Mental Health Worker-Community Support Services

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Mental Health Worker-Community Support Services

Number of Openings:1Division:Community Support ServicesFull/Part Time/Casual:Full-timeProgram:First Place-Various CSS programsRegular/Temporary:PermanentLocation:Hamilton-First Place
*Requires travel to various CSS programsUnion:Non-unionHours of Work:Days 8 am-4 pm / 9 am-5 pm
*Average 75 hours bi-weeklyPosting Date:September 4, 2025Closing Date:Until FilledWages:$30.55 – $49.63 Dependent on experienceFrench Language Skill Requirement:N/AThis posting is for a current vacancy. POSITION SUMMARY:
The Mental Health Worker (shared) provides client mental health support across the various Community Support Services programs and program locations.  The MHW-CSS is responsible for supporting clients with complex mental health issues and is guided in their work by principles of recovery, trauma-informed care, harm reduction and cultural safety.

The MHW-CSS provides direct support, intervention, and advocacy for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Operating within legislative, ethical and policy frameworks, the role involves working collaboratively with clients, families, caregivers, care teams and other interdisciplinary functions to promote resiliency, independence, safety, health and community integration.  This role may coordinate psychosocial assessment, engage in counselling, support case management and discharge plans, as well as provide service coordination and consultation in the best interests of the client’s needs.

This role directly supports the Manager – Therapy Services in the overall organization strategic initiatives related to the therapy services, through their day-to-day activities.  The MHW-CSS also supports all CSS program Managers in collaboration with their program's unique client needs in the areas of mental health.

Community Support Services clients are typically individuals who have been discharged from hospital but who are unable to return to their pre-hospital living arrangements.  These Assisted Living and Supportive Housing clients are in process of having long term care needs assessed, are generally medically stable, can be of any adult age group (or may be senior), and may have diagnosed (or undiagnosed) complex mental health care needs in addition.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 

• Maintains current working knowledge of relevant legislation in Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, Substitute Decisions Act, Public Hospitals Act, Long Term Care Act, Child and Family Services Act, PHIPA and Excellent Care for All Act
• Conducts intake interviews and comprehensive mental health/psychosocial assessments
• Develops and implements individualized service plans in collaboration with clients
• Provides short-term and long-term supportive counseling using evidence-based approaches (e.g., CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing)
• Supports clients in navigating symptoms of anxiety, depression, psychosis, PTSD, and concurrent disorders
• Facilitates peer support and psychoeducational groups focused on wellness, coping skills, and relapse prevention
• Responds to mental health crises in community, home, or congregate settings
• Conducts risk assessments (e.g., suicide, self-harm, violence) and safety planning
• Collaborates with emergency services, hospitals, and mobile crisis teams
• Provides de-escalation, stabilization, and post-crisis follow-up
• Assists clients in accessing various available supports, food security, and legal aid
• Coordinates referrals to psychiatrists, psychologists, addiction services, and primary care providers
• Tracks progress through regular reviews and adjust care plans accordingly
• Advocates for clients within healthcare, legal, and social systems
• Builds relationships with community agencies, cultural organizations, other supports
• Develops and delivers organizational education on mental health awareness and stigma reduction, coordinates external training services to present education
• Participates in community events and outreach initiatives
• Collaborates in client transitions from hospital to community support services programs
• Documents client related interventions in keeping with standard documentation guidelines
• Adheres to the OCSWSSW Standards of Practice / RSW disciple-specific documentation guidelines as applicable to individual credentials
• Identifies and intervenes with high risk / high risk social situation and utilizes best practices and guidelines
• Provides theory-based crisis intervention and counselling
• Assists in discharges and care planning where applicable to program
• Engages in mentorship and provides expertise to other SJHC front line staff
• Complies with all required Workload Measurements and other statistical data collection expectations
• Supports data collection, tracking and analysis, develops and presents reports as requested

• Records support activities in client charts
• Supports clients in setting up therapy appointments
• Performs general administrative duties related to the role
• Other duties as required

CORE COMPENTENCIES

• Regularly demonstrates our mission, vision and values:
  1. Support compassionate care, faith and diversity
  2. Deliver quality care, pursue and share knowledge, respect diversity, remain faithful
  3. Commit to working everyday with dignity, respect, service, justice, responsibility and enquiry
  4. knowledge, sensitivity and expertise in the care of seniors and their families
• Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team; sharing expertise and drawing on the expertise of others
• Actively promotes a healthy, supportive and inclusive work environment
• Proactively contributes to initiatives, supporting and encouraging positive change
• Ability to engage in effective problem solving, possess logic and analytical thinking
• Skilled at thinking about creative solutions to complex problems, analytical thinking skills
• Ability to be self-reflective and adapt to changing needs
• Solid team-based approach to everyday work activities
• Adaptable and creative with the ability to shift approaches quickly
• Superior communication skills both verbal and written, with an excellent customer service mind set
• Positive and professional, with a “can do” attitude
• Willingness to regularly go the extra mile and actively support co-workers
• Willingness to learn and mentor with senior staff members
• Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines in a fact paced environment
• Maintaining on-going compliance to corporate policies and procedures, health and safety regulations, and relevant external standards
• Participating fully in both internal and external training requirements
• Participating fully in corporate quality initiatives
• Maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all personal health records (including both client and personal), and following all the privacy and confidentiality requirements of any and all electronic medical record systems used

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Diploma or Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, Addictions, Nursing, or related field, required
• Registration with a professional college (e.g., OCSWSSW, CRPO, CNO), preferred
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited University, an asset
• Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, required
• Membership with the Ontario association of Social Workers, preferred
• Minimum 2 years of experience in mental health, addictions, or social services role, required
• Previous experience working with vulnerable clients in community care settings, required
• Gentle Persuasive Approach (or equivalent) training, preferred
• Proficient computer skills, including excel, Office 365, Citrix etc, preferred

St. Joseph’s Home Care is an equal opportunity employer, committed to equity, inclusiveness, and diversity across all our programs, practices, facilities, and team. AI is not used in our recruitment processes for the selection of candidates.

If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, such as alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms, please inform the hiring manager before your interview. Should you wish to conduct your interview in French, kindly contact our head office to arrange this in advance.

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