Reporting to the Operations Leader or designate, the position works as part of an interprofessional mental and/or addiction health care team to provide flexible and inclusionary treatment and intensive case management services needs to individuals, primarily youth and young adults, with, and affected by mental health and addiction; and to provide integration and continuity across the care continuum for individuals with mental illness and/or addiction. Establishes and maintains relationships with, and consults with, clients, their families and colleagues to provide appropriate treatment services based on best practices and client need. Performs key duties such as intake, mental health assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, consultation, education, and support to facilitate and coordinate client access to services. Participates in team and/or local committees, internal and external case conferences and quality improvement activities. Collaborates with other community service providers and related disciplines to provide education and training related to mental/addiction. Provides input into the development, evaluation and delivery of the Inner City Youth Program.

Education
Registered Nurse with current practicing registration with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives or a Registered Psychiatric Nurse with current practicing registration with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. Two years' recent, related experience working in youth and young adults with mental health and addiction in a community health setting.

Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of nursing theory and practice related to mental illness and addiction.

Demonstrated knowledge and ability to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedures appropriate for the area of service.

Demonstrated knowledge of hospital and community based resources and the ability to act as a liaison between services.

Knowledge of Early Psychosis Intervention and Attachment Theory and its application.

Demonstrated ability to provide treatment planning, crisis intervention, and case coordination.

Demonstrated ability to manage complex clinical and psychosocial crises in the identified population

Demonstrated knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.

Able to establish rapport with multi-barrier youth and young adult populations

Ability to teach clients, families and staff.

Ability to work as a member in an interprofessional team.

Ability to apply decision making and analytical skills.

Ability to deal with others effectively.

Ability to prioritize and organize work.

Ability to operate related equipment including related client care information systems.

Ability to provide clinical direction.

Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

Provides outreach services to youth and young adults with chronic psychiatric issues as well as serious mental illness and/or addiction issues using a intensive case management approach by receiving and responding to referrals from a variety of sources; reviewing referral information, gathering client information/history and seeking additional information; evaluating overall client needs in order to develop, implement or revise treatment plan; identifying priority of service required; assessing high risk situations and providing crisis intervention as required; meeting with clients in various locations such as emergency rooms, inpatient units, and places of residence; providing client counselling services; and seeking input and collaborating with interprofessional team members to ensure optimal plan of care is implemented.



Establishes, maintains and enhances therapeutic relationships based on respect with client and their informal support network by engaging stakeholders in treatment planning and evaluation, providing support and follow-up planning, promoting and supporting clients to manage self care, encouraging informed decision making and empowering the client to improve the quality of life. Teaches client and their family about management and treatment of specific psychiatric conditions, recurrent issues, themes, their symptoms and integration of illness into their lifestyle.



Provides treatment services including crisis intervention, family work, education, and support according to a variety of theoretical models to clients and their informal support network as required by methods such as assessing situation, eliciting concerns, exploring emotional response to illness, identifying goals and expectations, reviewing client and family learning needs, assisting with understanding of illness, teaching coping strategies, and consulting with colleagues when required.



Initiates and participates in case conferences/meetings with clients, family, service providers and members of the multidisciplinary team for identification of mental health and/or addiction issues, concerns regarding services and coordination, emergent issues, and discussion of on-going follow-up care to ensure a coordinated approach to treatment. Acts as client advocate to protect and promote client's right to autonomy, respect, privacy, dignity, and access to information.



Collaborates, consults and provides clinical support to colleagues for continuity of care/discharge, treatment concerns, specialized services and community resource coordination by providing information based upon relevant theory/practice, discussing client care issues and developing linkages/partnerships with other facilities, agencies, and support groups



Aids client access to services such as medical appointments, hospitals, and social programs by methods such as providing healthcare information, contacting relevant programs/services, and assisting clients with processing forms, transportation issues, and daily living tasks.



Maintains appropriate client records in accordance with established standards by methods such as preparing progress notes, documenting significant events/unusual occurrences, noting referrals, and preparing reports to meet regulatory requirements and provide evidence and rationale to support findings and treatment plan.



Participates in committees, task groups, continuing education, and/or community initiatives by methods such as providing mental health representation and input from a clinical perspective, presenting relevant material, acting as advocate for the goals and objectives of the mental health and addiction program, and promoting optimal support for clients and their informal support network to improve access, integration and coordination of mental health and/or addiction services.



Participates in nursing orientation and shares clinical knowledge with other nursing staff, nursing students and other members of the interdisciplinary team.



Participates in planning, implementation and evaluation of client care policies and procedures through methods such as taking part in unit and program activities including nursing practice council, clinical pathway development, research and education and other committees.



Supports nursing research through methods such as identifying areas for possible clinical nursing research projects, adapting research to practice and participating in research activities to enhance nursing practice.



Performs other related duties as required.