Counsellor, Crisis Assessment Team in London, Ontario at CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services

Counsellor, Crisis Assessment Team
Direct Service - (OPSEU)
Two part-time permanent positions and two part-time contract positions (End dates: March 27, 2027 & March 31, 2027)

These postings are the result of current vacancies
London, Ontario (London Zone)
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2026 -

Within the mission, philosophy, policies and procedures of the organization, and the College of Nurses/College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers/College of Occupational Therapists standards the Crisis Assessment Worker, Crisis Assessment Team (CAT) will work with clients in crisis, to assess the nature and scope of the crisis and taking appropriate action in a manner consistent with the psychosocial rehabilitation model.

This position will include supporting participants at the Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Centre, supporting in other areas of the Crisis Services Department including Reach Out, or at the Strathroy Site. The CAT Worker works collaboratively with clients, peers and the community to enhance the physical and mental health of clients experiencing mental illness.

Depending on the needs of the client in crisis, supports may be provided in-person or virtually; at the Crisis Centre and/or in community hospitals.

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
  • Premiums of $2.00 per hour will be applied for eligible Evening/Night (8:00pm-7:00am) and Weekend Shifts.​​​​​​​

• When you'll work –
  1. Part-time, Permanent Role #1: 42 hours bi- weekly. Every other weekend 7am-2pm, plus every Monday and Friday rotating between 7am-2pm and 2pm-9pm shifts, with a paid 30-minute break.
  2. Part-time, Permanent Role #2: 14 hours bi-weekly. Every other weekend 2pm-9pm, with a paid 30-minute break.
  3. Part-time, Contract (ending March 31, 2027): 14 hours bi-weekly. Every other weekend 2pm-9pm, with a paid 30-minute break.
  4. Part-time, Contract (ending March 27, 2027): 14 hours bi-weekly. Every other weekend 2pm-9pm, with a paid 30-minute break.
• Your pension plan –Immediately eligible for optional enrolment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• What your benefits will be – 9% in lieu of benefits

HOW YOU WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

Direct Client Support & Crisis Response

Assessment - In collaboration with the participant:

• Complete bio-psychosocial mental health assessments based on theory of crisis management including rapid response, risk assessment, de-escalation, stabilization, and referral to determine needs and level of risk
• Establish a therapeutic relationship to maximize the benefits of engagement with the client
• Refer to psychiatric clinic as deemed appropriate
• Assess the adequacy of resources/supports currently available to the client and make referrals to applicable community resources as appropriate
• Determine the impact of psychiatric symptoms on functioning
• 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.)
• Obtain information, as needed, from other relevant sources
• Ensure the assessment incorporates cultural and ethnic factors
• Identify areas requiring additional assessment

Crisis Intervention:

• Provide short-term, psychotherapeutic intervention to assist participants 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 participant’s need for privacy and dignity
• Utilize harm reduction principles to identify, reduce and remove risk factors

Crisis Management – Follow-up:

• Advocate as necessary in order to facilitate access to services and supports with the objective of remediating immediate crisis situation
• Support the participant to access needed resources
• Refer clients for additional assessments as is determined to be necessary and/or appropriate
• Assist the participant 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
• Provide follow-up check in with clients accessing services

Service Coordination and Advocacy:

• Have knowledge about community resources relevant to clients, including other mental health services, entitlement and benefit programs, (e.g. ODSP, Ontario Works, London Housing, etc.)
• Identify, develop and maintain good links with a wide range of community resources
• Assist the client to obtain needed resources by educating and supporting the participant to access resources, linking the client to appropriate services, advocating with or for the client when needed
• Demonstrate knowledge of community resources and its place within the mental health care system
• Assist in building positive working relationships across the service system including the organization and hospital
• Participate in public education and advocacy
• Coordinate and facilitate with clients, linkages to recommended services and supports in the community
• When appropriate, act as liaison with caregivers and/or service and support providers who are involved with the client to facilitate a coordinated approach to service provision

Information and Referral:

• Provide assistance to clients seeking support, face-to-face appointments and/or information about mental health services and supports
• Provide health teaching and information regarding a variety of coping techniques and strategies
• Assist participants in developing strategies for managing their health needs according to resources and personal skills available
• Assist participants in making healthier choices
• Collaborate with community agencies to enhance continuity of care
• Provide information and advocate regarding resources within both the broader mental health system & the community in general

Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery:

• Collaborate with the client and the team to provide a holistic approach and assist in developing goals and the “plan of care”
• Support the client in developing skills for self-advocacy.
• Interact and provide support in a nonjudgmental fashion and provide care that demonstrates sensitivity to client diversity (e.g. culture, race, age, sexual orientation, gender, beliefs and values)
• Assist in motivating clients to learn new behaviours and develop coping skills.
• Foster healthy interdependence through limit setting
• Assist client to recognize strengths and minimize challenges by identifying potential risks to health

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 5 weeks to be processed and offers of employment cannot be made without receipt of a PVSC.

We require the following qualifications:

• College Diploma or University Degree in a mental health or addictions related field or a minimum of 3 years of experience in a direct-service role and some post-secondary education in a mental health or addictions related field (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

We prefer the following qualifications:

• Current Registration from the Ontario College of Nurses OR Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers OR Ontario College of Occupational Therapists OR College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Valid Driver’s License: minimum G2 class and access to a vehicle for personal transportation
• First Aid & CPR, WHMIS Training
• Experience in mental health and addictions
• Knowledge of and experience with trauma-informed practices
• Understanding of therapeutic approaches when working with participants in mental health or addictions crisis, such as Crisis Intervention Practices; Brief Solution Focused Therapy; Motivational Interviewing; DBT and CBT strategies
• Bilingual in both official languages, preferred; Une préférence sera accordée aux personnes possédant des compétences 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 – August 31, 2026

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 Human.Resources@cmhatv.ca

Legal Notifications:

• For legal purposes our full business name is: Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
• Artificial Intelligence is not currently employed in our recruitment processes