CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services

Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Community Homes for Opportunity
Direct Service - (OPSEU)
Full-Time, Contract (Ending: March 19, 2027 & September 30, 2027)

This posting is the result of a current vacancy 
 St. Thomas, Ontario (Elgin Zone)
- Application Deadline: March 30, 2026 -

Our Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) program lives this ideal by providing mental health and addictions supports to CHO Homes, and encouraging residents to become active members of their community. As a member of the CHO Team, you’ll work with residents as well as independent CHO Home staff to enhance the quality of life for each individual resident and to empower the ability to gain life skills, grow their personal strengths and gain choices for their wellbeing.

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):
  1. 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
  2. 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 biweekly; Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm or the option of a compressed work week
• Your pension plan –Immediately eligible for optional enrollment 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:

Operations 

• Support implementation of new initiatives and policy and procedure change within the program.
• Liaise with the Coordinator and Manager with respect to potential discharges and admissions, assist with completing intake assessments, and tours to determine whether the program is an appropriate fit for new referrals.
• Problem solve issues and provide feedback to Coordinator, Manager, and Residential Service Liaisons around program concerns and direction.
• Assist the team to ensure program consistency and that services are delivered with integrity, respect, accountability, compassion, and accessibility in a welcoming environment.
• Make decisions independently with respect to an individual-served approach.

Primary Worker

• Designated Primary Worker for approximately 16 clients.
• Ensure client record is updated with changes in circumstances, housing, assessments, team approaches, goal plans, health conditions, diagnoses, etc.
• Ensure individual’s needs are being met and that they are supported to maintain housing and community tenure.

Direct Service 

• Tenancy support including: home/unit selection and signing of lease agreement, income verification, orientation to home and community agency, move-in assistance, education regarding rights and responsibilities, housing specific goal setting.
• Independent life skills coaching including: payment of rent and bills, financial literacy, budgeting, food preparation, nutrition counselling, room maintenance/cleaning, use of public transportation, use of laundry facilities, and personal safety.
• Social support including: communication skills, assertiveness training, interpersonal relationship skills and co-ordination of recreational activities on site and community outings to enhance individual’s quality of life and connections with the community.
• Community support including direct support and advocacy during medical appointments, financial and legal support, and navigation of the mental health and addiction systems and other relevant community resources. Community support and transportation to shop for basic personal needs. 
• Health and wellness support including:  co-ordination of Community Care Plans (CCPs), relapse prevention and planning, coordination and design of a wellness/recovery planning, referrals to specialized health services, and support with physical health concerns.
• Personal support including: education regarding bathing/hygiene, dressing, routine development, meal preparation, and laundry.
• Linkages to community supports including: advocacy, referrals and connections with appropriate clinical services, supports, and resources (formal and informal) based on individual’s needs.
• Crisis support including: safety planning, crisis plan development, prevention and intervention, and reduction in utilization of EMS, ER visits, days in hospital, and days incarcerated.
• Eviction support including: landlord liaison, support obtaining legal assistance, hoarding intervention, education regarding the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and navigation and support of Landlord Tenant Board processes and hearings.
• Support home staff, homeowners/landlords as necessary in conjunction with the individual.
• Motivate and support individual to work towards achievement of their needs/goals.
• Provide health teaching about mental illness and symptom management.

Clinical Assessment, Support, and Goal Planning 

• Assess individual’s strengths, abilities, needs and preferences and assist the individual to complete wellness plans and work towards their goals through utilization of all, or a combination of, the following tools: OCAN, GAIN-SS, LOCUS and other clinical assessments to determine the impact of psychiatric symptoms and substance use on functioning. 
• Assess social and environmental factors, and any vulnerability and risk factors, completing a risk assessment to share with the home staff to support safety and relapse prevention
• Include and encourage individual’s natural supports (e.g. family, friends) and home staff in goal planning and collaborative partnership clarifying the roles each plays towards individual’s rehabilitation.
• Regularly solicit feedback from the individual, homeowner, home staff and relevant community supports regarding individual’s mental health and conduct ongoing assessments of progress towards their goals.

Communication and Decision Making

• Maintain open communication with individual’s professional and natural supports and home staff in regards to individual’s rehabilitation.
• Complete transition planning and paperwork required for the admission process and client orientation to services.
• Make decisions both independently and collaboratively.
• Completion of a discharge summary upon individual’s transition from the program outlining progress made in the program and recommendations for the future.
• Complete required individual documentation as per agency standards, schedule time weekly for documentation.
• Complete other required documentation (e.g. leave management, education requests, travel claims, expense claims) within the required time frames.
• Professionally liaise with community workers and agencies regarding the program.
• Ensure effective communication with manager, nurses, residential service liaisons, staff team, home staff or landlord and external treatment teams concerning individual’s progress.
• Identify, promote resolution, and management of all emergency situations concerning individuals, staff, and property.
• Knowledge of issues pertaining to individual confidentiality, such as PHIPA, and consent to release personal information process to ensure individual’s confidentiality is maintained at all times.

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:

• Post-Secondary degree or diploma (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Valid Driver’s Licence: minimum G class
• Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Transportation of clients in personal vehicle required; two million-dollar ($2 000 000.00) liability insurance required
• Occasional travel within the organization’s service region may be required 
• Regular Travel within the Thames Valley region  
• Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

We prefer the following qualifications:

• A relevant bachelor level degree
• Registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or membership with Therapeutic Recreation Ontario
• Experience working with individuals with addictions or problematic substance use.
• Training and/or experience in trauma-informed care
• Knowledge of serious mental illness as well as best practices, psychosocial rehabilitation, psychiatric medications, community resources, electronic documentation methods, and health and safety.
• Residential/community housing experience and familiarity with the Residential Tenancies Act.
• Knowledge of safe food handling procedures.
• Certification in First Aid & CPR, NVCI, ASIST
• 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 – March 30, 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 [email protected]  
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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