Mental Health Crisis Worker (Casual)

• This position operates on an as-needed basis to support the full-time team by covering vacations, sick leave, wellness days, and emergencies. Applicants must be available for at least one of the following shifts: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM or 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM. Shift schedules may be adjusted as the program evolves to meet community needs. If an employee’s availability does not align with open shifts, they are required to complete one shadow shift per month to remain current with program expectations, policies, and procedures.
• This position includes an initial training period of approximately 100 hours, which is completed through a blend of online, on-site, and off-site sessions. Availability for full-day training sessions is required. The training plan is set by the CRCL Program Manager and must be completed within the first three months of employment.

• Provide situational assessment, crisis de-escalation, and point-of-service crisis counseling, maintaining a safe space (‘holding-space’) for individuals or groups experiencing psychological or emotional distress.
• Assess wellness and safety, including triage to emergency services, and co-develop Care Plans and Safety/Wellness Plans that center client agency and support community connection and access to social and healthcare services.
• Maintain confidential case notes, including safety and wellness assessments, client documentation, and release of information.
• Provide outreach care and emergency mental health response in diverse settings, including parks, encampments, shelters, drop-in centers, people’s homes, community centers, and outdoor environments.
• Support immediate access to survival supplies, including food, tents, tarps, blankets, clothing, harm reduction, and safe sex supplies.
• Respond to medical emergencies including first aid, overdose interventions, rescue breathing, oxygen administration, and naloxone use when necessary.
• Conduct clinical case management and supervision, following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents such as overdose or other emergencies.
• Engage in Later Leadership Practices, emphasizing open communication, mutual support, and collective accountability.
• Work outdoors in all types of weather and in all seasons.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or required

• Minimum 3 years’ relevant experience, including crisis de-escalation, case management, and harm reduction.
• Degree in Mental Health, Counselling, or Social Work.
• Skilled in situational and mental health assessment, including safety and wellness assessments, de-escalation, and crisis intervention; able to assess and triage to emergency services when appropriate.
• Extensive experience providing supportive counselling in the field, including direct service delivery, advocacy, and Clinical Case Management with maintenance of confidential client records.
• Experience and capacity for incident debriefing with service users and teammates.
• Suicide Intervention and Assessment Training, CBT and DBT training, and Mental Health First Aid are assets.
• Effective in establishing working relationships with community care providers, including local non-profits and Health Authority services, and in communicating with Emergency Service Personnel.
• Demonstrated commitment and experience with harm reduction principles and practices; ability to establish respectful rapport, provide support, and advocate for individuals actively using substances and facing significant barriers to health and well-being.
• Empathic observer invested in relationship-building, practicing social justice, cultural humility, trauma-informed, and public health approaches to social support and healthcare.
• Skilled in managing hostile interactions using non-violent communication and de-escalation techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and apply innovative, resourceful, and creative problem-solving to meet people where they are, both physically in the community and in their lived experience.
• First Aid and CPR Level C certified.
• Valid Class 5 Drivers License.
• Commitment to honor Indigenous communities and ways of knowing, approaching the ongoing impacts of colonial violence with humility.

• Training wage of $28 per hour for the first 100 hours of employment
• Upon successful completion of training, wage increases to $33 to $36 per hour (post-training wage is determined by skill set, experience, and the established wage grid)

Highbridge Human Capital