Crisis Support Worker

• Jan 2023 - Present

• Facilitate the intake process for diverse youth aged 12 to 24 years experiencing psychiatric crises at the mental healthcare agency dedicated to helping children, youth, young adults, and families struggling with complex needs • Manage a caseload of up to 10 clients who are experiencing a wide range of mental and developmental disorders including anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) • Respond to incoming crisis line calls and messages and determine if potential clients meet admission criteria • Complete patient admissions by verifying client documentation and soliciting any further information • Partner with health care professionals and primary agencies to shape custom intervention plans for clients • Engage parents and caregivers to understand needs, build safety plans, and offer professional referrals • Conduct collateral calls with external institutions and stakeholders to collect additional case information • Co-chair the joint health and safety committee and participate in quarterly meeting to improve safety standards • Present case summaries, update on progress, and overcome any challenges during regular team meetings • Attend Review Board hearings, conduct CAFAS assessments, and upload all case information into the database • Contribute to hiring campaigns and coach and train new hires on the department protocols and procedures Show less

Child And Youth Worker

• Dec 2021 - Present

• Implement therapeutic programming for clients aged 12 to 19 in the psychiatric inpatient unit on a casual basis • De-escalate crisis situations and perform periodic safety checks to identify, evaluate, and monitor potential risks • Work closely with a cross-functional team to track program effectiveness and achieve therapeutic goals • Document program activities, execute client assessments, and share case updates during clinical meetings • Implement therapeutic programming for clients aged 12 to 19 in the psychiatric inpatient unit on a casual basis • De-escalate crisis situations and perform periodic safety checks to identify, evaluate, and monitor potential risks • Work closely with a cross-functional team to track program effectiveness and achieve therapeutic goals • Document program activities, execute client assessments, and share case updates during clinical meetings

Psychiatric Crisis Supervisor

• Jan 2007 - Jan 2023

• Directed up to 6 multi-disciplinary team members in their day-to-day activities in Acute & Transitional Psychiatric Unit that provides a wide range of services to youth experiencing various emotional and cognitive challenges • Oversaw the care of up to 10 inpatient clients with a variety of mental health issues • Guided the design and delivery of therapeutic programs to promote artistry, life skills, and physical activity• Determined priority cases, delegated team duties, and created strategies to mitigate crisis and safety issues • Cultivated lasting relationships with clients and families by using a strength-based and solution-focused lens• Devised and presented training programs to educate staff on Unit policies, processes, and best practices • Fronted daily clinical meetings to examine client cases, formulate treatment plans, and inform programming• Collaborated with internal teams and external service providers to align operations and optimize outcomes • Prepared documentation including daily logs, care plans, case notes, Greenspace, and clinical assessmentsKey Achievements:✔ Dramatically reduced violent outbursts and improved group participation for a client with FASD by successfully producing a specialized treatment program with hands-on support and coaching to minimize volatile behaviours ✔ Earned the annual Compassion Award in 2016 among 150+ staff for demonstrating expert client commitment ✔ Chaired the Wellness Committee and orchestrated the corporate membership plan with Goodlife Fitness clubs✔ Collected funding from private donors and corporate sponsors to purchase multiple new games, toys, and TVs Show less

House head

• Oct 2001 - Dec 2006