Provide psychosocial response, crisis intervention, and withdrawal management support to individuals in community and hospital settings. Coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams to assess client needs and link them with appropriate health and social services.
Requirements summary
Requires post-secondary education in a related field (preferably BSW or postgraduate diploma in addiction) and a valid driver's license with a reliable vehicle. A current Police Vulnerable Sector Check is mandatory for employment.
Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Withdrawal Management and Crisis Services Elgin Direct Service - (OPSEU) Full-Time, Contract (End date: October 12, 2026)
This posting is the result of a current vacancy St. Thomas, Ontario (Elgin Zone)
Application Deadline: June 15, 2026 -
The Addiction and Mental Health Worker will support individuals accessing services by providing a psychosocial response in order to promote crisis resolution and empowerment for the individual.
Staff will actively support individuals who are experiencing withdrawal from substances in a community setting. Staff will work collaboratively with individuals to assess and identity their needs and link them with community services to provide coordinated, community-based health and social services. This position will work within a multi-disciplinary team framework throughout St. Thomas & Elgin County.
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 3. Premiums of $2.00 per hour will be applied for eligible
Evening/Night (8:00pm – 7:00am) and Weekend Shifts.
When you'll work - 70 hours biweekly; rotating days, afternoons, evenings and weekends, 30-minute paid meal 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
Crisis Assessment and Counselling Supports
Establish a working and supportive relationship with the client
Benefits
9% In Lieu Of Benefits
Healthcare Of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
Assess clients’ mental, physical and emotional functional abilities and needs
Investigates client’s current resources through complete psycho-social history and domains collections, and collateral information
Provide client assessment, intervention, and counselling via telephone and in person supports
Complete mental health and addiction assessments based on theory of crisis management including rapid response to identify: 1. the impact of psychiatric symptoms on functioning, 2. risk factors related to safety of client and others 3. opportunities for de-escalation and stabilization
Provide mental health assessments to Emergency Departments (St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital
STEGH) upon request.
Support individuals as requested by St. Thomas Police Service and Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police
Provides counselling support to those attending at one of CMHA TVAMHS Elgin County based Crisis Services at STEGH and 110 Centre as well as mobile
Provide first contact functions and system navigation support for clients.
Withdrawal Supports
Provide client-centered care from a harm reduction approach
Responsible for screening and assessment for individual’s referred to the program
Acquire and maintain a high level of current knowledge about substance use disorders and trends as well as treatment options
Provide education, referrals and support for people using substances and related needs
Capacity and comfort level dealing with street-involved clients who may exhibit behaviours consistent with their distress, intoxication or other circumstances
Collaborate with addiction and mental health service providers to support the needs of clients who may be in crisis and needing supervised withdrawal management support
Supporting intake services, regular monitoring of withdrawal symptoms and discharge planning.
Coordinating access to addiction medicine supports
Providing support to clients in taking their medication as prescribed
Crisis Intervention
Provide short-term, psychotherapeutic intervention to assist individuals 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 individual’s need for privacy and dignity
Teach, using a variety of approaches, life skills and adaptive techniques to help enable individuals to function more effectively on a day-to-day basis
Utilize harm reduction principles to identify, reduce and remove risk factors
Crisis Follow-up
Refer individuals for additional assessments as is determined to be necessary and/or appropriate
Assist the individual to identify and connect with personal/natural supports
Provide follow-up support and/or check-ins to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as appropriate
24/7 Reach Out Addiction and Mental Health Crisis Line responsibilities
All Crisis Outreach Workers are to provide support to individuals through Reach Out
Provide crisis intervention services and supports on Reach Out via phone, text and web chat
Respond to voicemails from Reach Out
Establish a therapeutic relationship with individuals accessing Reach Out, and work with individuals 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:
Post-secondary education in a related field, preferably BSW or post-graduate diploma in addiction or equivalent (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
Registration with a college or professional body associated with their discipline
Current CPR and First Aid certification
Training in crisis intervention and crisis resolution including ASIST
Clinical work experience in substance abuse assessment and treatment including intake and crisis services
Experience and detailed knowledge of serious mental illnesses usually gained by several years of working within the mental health field
Experience in crisis intervention/management and crisis resolution
Experience in working in a community-based setting with an extensive knowledge of social assistance programs and both generic and specialized local social support networks is essential
Volunteer experience with a mental health component
Experience working with individuals with an ABI or Development Disability
Experience in the treatment of Addiction
Extensive knowledge of the support/treatment services network in Elgin County and of regional services commonly accessed by the Program
Extensive knowledge of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of mental illness/substance use & experience in monitoring/administration of medication
Comfort and skill with public speaking and group facilitation
Bilingual in both official languages, preferred; Une préférence sera accordée aux personnes possédant des compétences dans les deux languages 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 – June 15, 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 [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
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