Temporary Position Covering Maternity Leave15 hours per week $41.35/hour Contract (6 months)
Bridges Niagara is searching for a passionate professional with experience providing front-line support to individuals in a social service sector. The Mental Health Worker is part of a team of dedicated professionals who provide client centered service in ways that are aligned with Bridges Niagara's core values. By joining our dynamic team, your work will be meaningful and will have an impact locally and beyond.
Reporting to the Mental Health Program Coordinator, this position is responsible for working with refugee/newcomer adult clients. They will facilitate mental health support sessions with individuals, groups and families, conduct assessments, short-term crisis intervention, referrals and ensure clients' access to appropriate mental health services in a social setting.
The aim of this position is for the candidate to work in collaboration with our other agency staff as well as external partners to aid clients' resettlement and integration into the community. The successful candidate will use a team-based, coordinated systems approach to mental health support, consult with case managers to advise on best practices and assist newcomer adults in navigating the mental health support available to them.
Position Summary:

• Verifies eligibility and determines suitability for service/programming; evaluates individual's needs and priorities; follows established case management procedures; maintains client confidentiality.
• Provides internal and external referrals to other programs/services as appropriate.
• Quality assurance – prioritizes accuracy and thoroughness in the capturing, organizing, maintaining and reporting of all client data, forms, statistics and databases.
• Provides coordinated and integrated services according to the needs of clients.
• Collaborate with clients and professionals to determine support needs for case planning.
• Assess client needs, design support goals and plans, monitor client progress.
• Implements case management techniques, prepares reports and makes referrals.
• Work from a strength-based perspective and use multi-model support approaches.
• Provides behavioural intervention in one-on-one or group setting.
• Provides behaviour management and crisis intervention as required.
• Ensures all confidential information is stored and released only in accordance with agency policies.
• Keep up to date with knowledge of community resources and mental health services.
• Participate in the evaluation of program goals and objectives making recommendations on changes to current program activities to improve service delivery.
• Participates in meetings, activities and professional development opportunities that promote understanding of newcomers and are relevant to career growth; this may include case conferences with others involved in supporting the client.
• Takes initiative to work with their team to identify and close service gaps.
• Performs other duties as required.
  

Qualifications / Required Experience / Skills:

• MSW, BSW, MSC Psychology, Psychotherapy certification, or equivalent in mental health, counselling, or social work with a minimum of two years relevant experience.
• Crisis intervention and conflict mediation training.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a front-line, client-first, case managed role, one year of which, we would prefer experience with facilitating group sessions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of mental health concerns, addictions, cross-cultural approaches to social well-being in newcomer and refugee populations.
• Experience facilitating individual and group mental health support sessions in social settings.
• Knowledge of community resources such as hospital resources, addiction providers, community mental health services etc.
• Strong understanding of cultural responsiveness, AOP/anti-racist approach, empowerment-oriented practice, client-centred approach, trauma and violence-informed care.
• Experience in developing and maintaining community relationships and partnerships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to participate and lead meetings and/or case conferences.
• Strong interpersonal, time management, problem-solving and motivational support skills.
• Team-player who is capable of working independently while applying a creative and forward thinking approach to their work.
• Must have demonstrable technical skills including use of on-line platforms for client appointments and group sessions (i.e. Zoom, Google Meet), shared work spaces and applications found within Google Workspace and traditional MS Office programs.
• Proficiency in Arabic or Spanish languages preferred.

Bridges Niagara embraces diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all qualified persons. Our goal is to attract and engage highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences, perspectives and skill sets. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, accommodation will be provided at any point throughout the hiring process, please inform us in advance to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation.
Deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 13th, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. Apply ONLY by email to: [email protected] quoting Mental Health Support Worker – position in the subject line of your email. Please detail in your cover letter and resume how your experience, education, professional development and career goals align with this position.
We thank all applicants for their time and interest in our organization; however, only those selected for an interview will be notified. No phone, in-person or on-line inquiries please.
About Bridges Niagara:

Bridges Niagara (Formerly The Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre) is a charitable, not-for-profit organization incorporated as the Folk Arts Council of St. Catharines in 1970. Its mandate is to support and assist the ethnocultural and newcomer community in Niagara through a broad range of programs and services.