Counsellor (MSW)

Job Description
Community Healthcaring KW provides a broad range of services aimed at improving the health
of individuals and the wider community. Our services include medical and dental care, health
promotion, illness prevention and outreach programming. Our expertise and resources are
focused on working with those who experience health inequities and barriers to accessing health
services. Collaborating as an interdisciplinary team, we provide services and supports that
address the social determinants of health including factors and barriers such as poverty,
inadequate housing, food insecurity, substance use, language and culture, as well as stigma and
social exclusion.

Community Healthcaring KW works with the most complex client population served by primary
health care professionals within Waterloo Region. Our highly skilled and diverse team works
from a strength-based approach with individual clients as well as the broader community. We
collaborate with many partner agencies and organizations within Waterloo Region. Our team
consists of Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers,
Dietitians, Chiropodists, Pharmacists, Psychiatrists, Health Promoters, Community Health
Workers, Administrative Staff and Volunteers.

We invite you to consider this opportunity to join our team and contribute to this important work.

The Health Centre is currently recruiting for the following position:

Job Title: Counsellor (MSW)

Pay: $64,441.02 - $75,000.59 per year
Permanent, Full-Time (FTE 1.0)
37.5 hours per week

Job Summary
The Counsellor provides solution-focused, short-term counselling (8 sessions per year) to
rostered clients of Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo (the “Health Centre”). The
Counsellor works within an interprofessional primary care team and sees clients of the Health
Centre on Francis Street for both scheduled and urgent appointments.

Responsibilities
1. Maximize the function and independence of clients rostered at the Health Centre by
providing short-term counselling to individuals and/or families.
2. Deliver a wide range of counselling modalities as needed (e.g., CBT, DBT, talk therapy
etc.) and maintains client records, assessment notes and correspondence in keeping with
regulatory requirements and the policies and procedures of the Health Centre.
3. Provide integrated, solution-focused social work interventions as needed to rostered
clients of the interprofessional primary care team.
4. Ensure comprehensive treatment for rostered clients by sharing information with primary
care colleagues on an ongoing basis, including through documentation in the EMR and
participating in case conferences.
5. Work with the rest of the Primary Care Department, including Client Service Navigators,
to support clients' access to additional community, health, social and recreational
services.
6. Provide consultation and /or education on psychosocial issues to primary care colleagues
and other staff of the Health Centre at both locations.
7. Support the Manager of Primary Care in liaising with broader mental health initiatives
within the broader KW4 Ontario Health Team.
8. Supervise social work and/or psychotherapy students in field placement practicums.
9. Prepare referral and consultation letters, and other correspondence as required.
10. Actively participates in team and staff meetings, chart reviews, case conferences, and
other meetings and committee work as appropriate to support primary care service
delivery and organizational goals.
11. Works during both regular and extended hours (evenings/weekends) and in locations
within Kitchener to be determined by CHCKW.
12. Collects, analyzes and reports on data and relevant information and participates in
research as determined by CHCKW.
13. Contributes to the CHCKW practices of hiring, orientating and training of staff as
needed.
14. Works from a Social Determinants of Health perspective to improve health outcomes for
individual clients and/or for the development of community health and well-being, and to
reduce health inequities.
15. Works individually and collaboratively in the development and implementation of quality
improvement initiatives and activities.
16. Works in a manner that preserves privacy and confidentiality.
17. Works in a manner that ensures client safety and minimizes risk to clients, volunteers and
the CHCKW.
18. Works in a manner consistent with the CHCKW Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles.
19. Works in a manner that demonstrates self-reflection and personal accountability for work
performance.
20. Adheres to all CHCKW policies.

Accountability

This position is accountable to the Manager, Primary Care.

Qualifications
1. Masters of Social Work (MSW) or another relevant degree from a recognized
university
2. Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers or
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
3. Minimum of three years providing short-term counselling in a community setting
(including primary care)
4. Minimum of three years working experience with vulnerable or marginalized clients
5. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of dual diagnosis and concurrent disorders
7. Demonstrated proficiency in trauma-informed care, mental health and addictions
assessment, and a wide variety of counselling approaches
8. Demonstrated oral and written communication skills
9. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interprofessional
healthcare team
10. Demonstrated ability to work independently
11. Demonstrated proficiency in the use of a personal computer and software programs
including Microsoft Office, email and internet. Experience with electronic medial
records, preferably PSS.
12. Proficiency in the use of a personal computer and software programs including
Microsoft Office, email and internet.
13. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and
verbally. Second language is an asset.
14. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
15. Experience working effectively with culturally and economically diverse populations.
16. Ability to obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the Health Centre.
17. 2-Factor Authentication for Microsoft is App based (Microsoft Authenticator
Application) and used to ensure the security of our online accounts. 2-FA requires the
use of a personal mobile device with a recent operating system.
18. The Health Centre requires that all staff be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 at the time of
hire and maintain vaccination ongoing as boosters become available. Official proof of
Covid-19 vaccination status is a mandatory requirement unless an exemption document
is provided.

Benefit package:
• 3 Weeks Paid Vacation
• Employer Paid Extended Health Benefits
• Employer Paid Insurance Benefits
• Paid Public Holidays & Sick Time
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Application Deadline: August 21st, 2026

The Health Centre values the diversity of its staff and welcomes applications from people of all
races, ethnicity, religions, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity and those with disabilities.
Individuals with a disability requiring accommodation during the application and/or the
interview process should advise the recruitment contact noted above so that suitable
arrangements can be made.

Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of this recruitment process.

We appreciate all expressions of interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be
contacted