Crisis Intervener - Mental Health & Addictions

About This Role

This night-shift post on the cardiac ward pairs patient care with mentoring new nurses. The Crisis Intervener delivers crisis support services to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, as well as community organizations and families/friends who are supporting them. This role is part of the established interdisciplinary NSH Provincial Crisis Team (PCT), which encompasses the Mental Health & Addictions Provincial Crisis Line and the Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team, an integrated health service with Halifax Regional Police.

Responsibilities

• Deliver crisis support services to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, community organizations, and families/friends
• Triage callers
• Conduct clinical assessment of the client's psychiatric or mental health status, overall health status, current situation, and risk to self or others
• Provide culturally sensitive and non-judgmental support, education, and problem-solving facilitation
• Refer or dispose to appropriate services and resources deemed necessary
• Provide crisis prevention, intervention, and follow-up immediately after the crisis, both on the phone and in the community
• Work in a multidisciplinary team providing support and consultation as needed
• Participate in program development and evaluation and quality improvement on an ongoing basis
• Provide an integrated crisis intervention service with an interdisciplinary team including the IWK, Halifax Regional Police, and EHS across the age spectrum

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Nursing, Graduate of a C.A.O.T recognized School of Occupational Therapy, or Recognized MSc in Clinical Psychology from an accredited university with up-to-date applicable licensure and Nova Scotia registration
• One to two (1-2) years’ experience with specific knowledge of mental health issues
• Knowledge of crisis intervention issues and ability to implement these interventions to achieve evidence-based outcomes
• Knowledge of system-related issues, community, and government services and resources
• Ability to achieve a degree of autonomous practice and ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Suicide Intervention Training, CPR
• Working knowledge of the Hospitals Act as it pertains to Mental Health
• Ability to complete brief psychiatric assessment and mental status exam
• Basic working knowledge and understanding of DSM-5
• Skills required to work effectively and safely through a combination of phone and on-site assessment and intervention
• Sound working knowledge of community resources and government legislation as it pertains to resources and client services
• Demonstrated knowledge of theory and practice of individual, family, and community systems