Program Manager, Substance Use & Mental Health

South Riverdale Community Health Centre is a non-profit, multi-service organization that provides primary healthcare, social and community outreach services with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention primarily to people of East Toronto. Our mission is to improve the lives of people that face barriers to physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being. We do so by meaningfully engaging our clients and communities, ensuring equitable access to primary health care and delivering quality care through a range of evidence informed programs, services and approaches. As a leader in community health, our locally and internationally recognized community services include cutting-edge primary health services, health promotion, harm reduction, environmental health, community food centre and population-based community programs for marginalized peoples. We value health equity and inclusion and respect in our work and in the delivery of our services.

The Program Manager, Substance Use & Mental Health is responsible for supporting the coordination, scheduling, and operations of the Substance Use & Mental Health Teams. This position provides site specific and cross organization support for the Substance Use & Mental Health team. In this role, the Program Manager, Substance Use & Mental Health is further responsible for the supervision and support of a diverse team of staff, including hiring, performance management, disciplinary action and decisions regarding termination of employment.

This Program Manager advocates for the needs and rights of people who use drugs (PWUD) to low barrier, non-stigmatizing, trauma-informed services and supports, ensures pathways to needed services and advocacy supports for current participants and plays a lead role in assessing gaps in services and responding to changing needs and trends through the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of programming to meet the needs of drug using communities in east Toronto.

This position is expected to work onsite.

Responsibilities:

Talent Management and Supervision of Staff

• Direct and manage the work of interdisciplinary teams
• With support from the Leadership Team, conduct all required recruitment activities to ensure Substance Use & Mental Health teams are appropriately staffed
• Provide supervision and ongoing guidance, feedback, recognition and coaching of teams
• Monitor and approve time off requests, ensure monthly time records are submitted as per deadline
• Create staffing schedules for Substance Use & Mental Health teams
• Support staff development opportunities and engage staff appropriately in decision making
• Conduct probationary and annual performance reviews
• Support the development and maintenance of a strong team
• Work with program staff to resolve problems as they arise
• Coordinate team meetings
• Monitor attendance and address concerns
• Support team to build capacity through organizing skill sharing and training opportunities as well as resource mobilization
• Ensure that staff’s statistical encounters, charting and monthly time records are completed in a timely manner
• Address performance issues as they occur and make effective recommendations with respect to disciplinary steps up to and including termination, in consultation with the Director, Substance Use & Mental Health
• Work with Organizational Health Systems staff to ensure all appropriate employee information is tracked and documented according to agency policies

Program Management

• Coordinate daily/weekly/monthly/annual priorities, work plans and work flow for all identified programs, in conjunction with the Director, Substance Use & Mental Health
• Ensure supportive, strengths-based, trauma-informed, anti-racist/anti-oppressive social justice and harm reduction approaches are utilized in all aspects of program planning and direct service
• Develop targets, timelines and processes to successfully manage tasks and workflow
• Address day to day program and participant-related issues and ensure these are resolved in a clear, professional, timely manner
• Utilize a community development approach to engaging those with lived experience of drug use, poverty, oppression and/or marginalization within Substance Use & Mental Health Programs (e.g. employment, education/training, volunteering, advisory and liaison committees, and developing, implementing and participatory evaluation of programs and services)
• Develop and coordinate team approaches to meeting the complex short and longer-term crisis intervention, counselling, case management and referral issues/needs of participants
• Monitor, support, train and evaluate the ongoing development and implementation of Substance Use & Mental Health related services
• Identify and respond to increased risks, trends and gaps in programs, by offering services and support that respond to community feedback and meets diverse needs
• Guide and support Substance Use & Mental Health staff in providing clinical services, overdose response, programming, and short-term case management to support participants in personal health goals & improving social determinants of health
• Provide direct crisis intervention counselling, crisis de-escalation, conflict resolution, overdose response, safety planning and suicide risk assessments/response where needed
• Develop and maintain collaborative team programming and partnerships within Substance Use & Mental Health and other inter-disciplinary teams and programs at SRCHC, as well as with community partners and other service agencies to provide or improve services for people who use drugs
• Advocate at local, provincial and national levels with and on behalf of those who take/use drugs, for equitable policies, legislation and funding, and access to health care, mental health, housing, legal and other support services needed to live safe and healthy lives
• Maintain records, reports and other statistical information, and provides accurate and timely reports, stats, stories of impact as required
• Makes recommendations related to supplies and other purchases, and monitors budgets and expenditures in conjunction with the Director, Substance Use & Mental Health
• Develop, and coordinate effective print and electronic information and materials and give presentations for diverse audiences
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Toronto Drug Strategy and other relevant government bodies, organizations and harm reduction and related advocacy groups
• In collaboration with the SRCHC Leadership, the IT/IM team, and the DEC SOS program partners (RPCHC, Street Health, SRCHC), ensure all funding reports are completed and submitted as per accountability agreements and prepare funding proposals when requested
• Support evaluation activities required by funders, including collation of in-house data
• Work with the Director of Substance Use & Mental Health to collaborate with the IT/IM teams at DEC SOS partner sites to collect and collate relevant EMR data
• Support quality improvement initiatives across sites including chart reviews and case studies to support evaluation efforts
• Support the development, implementation and evaluation aspects of the SOS client advisory council
• Participation in and support the SOS & other relevant Community of Practices
• Ensure the successful coordination of client-centred services that align with best practices/guidelines
• Ensure programs and services are meeting community needs and address identified risks, trends and gaps
• Lead and support cross-organizational initiatives as required
• Contribute to all program and organization planning activities

Management Team and Organizational Support

• Participate as a member of the Centre’s management team
• Attends regular management meetings and contributes to all planning activities
• Provides information as requested to the Leadership Team
• All other duties as required

Qualifications:

• University degree in a related discipline i.e. health care, social work or equivalent combination of education and employment experience
• 2-5 years progressive experience coordinating programs, managing and supervising staff
• Registered Regulated Health Care Professional preferred
• Current college membership as regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 maintained as applicable
• Must have demonstrated experience and understanding of harm reduction practices
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and support staff to ensure, client-centred, effective and efficient work processes
• Experience working in, coordinating, managing and/or supervising staff within inter-professional approach that addresses health inequities and social determinants using an anti-oppressive approach
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategies to promote diversity and positive working relationships within the organization and across partner sites
• Demonstrated respect for diversity, equity, anti-racism and accessibility with the ability to work collaboratively and positively with others
• Solid interpersonal, supervisory and critical thinking skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in the use of computer technology and various software applications
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge and experience advocating for systemic change related to drug use, sex work, harm reduction services, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and overdose prevention
• A strong interest in issues affecting people who are homeless, living with a mental illness or substance use, and complex health needs
• Overdose response and crisis de-escalation an asset
• Police clearance documentation will be required for employment
• Proof of triple COVID-19 vaccination status will be required for employment

The deadline for applicants is Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

Please mail in your cover letter and resume in confidence to:

The Hiring Committee – Program Manager, Substance Use & Mental Health

South Riverdale Community Health Centre

955 Queen Street East

Toronto, ON M4M 3P3

Or by email to:[email protected]

Please enter “Program Manager, Substance Use & Mental Health” in the subject line of your email.

No faxes, phone calls, or requests to meet please.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

SRCHC welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

SRCHC is an equal opportunity employer. We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

SRCHC encourages applicants who are racialized (IBPOC) and/or applicants who face any barriers as a result of systemic discrimination to apply for this position.

SRCHC encourages a scent-free environment. Employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.) while at the Centre.