Crisis Outreach Worker, Crisis Services - Elgin
Direct Service - (OPSEU)
Full-Time, Contract (Ending: November 4, 2026)
This posting is the result of a current vacancy
Multi-Site Accountability; Elgin County Catchment Area (Elgin Zone)
- Application Deadline: May 19, 2026 -

Crisis Outreach Worker will support individuals accessing services by providing a psychosocial response in order to promote crisis resolution and empowerment for the individual. The Crisis Outreach Worker will also work collaboratively with individuals to assess and identify their needs and link them to appropriate supports in the community. Crisis Outreach Worker 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
• When you'll work – 70 hours bi-weekly; Rotating Days, Afternoons, Evenings & Weekends; including a paid 30-minute meal break
• What your benefits will be - 9% in lieu of benefits
• Your pension plan – Immediately eligible for optional enrollment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

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
• 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

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.

Police Specific Service Interactions and Police Partnership:

• Work directly alongside police officers with STPS, APS and/or Elgin OPP as scheduled and occupying office space at the reporting police headquarters
• Maintain and document accurate recording of all police incidents arising in the course of the work as well as any follow-up completed
• Maintain dual records, recording both in the format required by CMHA and in accordance with the documentation and record storage policy and procedures of policing partner
• Compile and maintain program statistics as required by respective police partner and CMHA and to provide narrative detail or write-ups when requested in order to support future grant and funding proposals
• Adhere to the privacy policies of and privacy legislation of respective police partner, and CMHA TV collection and disclosure of information, undertaking responsibility for maintaining awareness of the unique differences between the privacy frameworks of municipal services, provincial services, and health services
• When necessary, compile documentation such as affidavits or will-say statements where required by respective policing partner or where compelled by court
• When necessary, to testify and/or provide formal statements professionally and accurately at hearings, trials, investigations and such other judicial or quasi- judicial proceedings as may be compelled from time to time, arising from the nature of the work.
• Adhere strictly to the health and safety provisions put in place by respective police partner and CMHA TV and to assume an active and diligent role in contributing to a safe and health workplace
• Respect the authority of our policing partners (e.g. Officer, Inspector, or other staff persons) assigned to functionally direct the work performed as part of this role (“functional supervisor”)
• Monitor and report on quality of services provided, identifying deficiencies and respectfully advocating positive change
• To represent CMHA TV, respective police partner professionally and positively in the community

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO APPLY:

Police Vulnerable Sector Check

Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) completed within the last six months. In order to avoid delays in beginning a position, interested applicants who are in need of a PVSC are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible.

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:

• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in clinical assessment and treatment, crisis intervention and support, relapse prevention, and client advocacy
• Broad knowledge of, and practice in, evidence-based treatment approaches to working with individuals with serious mental illness and addictions
• Competence in relevant computer applications, particularly Microsoft Word and Outlook
• Registration with a college or professional body associated with their discipline; employment experience in the mental health field;
• Employment experience in a mental health crisis support program; and knowledge of the criminal justice system and/or addictions services sector.
• 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 – May 19, 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

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