Develop and deliver programs and organize groups for identified priority populations.
• Ensure appropriate treatment is delivered by maintaining client records, assessment notes, and correspondence within the confidentiality safeguard.
• Use an anti-oppressive and Afrocentric practice.
• In collaboration with the SAPACCY Case Manager, develop working relationships and rapport with community service providers in providing culturally adaptive language & services which take into account the experiences of the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) community around racial trauma and racial gaslighting.
• Assist clients (and families) in identifying and advocating for their civil and legal rights.
• Link clients and family members to supports and services that will promote their well-being, enhance their ability to meet their mental health needs and aid in the exhibition of adaptive behaviours that address problematic substance
• Provide case management support for youth, including working collaboratively with formal and informal support systems.
• Identify and coordinate community services to support youth and families’ mental health needs within their daily environment, including school, home, employment, legal, and other community domains.
• Utilizes strong case management and advocacy skills, with extensive knowledge of resources within the community
• Prioritizes demands effectively to balance the complex needs of youth
• Conducts risk assessments in the community
• Provide culturally responsive counselling and information to reduce crisis incidence, duration and intensity.
• Provide one-on-one counselling, including psychosocial assessments by gaining an understanding of health risks based on the Social Determinants of Health framework (e.g. socio-economic position, housing, educational, financial and legal needs)
• Coordinate, implement and evaluate treatment plans as well as implement group support programs.
• Collect data relevant to program evaluation and quality improvement
• Inform clients (and their family/network) about services available and assist them in choosing potential service providers/partners that are most likely to have culturally adaptive services
• Support and assist community members in outlining options; provide education and counselling necessary for them to make informed choices.
• Initiate joint programming and communication with other team members and with other centre-wide programs to ensure comprehensive treatment for Centre clients.
• Carry out evaluation of group and program work and provide reports as required.

 Qualifications and Assets:

• Masters Degree in Social Work or Counselling/Therapy discipline from a recognized university or equivalent with work experience
• Membership in good standing in the provincial regulating body of either the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario is required
• Minimum Three counselling/therapy experiences, preferably in a community-based health setting with youth and their families
• Proven skills in psychosocial assessment, counselling/therapy, crisis intervention, case management and referrals
• Demonstrated skills and experience in working with youth of African descent
• Demonstrated commitment to and lived experience of anti-Black racism and Afrocentric values and principles;
• Knowledge of community resources for African Canadian and Caribbean youth and their families in substance abuse treatment is essential.
• A deep, fundamental, and comprehensive knowledge of the unique challenges faced by African Canadian and Caribbean youth and their families across the social determinants of health.
• Ability to work with Black youth to develop and enhance their identity, culture and sense of belongingness to their community.
• A commitment to an interdisciplinary team approach to the coordination of health and social services
• Proficiency in current assessment, counselling/therapy and psychosocial counselling techniques for working with individuals, groups and communities
• Demonstrated skills and experience in the assessment and treatment of substance abuse and/or mental health treatment, inclusive of individual and group counselling.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) combined with computer literacy are required. Ability to negotiate, communicate and maintain a supportive, trusting relationship with those being served.
• Experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of community-based health services
• Strong and demonstrated ability to form relationships with individuals while maintaining healthy boundaries
• Caseload management skills, including developing action plans for clients, monitoring client progress and maintaining records
• Working knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act
• Knowledge of Personal Health Information Privacy Act, Consent of Information / Records of Information and Medical Records Management
• Knowledge of the Rexdale community
• Bilingual in French and English is considered a strong asset
• Must be able to provide a vulnerable sector security clearance

NOTE:

• A criminal record check will be required
• Rexdale Community Health Centre requires persons working with RCHC to be vaccinated

Salary Range: $64,046 to $77,161 annually (based on experience), plus HOOPP and Benefits

Hours per week:  35

Starting date:  ASAP

Status: Unionized

Application Due Date: September 13, 2024

Please apply in confidence to:

Stephanie McQueen, Human Resources Generalist

Via email: stephanie.mcqueen@rexdalechc.com

Please quote “SAPACCY Therapist” in the subject line.

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Rexdale Community Health Centre is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment without regard to any prohibited grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code or other applicable laws.

Rexdale CHC strives to create a respectful, accessible, and inclusive work environment. Upon individual request, hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities. Should any applicant require accommodation through the application, interview, or selection processes, please contact Human Resources at stephanie.mcqueen@rexdalechc.com for assistance.

Please note this is a unionized environment-UFCW Locals 175 and 633