Bilingual Mental Health Counsellor- Newcomer Clinic Program

Centretown Community Health Centre; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

Centretown Community Health Centre is seeking a Bilingual Mental Health Counsellor for the Newcomer Clinic Program. This role involves providing essential mental health support to asylum seekers and refugees facing systemic barriers. Responsibilities include assessment, short-term counselling, advocacy, and collaboration with health professionals to ensure equitable access to care.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counselling or related field.
• Minimum three years counselling experience.
• Ability to work effectively with vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide counselling to clients coping with migration-related challenges.
• Assess client needs and tailor care approaches.
• Engage in crisis intervention and advocacy.

Skills

Crisis Intervention

Advocacy

Therapeutic Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Detail-oriented

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work or Counselling

Tools

Windows-based computer systems

Job description

Position: Bilingual Mental Health Counsellor- Newcomer Clinic Program
Mental Health, Substance Use Health and Addictions Program

Description:

Summary
The Mental Health Counsellor works within an integrated care model with primary care and allied health professionals internal and external to CCHC to support the health journeys of clients in the CCHC Newcomers Clinic.

The Mental Health Counsellor assists clients to cope with the challenges of migration and resettlement, work towards their goals and integrate into their communities. This is achieved through the assessment, counselling, group education and support, advocacy, information and referral. The clinic primarily serves asylum seekers and refugees in the Ottawa area who face systemic barriers in the process of seeking safety in Canada.

The Counsellor, working from an anti-oppression, trauma informed and harm reduction framework, assesses client needs and goals, and tailors the care approach required based on acuity of need. The Counsellor will provide short-term counselling related to migration and settlement stressors, life cycle and family issues, decision-making, problem solving, depression, grief, isolation and anxiety, among other things. As longer-term counselling is needed, for example related to trauma and other more complex issues, the Counsellor will bridge to ongoing, culturally appropriate services. The Counsellor may also engage in crisis intervention, advocacy, case conferencing and leading psychoeducational groups.

The Counsellor ensures excellent client care, exercising sound clinical judgment, coupled with a deep understanding of global migration, informed by lived experience, professional expertise, or community engagement. The Counsellor is skilled in therapeutic modalities, has a high level of knowledge of the key resources and services available to support the health goals of clients, and is skilled at advocating with and for clients to ensure equitable access to care and support. Excellent collaborative and relationship building skills ensure the ability to engage allied health professionals and community partners where appropriate, in the client’s circle of care.

Mental Health Counsellors primarily work from the Centre and may work remotely if virtual care is requested by the client. They may provide outreach and home visits in exceptional cases.

Requirements:
Essential

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counselling or equivalent combination of education, lived and professional experience.
• Minimum three (3) years counselling experience
• Registered or eligible for registration with appropriate governing body (e.g. College of Social Workers or Psychotherapists)
• Lived experience with global migration; including personal or family experience with immigration, refugee status, or international relocation (please self-identify on your application)
• Demonstrated ability to work with vulnerable populations within a trauma-informed lens
• Experience working with equity deserving populations including: Newcomers, youth, LGBT2SQ+ individuals; individuals who are unhoused or precariously housed; individuals with concurrent disorders; seniors
• In-depth knowledge of required provincial, federal and municipal programs relevant to populations served, e.g. ID documents, work permit, permanent residency etc.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of multidisciplinary team
• Experience in providing case management services within a concurrent disorders framework
• Thorough knowledge of social and health service resources within Ottawa
• Demonstrated ability to provide crisis intervention and support
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including thorough clinical documentation
• Flexibility, excellent clinical judgement, initiative and ability to manage in a fast paced environment
• Effective clinical skills, including the use of appropriate therapeutic modalities and other communication and relational tools, to engage with clients and determine goals of care.
• Demonstrated flexibility and effectiveness within a busy interdisciplinary clinic setting
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Advanced knowledge of acute symptoms related to serious mental illness and/or substance use with a particular view to intersections with migration trauma
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with challenging situations, maintain healthy boundaries and exhibit sound judgement for personal, team and client safety
• Proficient with Windows-based computer systems including email, MS Word, data base programs and Electronic Medical Records.
• English: Written and Oral
• French: Written and Oral
• Additional language(s) commonly spoken by individuals seeking services, e.g. Arabic, Spanish, Kirundi, Swahili or Somali; spoken
• Lived/living experience as a racialized individual (please self-identify on your application)

Salary: $ 35.87 to $ 43.22 /hour

Terms of Employment: Regular Part Time – 17.5 hours/week

Deadline for Application: Wednesday, July 30, 2025

How to Apply:

Submit your letter of interest along with your résumé on or before July, 30 2025 by 11:59pm to [e-mail].

Please note the following:

• The subject line of your email should read “ Bilingual Mental Health Counsellor– NCC Program”
• The file name for your resume should read: “(last name)_(first name)_ Resume”
• The file name for your cover letter should read: “(last name)_(first name)_ Cover Letter”

Centretown Community Health Centre

Centretown Community Health Centre

Position: Bilingual Mental Health Counsellor- Newcomer Clinic Program
Mental Health, Substance Use Health and Addictions Program

Region: Ottawa

Description:

Summary
The Mental Health Counsellor works within an integrated care model with primary care and allied health professionals internal and external to CCHC to support the health journeys of clients in the CCHC Newcomers Clinic.

The Mental Health Counsellor assists clients to cope with the challenges of migration and resettlement, work towards their goals and integrate into their communities. This is achieved through the assessment, counselling, group education and support, advocacy, information and referral. The clinic primarily serves asylum seekers and refugees in the Ottawa area who face systemic barriers in the process of seeking safety in Canada.

The Counsellor, working from an anti-oppression, trauma informed and harm reduction framework, assesses client needs and goals, and tailors the care approach required based on acuity of need. The Counsellor will provide short-term counselling related to migration and settlement stressors, life cycle and family issues, decision-making, problem solving, depression, grief, isolation and anxiety, among other things. As longer-term counselling is needed, for example related to trauma and other more complex issues, the Counsellor will bridge to ongoing, culturally appropriate services. The Counsellor may also engage in crisis intervention, advocacy, case conferencing and leading psychoeducational groups.

The Counsellor ensures excellent client care, exercising sound clinical judgment, coupled with a deep understanding of global migration, informed by lived experience, professional expertise, or community engagement. The Counsellor is skilled in therapeutic modalities, has a high level of knowledge of the key resources and services available to support the health goals of clients, and is skilled at advocating with and for clients to ensure equitable access to care and support. Excellent collaborative and relationship building skills ensure the ability to engage allied health professionals and community partners where appropriate, in the client’s circle of care.

Mental Health Counsellors primarily work from the Centre and may work remotely if virtual care is requested by the client. They may provide outreach and home visits in exceptional cases.

Requirements:
Essential

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counselling or equivalent combination of education, lived and professional experience.
• Minimum three (3) years counselling experience
• Registered or eligible for registration with appropriate governing body (e.g. College of Social Workers or Psychotherapists)
• Lived experience with global migration; including personal or family experience with immigration, refugee status, or international relocation (please self-identify on your application)
• Demonstrated ability to work with vulnerable populations within a trauma-informed lens
• Experience working with equity deserving populations including: Newcomers, youth, LGBT2SQ+ individuals; individuals who are unhoused or precariously housed; individuals with concurrent disorders; seniors
• In-depth knowledge of required provincial, federal and municipal programs relevant to populations served, e.g. ID documents, work permit, permanent residency etc.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of multidisciplinary team
• Experience in providing case management services within a concurrent disorders framework
• Thorough knowledge of social and health service resources within Ottawa
• Demonstrated ability to provide crisis intervention and support
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including thorough clinical documentation
• Flexibility, excellent clinical judgement, initiative and ability to manage in a fast paced environment
• Effective clinical skills, including the use of appropriate therapeutic modalities and other communication and relational tools, to engage with clients and determine goals of care.
• Demonstrated flexibility and effectiveness within a busy interdisciplinary clinic setting
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Advanced knowledge of acute symptoms related to serious mental illness and/or substance use with a particular view to intersections with migration trauma
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with challenging situations, maintain healthy boundaries and exhibit sound judgement for personal, team and client safety
• Proficient with Windows-based computer systems including email, MS Word, data base programs and Electronic Medical Records.

Language designation

• English: Written and Oral
• French: Written and Oral

Desired:

• Additional language(s) commonly spoken by individuals seeking services, e.g. Arabic, Spanish, Kirundi, Swahili or Somali; spoken
• Lived/living experience as a racialized individual (please self-identify on your application)

Salary: $ 35.87 to $ 43.22 /hour

Terms of Employment: Regular Part Time – 17.5 hours/week

Deadline for Application: Wednesday, July 30, 2025

How to Apply:

Submit your letter of interest along with your résumé on or before July, 30 2025 by 11:59pm to [e-mail].

Please note the following:

• The subject line of your email should read “ Bilingual Mental Health Counsellor– NCC Program”
• The file name for your resume should read: “(last name)_(first name)_ Resume”
• The file name for your cover letter should read: “(last name)_(first name)_ Cover Letter”

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only applicants invited to an interview will be contacted.

Candidates requiring accommodation during the application and/or the interview process should contact us at [e-mail] so arrangements can be made. CCHC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce and as such all applicants are welcome.

Centertown CHC has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, as such applicants must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and provide proof of vaccinations to be considered for employment. Reasonable accommodation will be considered for persons with medical exemption or other exemptions under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Location: Ottawa

Profession Type: Mental Health/Addiction Services

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