Dementia Resource Consultant / Social Worker (Oxford)

About You:

Do you have a passion for working with older adults, including people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their care partners? We are seeking a registered social worker to join our compassionate and supportive team. We are looking for someone who appreciates diversity and is motivated to advocate for and inspire change in our communities. 

What We Offer: 

• Paid sick time
• Birthday off paid
• Generous vacation time
• Flexible work models
• Paid personal days
• Positive workplace culture

About This Position: 

Immediate Supervisor: Manager of Community Clinical Services 

Direct Reports:  None

Job Status: Full-time, 10-month contract, 35 hours per week, occasional evening and weekend work required.

Location:                  

• Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners: Oxford Site – 575 Peel St. Woodstock (With some travel required within Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin counties). 
• Woodstock Hospital (WH): 310 Juliana Drive, Woodstock

Summary:

This position is a full-time position working half as a Social Worker - and half as Dementia Resource Consultant (DRC) - Oxford, with both positions shared with a colleague.

Social Worker: the incumbent will work with persons living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias (ADOD), including Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), or other memory complaints. The Registered Social Worker will work with the individual, their care partners, and community resource agencies to ensure access to information, support, and education that assists them on their journey with the disease.  The goal is to provide needed support, build effective and efficient utilization of community resources, promote links with primary care and community resource agencies; reduce care partner crisis situations and thereby reduce care partner burden. 

Dementia Resource Consultant: serving as the initial point of contact for Woodstock Hospital (WH) Emergency Department (ED) and Home and Community Care Support Services staff and people living with dementia and their care partners who enter WH ED. These individuals may become clients of Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners (AlzSWP), including persons living with dementia and/or care partners.

Dementia Resource Consultants (DRCs) at AlzSWP work in the Emergency Departments of London Heath Sciences Centre, University Hospital, STEGH and Woodstock Hospital as part of the Integrated Dementia Resource Team (DREAM Team). The DREAM team is a collaboration with 7 other regional Alzheimer Societies and respective emergency departments. The DRC will provide support connecting persons living with dementia and/or care partners to programs and services within the Alzheimer Society (such as, behavioural support outreach, counselling, respite) and other community resources. The DRC follows their journey through service coordination and collaboration with other staff of AlzSWP and community partner organizations. The DRC also educates/models for the ED team members behavioural strategies to mitigate the risk or necessity for restraints in the ED through the use of Montessori activities and GPA strategies. 

Specific Job Responsibilities as Social Worker:

• Receive and respond to client referrals in a timely manner,
• Provide psychosocial assessments, develop care plans with clients living with dementia and their care partner network,
• Initiate intervention quickly in urgent situations, 
• Provide dementia related supportive counselling to clients as needed,
• Provide regular follow up with current clients as established in agency policy,
• Comply with reporting requirements of the Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners and those of the relevant professional body (OCSWSSW), 
• Ensure clients are aware of existing community resources, and make appropriate referrals with client consent when needed,
• Refer to appropriate community resources as required,
• Facilitate support and education groups (virtually and in person) as assigned, 
• Participate in Memory Clinic work as assigned,
• Engage in continuing education according to OCSWSSW Continuing Competence Program (CCP) and build capacity for excellence in dementia care.

Specific Job Responsibilities as DRC:

• Speaks with clients on the phone or in person (walk-in), acting as an initial point of contact for potential clients who present in the ED at WH,
• Screens and assesses potential care partner clients based on standard criteria for the services of the AlzSWP, specifically Counselling, BSO, and Respite,
• Prioritizes assistance with ED patients who are expressing responsive behaviour and provides intervention activities when needed,
• Educate, coach and role model for ED team members and staff on behavioural strategies through the use of Montessori and GPA techniques and tools to mitigate the risk or necessity for restraints,
• Provides families with relevant information for other community agencies and programs when appropriate, or if they require additional community services ex. legal counsel or financial planning,
• Liaises with other community agencies to facilitate referrals and coordinate client services as required,
• Participates in coordinated care planning to ensure smooth transition out of ED back into the community as needed,
• Liaise with primary care providers to support stabilization in the community of person living with dementia,
• Gather statistical data as defined for this OHWest program.

Evaluation & Other Responsibilities

• Participates in quarterly performance meetings and annual performance review with Manager, 
• Collect, maintain and report required quantitative and qualitative data to support region-wide monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to DREAM team,
• Required to comply with hospital Occupational Health requirements,
• As an employee of a non-profit organization, you are expected to participate in fund development activities as required,
• Work with clinical team to continually evaluate services by soliciting ongoing feedback from clients as well as completing written questionnaires as appropriate,
• Always represent the AlzSWP in a professional manner, treating all internal and external clients with respect and dignity and always act in the best interest of the Society,
• Other related duties as requested by the manager or Director of Programs and Services or CEO.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum Bachelor of Social Work (BSW),
• Registered (or eligibility for registration) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW),
• 3 years of client service experience in the health and/or social service sectors,
• Experience working with the over 65 age group,
• Experience working with persons living with dementia and their care partners,
• Strong crisis management skills,
• Strong assessment and case management skills required,
• Experience facilitating education and/or support groups an asset,
• Strong written and verbal communication skills,
• Ability and knowledge to work within a computerized environment,
• Valid driver’s license and access to own vehicle,
• A Police Vulnerable Sector Check is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, 
• Minimum 5 years of experience providing care to people living with dementia, 
• Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA), PIECES, ASSIST, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training
• Experience working in a hospital environment considered an asset,
• Ability to converse in a language other than English considered an asset,

Working Conditions: 

Hybrid: office setting / hospital setting / some remote work from home. General office duties, typing, filing, occasional lifting / carrying 25lbs, reaching, bending, walking, sitting, and standing. Freedom of movement throughout the day. Some travel required.

About Us

Organization Overview:

The Alzheimer Society actively supports families and individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. We advocate for and provide support services, education, and funding for research for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.  

Our Vision:

No one impacted by dementia goes unsupported. 

Our Mission:

We provide community and person-centered support and education to those impacted by dementia.

Our Values:

Collaboration, Excellence, Respect, Compassion and Belonging. 

Website:  www.alzswp.ca 

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum Bachelor of Social Work (BSW),
• Registered (or eligibility for registration) with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW),
• 3 years of client service experience in the health and/or social service sectors,
• Experience working with the over 65 age group,
• Experience working with persons living with dementia and their care partners,
• Strong crisis management skills,
• Strong assessment and case management skills required,
• Experience facilitating education and/or support groups an asset,
• Strong written and verbal communication skills,
• Ability and knowledge to work within a computerized environment,
• Valid driver’s license and access to own vehicle,
• A Police Vulnerable Sector Check is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, 
• Minimum 5 years of experience providing care to people living with dementia, 
• Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA), PIECES, ASSIST, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training
• Experience working in a hospital environment considered an asset,
• Ability to converse in a language other than English considered an asset,