Counsellor, Crisis Assessment Team - Strathroy Site
Direct Service - (OPSEU)
Full-Time, Contract (Ending: June 30, 2025)
Strathroy, Ontario (Middlesex Zone)
- Application Deadline: May 18, 2025 -

When individuals in our community experience an urgent mental health or addictions crisis, they deserve a response that is person-centred and supportive, while focusing on personal dignity and wellbeing.

The Crisis Assessment Team program gives individuals experiencing a crisis an alternative option for immediate supports outside of accessing emergency hospital services by providing 24/7 mental health and addictions supports in the community. As a member of this Team, you'll work with individuals to assess and mitigate their immediate crisis, then collaborate on strategies and resources to help enhance their physical and mental health with the goal of preventing future crises.

Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months. Interested applicants who reside in the City of London and are in need of a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible as PVSCs in the City of London are currently taking approximately 3 weeks to be processed and offers of employment cannot be made without receipt of a PVSC.

Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team!

WHAT WE'RE OFFERING:

• What you'll be making - Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated):
  • Successful candidates who are registered with one of the designated professional colleges (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, COTO, CRPO, CPSO, or CPO) will receive the wage differential for regulation
  • Successful external applicants will start at Level 1, with grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated)
  • For internal applicants, grid level placement will occur as per the Collective Agreement
• When you'll work - 70 hours over two-week period; Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
• What your benefits will be - 9% in lieu of benefits
• Your pension plan - Eligible for immediate enrollment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

HOW YOU WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

• Complete bio-psychosocial mental health and addiction assessments based on theory of crisis management including rapid response, risk assessment, de-escalation, stabilization, and referral to determine client needs and level of risk
• Establish a therapeutic relationship to maximize the benefits of engagement with the client
• Assess the adequacy of resources/supports currently available to the client and make referrals to applicable community resources as appropriate
• Identify risk factors related to relapse as well as the safety of staff and clients
• Assess barriers to successful community living (e.g. treatment options, transportation, finances, etc.)
• Provide short-term, psychotherapeutic intervention to assist clients in gaining insight and improving coping skills within the framework of the crisis model
• Perform in a calm, competent and efficient manner in an emergency situation acknowledging the client's need for privacy and dignity
• Utilize harm reduction principles to identify, reduce and remove risk factors
• Advocate as necessary in order to facilitate access to services and supports with the objective of remediating immediate crisis situation
• Refer clients for additional assessments as is determined to be necessary and/or appropriate
• Assist the client to identify and connect with personal/natural supports
• Provide short-term follow-up support to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service
• Have knowledge about community resources relevant to clients, including other addiction and mental health services, entitlement and benefit programs, (e.g. ODSP, Ontario Works, London Housing, etc.)
• Assist the client to obtain needed resources by educating and supporting the individual to access resources, linking the individual to appropriate services, advocating with or for the client when needed
• Assist in building positive working relationships across the service system including CMHA and hospital
• Provide assistance to clients seeking support, face-to-face appointments and/or information about addiction and mental health services and supports
• Assist clients in developing strategies for managing their health needs according to resources and personal skills available
• Collaborate with the client and the team to provide a holistic approach and assist in developing goals and the “plan of care”
• Interact and provide support in a nonjudgmental fashion and provide care that demonstrates sensitivity to individual diversity (e.g. culture, race, age, sexual orientation, gender, beliefs and values)

Reach Out responsibilities:

• Provide crisis intervention services and supports on the Reach Out Crisis line via phone, text and web chat
• Respond to voicemails from the Reach Out Crisis line.
• Establish a therapeutic relationship with callers to the Reach Out line, and work with these clients to address their immediate concerns

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO APPLY:

Police Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements

Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months. Interested applicants who reside in the City of London and are in need of a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible as PVSCs in the City of London are currently taking approximately 2 weeks to be processed and offers of employment cannot be made without receipt of a PVSC.

We require the following qualifications:

• Degree/diploma in a health or social science discipline, or working towards completing a degree/diploma in a health/social science discipline (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Valid drivers licence and access to a vehicle with adequate insurance to occasionally transport clients
• Current Police Vulnerable Sector Check
• Ability to attend work regularly

We prefer the following qualifications:

• Registration with a professional college (i.e. OCSWSSW, CNO, CRPO, CPSO, COTO, CPO)
• Experience in mental health and addictions
• Knowledge of and experience with trauma-informed practices
• Understanding of therapeutic approaches when working with an individual in mental health or addictions crisis, such as Crisis Intervention Practices; Brief Solution Focused Therapy; Motivational Interviewing; DBT and CBT strategie
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both oral and written
• Computer literate
• Current First Aid/CPR Certificate
• Bilingual both official languages, preferred; préférence sera accordée aux candidats qui sont compétents dans les deux langues officielles du Canada

INTERNAL APPLICANTS: To be considered as an internal applicant, current staff members are reminded to apply using their @cmhatv.ca or @slwar.ca email address.

Get your application in by – May 18, 2025:

Our recruitment process allows us to learn about your previous work experience, your qualifications and your commitment to fulfilling our vision. While we appreciate the interest of all applicants, only those individuals being considered for a position will be personally contacted by someone from the interview team.

We welcome and encourage applications from all members of our community including persons of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and members of visible minorities. If you require accommodations related to a disability at any point during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]

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