APPLY TO EDUCATION - 3859592

Comp. 24-551

Closing date: 2024-11-22 @ 4:00 pm EST

Mental Health Lead                             

Location:               Corporate Board Office, Schumacher, Ontario

Department:           Mental Health and Wellness

Start date:               January 6, 2025

Vacancy Details:    Non-union Permanent Position

Reports to:              Superintendent of Education with Mental Health and Wellness Portfolio

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Job Summary:

Reporting to the Superintendent of Education with the Mental Health and Wellness portfolio, the Mental Health Lead plays a vital role in meeting the government’s commitment under the Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System and PPM 169, to create a more integrated and responsive child and youth mental health and addictions system. The Mental Health Leaders work with school and board administrators, school staff, and community partners to promote a proactive, integrated system of care, with clear pathways to/from/through service for students requiring mental health supports. Mental Health Leaders are experienced, regulated mental health clinicians who are accountable for developing and implementing their school board’s three-year mental health and addictions strategy, one-year action plan, and the collection, utilization and reporting of information related to student mental health.

Education/Experience Requirements:

·         Minimum of a Master’s degree in Psychology, or Social Work

·         A Regulated Health Professional and registered member in good standing of a

related professional regulatory body in Ontario.

·         Senior Mental Health Professional with a minimum of 7-10 years of mental health

service delivery experience working with children and youth across the tiers of

mental health intervention (promotion, prevention, intervention, crisis and system

navigation)

·         Experience working within a school board setting preferred.

·         Extensive demonstrated knowledge and experience in strategy development, vision setting and implementation, system coordination, and implementation science.

·         Working knowledge of the Ontario education system, child and youth community mental health sector, and all related acts of legislation pertaining to children and youth, education, mental health, and privacy.

·         Demonstrates collegiality and teamwork through interpersonal and communication skills

·         Ability to develop and expand successful collaborations and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders

Skill and Ability Requirements

·         Fluent understanding of evidence-informed practice, implementation science, and knowledge mobilization in schools

·         Demonstrated knowledge and experience in strategy development, coordination, and implementation in mental health

·         Working knowledge of the elementary and secondary education system in Ontario an asset

·         Excellent communication, coordinating and organizational skills

·         Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Programs

·         Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment

·         Working knowledge of Health and Safety and a WHIMIS certificate will be an asset

·         The nature of this position will require the successful applicant to service a large geographical area thus travel may be required

Essential Job Requirements

·         Oversee and manage the following responsibilities outlined in PPM 169:

o   Develop and implement a three-year mental health and addictions strategy and a one-year action plan

o   Engage in joint local planning with Community-based Child and Youth Mental Health providers

o   Ensure utilization of a Multi-tiered System of Supports approach to deliver school-based mental health promotion, early identification, prevention and early intervention, and service pathways/clinical support for more intensive mental health needs

o   Ensure consistent use of evidence-informed brief interventions and standardized measurement

o   Regularly update the board’s suicide prevention, intervention and postvention protocols

o   Ensure appropriate virtual care delivery when required

o   Build capacity and support learning in Mental Health for educators and staff

o   Support mandatory mental health literacy learning for students in grades 7, 8 and 10

o   Support the development of family mental health literacy and awareness

o   Support the delivery of social-emotional learning within all schools

o   Provide guidance around mental health absences

·         Complete funding reports and send these to the Superintendent for submission to the Ministry

·         Direct and oversee mental health services and programs across the district

·         Manage a team of Social Workers (SW), Child and Youth Workers (CYW) as well as Attendance Counsellors (AC)

·         Provide clinical supervision and ongoing training to SW, CYWs, and ACs

·         Coordinate, respond to, and debrief all critical incidents and tragic events

·         Develop presentations and training to promote student mental health and well-being

·         Work collaboratively with Senior Admin, HR, School Administrators, and school staff

·         Participate, when required, in the negotiation processes of the OSSTF PSSP Collective Agreement

·         Develop and maintain strong relationships with community partners to provide students and families with clear pathways to and through services

·         Consult with other clinical specialists (such as regulated mental health professionals, psychologists, physicians or psychiatrists, and/or Mental Health Leaders from other school boards or coaches from School Mental Health Ontario, as needed)

·         Conduct daily operational activities (i.e. approval of staff absences, completing performance appraisals, analyzing and interpreting data, preparing guidelines and protocols, interviewing new candidates for job opportunities, reviewing research articles/papers/reports, budgeting, approving expenses)

·         Other duties as assigned

Postings can be found on the DSB1 website at www.dsb1.ca and on ApplytoEducation at www.applytoeducation.com. Please apply using ApplytoEducation by clicking the Apply button. Applications received through any other method will not be considered.