Clinician, Short Term Assessment and Response Team (START)

Reporting to the Clinical Coordinator, functions as a member of the multi-disciplinary team. Provides comprehensive assessment, treatment and referral coordination for children, adolescents and their families in acute mental health crisis, educates and consults with community and hospital personnel, networks with community agencies, participates in program evaluation, and assists in program and resource development as needed.

As this is a regional program, the position will respond to referrals from the communities in the designated sub-region; staff is required to perform their duties and responsibilities at the point of initial referral throughout the designated Fraser Health area.

1. Provides comprehensive mental health/psycho-social assessments to identify client and family's social, emotional and cultural needs in order to formulate appropriate treatment recommendations.


2. Assesses the need for psychiatric evaluation and makes arrangements for this by utilizing a community psychiatrist available to the program.


3. Develops treatment plans and acts as case manager by liaising and consulting with community resources.


4. Provides comprehensive therapeutic clinical counseling by providing short-term individual and family therapy, utilizing various therapy and intervention models such as Brief Therapy Model and Crisis Intervention Model.


5. Participates in the group intervention component of the program by developing and co-facilitating client and family groups, using a variety of group intervention approaches.


6. Provides consultative and direct services to clients, families and staff regarding community resources and access to these resources in order to facilitate an effective continuum of services.


7. Assists in the development of educational workshops for mental health professionals, hospital staff, community partners, and parents to provide educational presentations on mental health issues, crisis management, early intervention and prevention.


8. Networks with community agencies and local hospitals to develop relationships that enhance intra-agency/hospital cooperation.


9. Participates in ongoing program evaluation as required.


10. Maintains clinical records by recording information such as intakes, assessments, treatment formulations and plans, and progress notes. Maintains statistical information on client activity in accordance with established policies, standards, and procedures, including clinical record standards of Mental Health Services.


11. Participates in program and community resource development in order to respond to identified gaps of service and recognize the client/family needs.


12. Attends team meetings and multi-disciplinary meetings as required.


13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Master's Degree in Social Work, Clinical Counselling, or other relevant health related discipline.

Two (2) years' recent related clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health, including assessment, individual, family and group interventions, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Eligible for registration with relevant professional association. Valid BC Driver's License and access to a personal vehicle with appropriate business insurance coverage for work related purposes.

• Comprehensive knowledge of community response procedures, mental health assessment, general counselling principles and intervention techniques.


• Knowledge of Crisis Intervention Theory and demonstrated skill in crisis intervention with children, adolescents and families.


• Comprehensive knowledge of Systems Theory and an ability to incorporate this into mental health assessments and treatment Intervention.


• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in individual, family and group interventions.


• Comprehensive knowledge of the developmental stages in the individual and within the family life cycle of psychosocial issues.


• Comprehensive knowledge of the broad range issues pertaining to child and adolescent mental health problems, including issues related to substance abuse among adolescents and families.


• Knowledge and understanding of the diagnostic criteria pertaining to psychiatric diagnoses most prevalent in the child/adolescent population.


• Ability to establish rapport with clients and families in order to explore issues beyond the initial presenting problems in order to conduct comprehensive mental health assessments.


• Knowledge and ability to conduct program evaluation.


• Ability to organize workload and prioritize responsibilities.


• Ability to work effectively with others, both within the hospital and with community agencies utilizing a multi-disciplinary team model.


• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.


• Ability to operate related equipment including related software applications.


• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.