Court Support Worker

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Court Support Worker provides special assistance to people with mental illness and/or addiction who have come in conflict with law, providing court diversion, case management, support and consultation navigating the criminal justice system. The program promotes treatment and rehabilitation to prevent recidivism.

The location for the provision of these services will vary throughout Huron or Perth County and surrounding areas and services are delivered in-person and virtually in the court room and in the community based on client need.

ORGANIZATIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In addition to specific key job responsibilities identified in this position summary, the incumbent is also responsible for contributing and supporting the overall culture and working environment of the organization by:

• Demonstrating and exemplifying the organization’s mission and values in day-to-day work


• Acting with the highest standard of professionalism with clients, family members, community partners, the public and colleagues.


• Working in a manner that preserves and respects the privacy and confidentiality of personal health information.


• Working in a manner that is fiscally responsible.


• Working in a manner that promotes and maintains the reputation of the organization and minimizes risk of harm and/or liability to the organization.


• Working in a manner that complies with the organization’s policies and procedures.


• Working in a manner that meets all Health and Safety requirements to ensure a healthy and safe workplace.


• Acknowledging, respecting and affirming the diverse needs of our community, clients and the organization’s employees with the goal of reducing disparities in health outcomes.


• Contributing to the organization activities to collect, analyze and report data.


• Maintaining competence, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development and where applicable, a professional license to practice.


• Contributing to the organization’s work by promoting awareness, participating in committees and agency events.

KEY POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Court Support Worker

• Provide education, consultation, crisis management, assessment, treatment planning, referral, advocacy, case management and community treatment as appropriate, to persons who are in involved in the criminal courts experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns.


• Attend court weekly to provide a presence and availability to individuals charged with a minor criminal offense.


• Develop and monitor diversion plans (treatment plans) that will address the individual’s needs.  This may include reconnecting with family physicians or psychiatrists for medications, adhering to medications, meeting with a Case Manager to assist with connection to community resources, participating in social and recreational programs, signing consents, and connecting with groups designed for individuals with mental health and/or addiction issues.


• Develop effective working relationships and work in partnership with community organizations, the Crown Attorney’s office, Legal Aid, duty counsel, custodial facilities, police, probation and parole, and hospitals.


• Provide psychoeducational group programming to individuals in relation to mental health and substance use, as appropriate.


• Remain current in knowledge with developments in the mental health and addictions fields and criminal justice system.


• Provide ongoing program planning, implementation and creative solutions to meet the complex and changing needs of this population.

• Engage in community awareness, education and outreach as designated and appropriate, representing the agency in a professional manner.


• Be flexible in work environment while always maintaining personal safety and the safety of the client.

Administrative

• Maintain a complete, accurate and comprehensive clinical record of each client contact.


• Report statistics about clinical activities using designated agency format as required.


• Complete and submit client progress reports to the Crown Attorney’s Office within tight deadlines.


• Maintain administrative and clinical records, including client files and data entry, as per Policy and Procedure Manual.

General

• Participate on internal agency committees and/or outside community committees as appropriate.


• Adhere to policies and protocols as outlined in the Human Resource and Procedure Manual.


• Attend and actively participate in any team and staff meetings, the Annual General Meeting, and periodically scheduled strategic planning, team building and agency events.


• Assist with the orientation and training of new agency staff, volunteers and interns/students as designated and required.


• Provide coverage of CMHA HP AMHS services for other team members as needed.


• Help ensure the organization and program objectives are met.


• Work harmoniously with colleagues, including not behaving in ways that are likely to be offensive in any manner to others and confronting such behaviours by others.


• Conduct self in a responsible, professional manner.


• Perform other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or other related discipline such as Nursing, or a Social Service Worker Diploma from a recognized college, with specific focus on mental health and/or addictions.

EXPERIENCE: 1-3 years experience in assessment and treatment planning and an understanding of issues facing individuals with substance abuse and mental health concerns is required. Knowledge of, and prior work experience in the criminal justice system is an asset.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Broad knowledge of addiction and mental health treatments and explanatory theories, homelessness, the criminal justice system and community resources. Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and techniques of case management of mental illness and addiction and their application. In addition, the incumbent will demonstrate integrity and ethics, good coping skills, flexibility and commitment to the work.

ABILITIES: Communication – written and oral, planning, leadership, interpersonal, negotiating, directing/motivating, organizing, decision making.

COPING: Able to maintain a mature problem-solving attitude while dealing with interpersonal conflicts, hazardous conditions, personal rejection, hostility or time demands.

DECISIVENESS: Able to make decisions quickly on available information and act, commit and not change decisions when challenged; manage emergencies as necessary.

DECISION-MAKING and JUDGMENT: Able to act in solving problems while exhibiting judgement and a realistic understanding of issues; able to use reason, even when dealing with emotional topics. 

CREATIVITY: Able to develop unique and novel solutions to problems; use intuition and a new way of thinking to give birth to new ideas; present information in an attention-getting and interesting manner.