Addiction & Mental Health Worker, Community Homes for Opportunity

CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services; St. Thomas; On-site; CAD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP pension

9% in lieu of benefits

70 hours biweekly

Job summary

CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services in St. Thomas, Ontario is seeking an Addiction & Mental Health Worker for the Community Homes for Opportunity program.

This full-time contract position supports residents with housing, life skills, and community integration, working 70 hours biweekly with a 9% in lieu of benefits and HOOPP eligibility. You'll coordinate intake assessments, discharge planning, and ongoing goal planning, with wage grid progression from Level 1 to Level 8 and

Qualifications

• Registered with one of the designated professional colleges (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, COTO, CRPO, CPSO, or CPO).
• Experience in housing support or community-based care is valued.

Responsibilities

• Support implementation of new initiatives and policy changes within the program.
• Assist with intake assessments and tours to determine eligibility for referrals.
• Provide crisis support and maintain respectful, accessible service delivery.
• Coordinate with coordinators/managers on discharges, admissions, and ongoing care plans.
• Support residents to achieve housing stability and life skills goals.

Job description

Addiction & Mental Health Worker, Community Homes for Opportunity

Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Community Homes for Opportunity
Direct Service - (OPSEU)
Full-Time, Contract (End Date: March 31, 2027)

This posting is the result of a current vacancy
St. Thomas, Ontario (Elgin Zone)
- Application Deadline: November 2, 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):
• 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 biweekly; Monday to Friday 9am - 4:30pm or the option of a compressed work week; Unpaid 30 minute 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 WILLBE MAKINGA 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