The Addiction and Mental Health Worker provides crisis intervention, psychosocial support, and withdrawal management services to individuals in the community. They collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to assess client needs, facilitate stabilization, and connect individuals with appropriate social and health services.
Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Withdrawal Management and Crisis Services Elgin Direct Service - (OPSEU) Full-Time, Contract (December 31, 2026) This posting is the result of a current vacancy. St. Thomas, Ontario (Elgin Zone)
Application Deadline: August 24, 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): 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 - 70 hours biweekly; Monday-Friday 9am-4pm; including a paid 30-minute 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 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: the impact of psychiatric symptoms on functioning, risk factors related to safety of client and others 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) Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly
We prefer the following qualifications: 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 – August 24, 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
Requirements
Candidates must have post-secondary education in a related field, such as a BSW or a post-graduate diploma in addiction. A current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check is mandatory for all applicants.
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Market context
Behavioral health roles remain in steady demand
In Ontario, behavioral-health roles are typically driven by ongoing need in community, outpatient, and support settings serving people with mental health or substance use challenges. These positions can be competitive because employers often look for experience with diverse populations plus a high school diploma or GED, with a bachelor’s in social work or a related field preferred. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to show relevant client-facing experience and readiness to work with varied needs.
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