Why work for CMHA York Region?

We are a team committed to our vision of mental health support for all. We offer an inclusive, innovative and high-performance work culture that helps us deliver transformational impact. The organization cares about the growth, safety and well-being of employees and offers:

• HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)
• Robust Performance and Career Development program
• Learning & development opportunities

Learn more about us by visiting: https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/

We are hiring a Family Social Worker in our Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT)-SE Program! JOIN US at CMHA-YRSS; where innovation and community mental health care intersect!

Closing Date: October 2, 2025

Permanent Full-time, 35 Hours per Week, Evening Hours and Weekends may be required

Salary: $63,345- $67,774 $ per annum *This represents the first three-steps of a seven-step salary grid. Candidate experience will be considered when determining the starting salary

Location:

The Family Social Worker for the ACTT-SE Program will work from the Markham Office located at 3601 Highway 7 East, Suite 710, Markham, Ontario, L3R 0M3 on the days of on-site work. The incumbent will work out in the community/ client visits with regular travel in the Markham area, York Region & South Simcoe required.

Job Profile:

The Family Social Worker is an integral member of the team who provides counselling and guidance to ACT clients. The social worker counsels individuals and family members regarding behavioral modifications, symptom management, rehabilitation, social adjustment, and financial assistance.

The Family Social Worker uses bio-psychosocial, Recovery, and empowerment approaches, including natural supports wherever possible to enable clients to maintain and develop optimum functioning and social roles. The Social Worker works with clients ages 16 years and older with serious and persistent mental illness with severe functional challenges, who have avoided or who have not responded well to traditional community-based or other outpatient mental health care and psychiatric rehabilitation services. Clients may have additional challenges such as personality disorders, concurrent disorders (substance abuse and mental health issues), traumatic brain injury, developmental disabilities, they may be homeless, or involved with the criminal justice system. In collaboration with the team, Social Worker uses individual and group empowerment oriented social work methods based upon a strengths Model approach to help combat stigma, promote optimal personal functioning and resilience, as well as community engagement by the client, significant others, and their family. The Social Worker collaborates with clients to provide individualized and flexible services to engage, support, and integrate them into the community, and facilitates their use of resources and supports to maximize their independence and potential and promote their recovery.

In addition to adhering to all organizational policies and procedures, Social Workers are expected to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers.

The ACTT team Family Social Worker is responsible for:

• Counselling and educating families about severe and persistent mental illness.
• Interviewing individuals, families and significant others to assess clients’ social, emotional, physical and mental impairments, as well as financial needs.
• Assisting clients in obtaining appropriate community resources for financial support, such as ODSP, Ontario Works, supportive housing, etc.
• Determining clients’ eligibility for financial assistance, where appropriate.
• Leads group counselling sessions and plans psychosocial programming for clients in need of specific services, essentially serving as a liaison between social service agencies and clients.
• Developing program content, organizing, and leading activities planned to enhance the social development of individual ACT clients.
• Investigating and monitoring home conditions to determine safety and avoid harmful living conditions, in partnership with the rest of the clinical team.
• Obtaining a thorough social history in a timely manner with each new client and bringing relevant concerns to the attention of all team members.
• In this role you will provide family support and therapy specific to ACT clients’ families as this is a cornerstone of ACT services.
• Plan and facilitate Family Support Groups for our ACT teams
  • Offer individualized psychoeducation about the client’s illness and the role of the family and other significant people in the therapeutic process (topics such as: resolving conflict, and maintaining relationships with family and/or other significant people).
• Establish ongoing communication and collaboration, face-to-face and by telephone or electronic media, between the ACT team and the family.
• An essential core activity of ACT is supporting client self-determination in relation to legal matters (charges, diversion, probation, CTOs, SDMs, PGT- guardianship, POA, Mental Health Advance Directives and PHIPA). Familiarity in these areas is an asset.

Requirements:

• B.S.W. with a minimum of 4 years experience or a M.S.W. with a minimum of 2 years experience in a community-based organization working with adults with serious mental illness
• The social worker must be registered (RSW) with the OCSWSSW.
• A second language (Cantonese, Farsi, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Tamil, Urdu) reflecting the local community is an asset.
• Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment-oriented philosophies and practices in work with consumers
• Ability to observe boundaries, engage in appropriate emotional regulation, refrain from dual relationships with clients, maintain confidentiality, and engage in reasonable self-care strategies designed to reduce stress by balancing work/life responsibilities
• Knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act, mental health reform principles, the Substitute Decisions Act, the Health Care Consent Act and PHIPA requirements
• Extensive knowledge and experience facilitating groups.
• Extensive knowledge of supports and services in York Region, including formal and informal resources
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to demonstrate computer skills, specifically Microsoft Office and Outlook
• A valid Canadian driver’s license, a minimum $1,000,000 third party liability insurance
• A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening

This position reports to and is supervised by the Manager, People and Teams, ACTT-SE.

Working Conditions:

Office work, community settings, meetings in clients’ home and travel with clients.

Disclaimer: In keeping with mental health reform, best practices, funding and direction this position may later require knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions not noted here.

Additional Requirements

• A valid Canadian driver’s license, a minimum $1,000,000 third party liability insurance
• A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position

To request this posting in an alternate format or to request accommodation in the application process, email AODA@cmha-yr.on.ca

Application Procedures:

If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/ click on the “Apply Now” button and proceed to upload your cover letter and resume.

Complete the application form and submit the following:

• "Optional" Cover letter with 300 words or less and tell us why you would want this role and why you should be considered for the position (PDF or Word)
• Resume (PDF or Word) (applications without resumes will not be considered)

CMHA-YRSS is dedicated to promoting employment equity and dismantling obstacles to employment for marginalized communities. CMHA-YRSS supports the journey to mental wellness, and we welcome applicants with lived experience of mental illness. In acknowledgment of the systemic underrepresentation faced by Black, Indigenous, racialized peoples, and those living with disabilities, this opportunity has been developed based on the special program provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We therefore extend invitations for applications from the following groups:

• Racialized Persons
• Indigenous Persons
• Persons living with Disabilities

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.