Social Worker

Kensington Health:

Kensington Health is a not-for-profit, community-based model of specialized healthcare services that creates consistently better health outcomes by tirelessly pursuing the best ways to respond to unmet health needs within the communities served.

Kensington Health offers a diverse range of services including long-term care, hospice and community care, cancer screening, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology, and eye tissue processing for transplants.

Kensington Health is deeply committed to being an inclusive place to work, live and receive care. In addition, Kensington Health is a system partner, helping to co-lead and support the Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team, and are affiliated with the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine.

For additional information about Kensington Health, please visit our website at https://www.kensingtonhealth.org

Kensington Gardens:

The Kensington Health Centre’s innovative 350-bed long term care facility Kensington Gardens focuses on providing resident-centered care. Kensington Gardens offers residents the freedom and independence they need to thrive and build an extraordinary quality of life. We continue to place quality of life, family wellness, community involvement and living with dignity at the forefront of our vision.

Position Overview:

The Kensington Gardens is seeking an experienced Social Worker with extensive experience in Long Term Care and specialized knowledge of Gerontology, Alzheimer Dementia, Behavioural Disorders, Complex and Palliative Care. The Social Worker, in consultation with the Director of Client Services as well as the entire multi-disciplinary team, will act as a support to residents, families and staff; provide psychosocial support post admission and on an as needed basis. The Social Worker will coordinate the behaviour management team; make referrals for residents and/or families to appropriate resources, enhance the problem solving and coping capacity of residents and families/caregivers utilizing a variety of supportive intervention as required.

Responsibilities include:

• Works closely with the Behavioral Support Lead to help support our residents who are living with complex behavioural support needs.
• Plays an integral role on the behavioral support team and works closely with all external partners who support behavioural management.
• Receives and responds appropriately to inquiries pertaining to Long-Term Care in general and the Kensington Health Centre (e.g. placement, lifestyle, policies and procedures).
• In conjunction with the Director of Client Services, identifies the presence of psychosocial behaviour and life adjustment challenges as referenced by the multi-disciplinary team.
• Develops and maintains a good working relationship with Discharge Planners/Social Workers and other community agencies (e.g. CCAC, GMOT, BSO, etc.).
• In conjunction with the Client Services Assistant when needed, conducts community visits to complex Clients who are applying for residency at Kensington Gardens.
• Conducts psychosocial assessments, Mini Mental State Exams, Geriatric Depression Scales and other health assessment tools upon admission to the facility and on an as needed basis.
• Provides counseling to residents and/or family with behavioral concerns and to adjust to living in the Home.
• Participates in 6-week interdisciplinary team conferences and consults with multi-disciplinary team concerning the psychosocial management of residents.
• Provides expertise in evaluating resident needs for counseling services post-6-week conference and makes referrals as necessary.
• Formulates and coordinates a comprehensive treatment program designed on the basis of a thorough problem identifying assessment to meet the needs and expectations of the resident and their families.
• Assists in the completion of 21-day assessments for all new residents.
• Coordinate Family Council and acts as a liaison between Family Council and the Home. As well, facilitates support groups throughout the year based on the needs of the residents and family members.
• Assists in ensuring financial arrangements are made for each newly admitted resident including review and signing of Admission Contracts, Uninsured Services Forms, rate reduction, census and exceptional circumstance applications.
• Acts as a resource for resident advocacy for financial matters and completion of application forms (ODSP, CPP, OAS, GIS)
• Assists residents and family in administering Power of Attorney (POA) kits and ensuring financial responsibility by contacting Public Guardian and Trustee, if required.
• Participates in and use evidence-based research to identify strategies for improving psychosocial interventions, best practices and resident outcomes.
• Provides on-going evaluation of the quality and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions.
• Continuously monitoring the environment for internal and external factors impacting care, including government regulation, key associations (OLTCA, OANHSS, etc.), and competitive intelligence.
• Adheres to the respective regulations and relevant legislation in the Long Term Care Homes Act, 2007, the Resident’s Bill of Right, the standards set by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers; and the Kensington Health Centre’s Accountability Framework.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Commitment to changing the culture of aging by supporting a social model of care to enhance the living experience for residents and the work experience for staff.
• Strong assessment and evaluation skills along with sound judgement and decision making skills, with the ability to plan, organize and implement both proactively and responsively.
• Familiarity with the multi-disciplinary team concept, skill in teamwork and ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Demonstrated consistency in: approachability, patience, respectful interactions and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability to excel during times of change and role-model effective change management.
• Ability to demonstrate an anti-oppressive approach to practice.
• Willingness and ability to maintain flexibility in the event of unforeseen situations.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) and interpersonal skills.
• Competency with Point Click Care and MS Suite (Word, PowerPoint and Excel).

Required Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in Long Term Care with specialized knowledge of Gerontology, Alzheimer Dementia, Behavioral Disorders, Complex and Palliative Care.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working with older adults who experience responsive behaviors.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working with older adults who are severely cognitively impaired.

Required Professional Designation/Certificate:

• Minimum Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree and in good standing certificate with OCSWSSW.

Remuneration:

Based on experience + competitive benefit package..

Location:

Downtown Toronto.

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Please submit resumes by 11:59 PM on Sunday, January 21, 2024.

Kensington Health thanks all applicants for their interest in advance however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

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COVID-19 Precautions:

● Candidate must be fully vaccinated including 3rd dose:
○ Successful candidates will have to provide Kensington Health with a proof of COVID-19 vaccination (religious and medical exemptions may apply).
● Passive screening for all staff, residents, and visitors.
● Personal protective equipment (PPE):
○ Masks, Eye protection (goggles or face shield) and Gowns required when entering the room of an isolated resident.
○ N95 required when in contact with positive or suspect positive residents.
● Social distancing, floor marks and room signage.
● Increased hand hygiene.
● Enhanced cleaning of high touch areas.
● Cohorting staff.
● Audits- universal masking, donning, and doffing, 4 moments of hand hygiene.
● Infection control training.
● Staff who are ill, are not permitted to report for work and must isolate until cleared by Occupational Health or Toronto Public Health.
● Any positive staff or resident cases are reported to Toronto Public Health who directs on interventions that we must be implemented.

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Kensington Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from equity seeking groups. Candidates will be provided with an overview of the various elements of the selection process, such as tests, skills demonstrations, etc. Kensington Health Centre is committed to providing reasonable accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate this in your cover letter.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision care
• Wellness program

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Morning shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Toronto, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Master's Degree (required)

Experience:

• Long-term care: 3 years (preferred)
• working with older adults with responsive behaviors: 2 years (preferred)
• working with severely cognitively impaired older adults: 2 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-01-21