Child & Youth Worker - Halton Healthcare, Oakville

AI Summary

Halton Healthcare in Oakville, ON, is seeking a dedicated Child and Youth Worker (CYW). This vital role involves collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to support child and adolescent patients within the REACH program and the broader community. Key responsibilities include assisting with crucial school transitions, providing essential family coaching, and connecting patients to appropriate services. Successful applicants will possess a CYW certificate or degree, 3-5 years of relevant child and adolescent experience, preferably in a healthcare setting, and demonstrated knowledge of DBT and CBT.

About the Role at Halton Healthcare

As a Child and Youth Worker (CYW) at Halton Healthcare in Oakville, you will play a pivotal role in the well-being of child and adolescent patients. Working closely with both inpatient and outpatient interdisciplinary teams, the CYW collaborates on comprehensive treatment and academic plans for patients participating in the REACH program. This position extends its support into the community, conducting essential home, school, and community visits to address and facilitate school transitions, ensure compliance with treatment, or manage any lack of follow-through. The CYW also provides crucial family support and coaching, connecting them to appropriate levels of services within the Halton region. This role is integral to ensuring patients receive holistic care and support during critical developmental stages within our healthcare environment.

Key Responsibilities and Patient Support

The Child and Youth Worker is instrumental in addressing school-related issues and transitions, working closely with the patient, their families, and the healthcare team. A primary focus is to ensure that patients develop adequate skills for daily activities and successful transitions back to their home schools. When school compliance becomes a challenge, the CYW will accompany patients to school, collaborating closely with the REACH program, the HDSB, and Mental Health Liaison Nurses or clinical staff to ensure the patient receives appropriate school accommodations. For inpatient units, the CYW assists patients in seamlessly integrating back into the school system, ensuring a successful transition. Furthermore, for patients involved with our outpatient mental health program who struggle with socialising due to their mental illness, the CYW actively engages them in social and recreational activities within the community. The CYW also works with multidisciplinary teams to ensure that progress or delays in treatment are clearly articulated, facilitating a seamless transition between teams. This role is also crucial for patients attending the Emergency Department, ensuring they and their family are connected in a timely fashion and supported until engaged with appropriate services.

Skills and Qualifications for this Healthcare Opportunity

Halton Healthcare is seeking a compassionate and skilled individual for this Child and Youth Worker position. Candidates must possess a CYW certificate, diploma, or degree from a recognized community college or university. Essential experience includes 3-5 years of dedicated child and adolescent work, with a preference for experience gained within a hospital or healthcare setting. Applicants must demonstrate strong knowledge and skills in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), as well as expertise in group design, development, and implementation. A deep understanding of children's psycho-social development is also required. The successful CYW will be able to work both independently and effectively within a team, possessing competency in assessing risk issues and addressing concerns within the community and schools. Experience in working with high-conflict families and the skill set to de-escalate conflict are highly valued. A comprehensive understanding of the school system and available support within the Halton community is also necessary. Basic computer skills, particularly in word processing, are expected. Halton Healthcare values individuals who are competent, patient/customer focused, team players, effective communicators, caring, respectful, and fiscally responsible. A satisfactory employment and good attendance record are also prerequisites for this vital role.