Community Navigator

CMHA Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

CMHA Calgary is seeking a Community Navigator to connect individuals and families with mental health and substance use supports, guiding referrals to CMHA Calgary programs and external resources tailored to each person's needs. The role promotes access to wellness services across Calgary.

You will collaborate with internal teams and community partners, participate in outreach, and maintain accurate program data.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a human services field.
• Minimum of three (3) years' professional experience in the mental health field.
• Certification in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and crisis support experience.
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), CPR and First Aid training are assets.
• Thorough understanding of mental health, community services, and lived experience considerations.

Responsibilities

• Provide accessible, person-centered support to individuals and loved ones seeking mental health or substance use services, offering guided referrals.
• Serve as a central point of contact to determine appropriate referrals internally and externally.
• Collaborate with internal teams and community partners to offer targeted workshops on social support topics.
• Participate in community partnership committees and act as liaison for other organizations.
• Stay current with local mental health resources and maintain referral networks.
• Represent CMHA Calgary at wellness fairs and host learning sessions.
• Maintain program data entry in a timely, accurate manner.
• Engage in short-term project development or other duties as needed.

Skills

ASIST Certification

NVCI Training

CPR & First Aid

Cultural competency

Facilitation skills

Verbal & written communication

Client-centred approach

Education

Undergraduate degree in human services

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Zoom

Job description

Description

POSITION TITLE:

Community Navigator

DEPARTMENT:

Community Programs

POSITION TYPE:

Permanent, Full-Time

HOURS OF WORK:

35 hours per week

REPORTS TO:

Senior Manager - Community Programs

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Navigator serves as a compassionate and knowledgeable gateway for individuals and families seeking support for mental health and/or substance use concerns. The Community Navigator plays a pivotal role in helping community members understand and access a wide range of services, offered both within CMHA Calgary and through external agencies and organizations. As a key connector, this role ensures individuals are supported in finding relevant resources, tailored to each individual's unique needs, while fostering greater access to mental health and wellness supports across the community.

Key Service Responsibilities And Specific Accountabilities

• Provide accessible, person-centered support to individuals and loved ones seeking mental health or substance use services, by offering informed guidance on CMHA Calgary programs, as well as external services within the broader community.
• Serve as a central point of contact and provide support to community members, and CMHA Calgary clients and staff, to determine appropriate service referrals internally and/or to external organizations, while empowering individuals to make informed choices about their care and support pathways.
• Collaborate with internal CMHA Calgary teams and community partners to identify and offer targeted in-service workshops on a variety of social support topics, and ensure seamless learning opportunities and connection points between organizations.
• Participate as a CMHA Calgary representative in community partnership committees, action tables and working groups, and act as a liaison for other organizations to connect with about services and programs available to assist their clients through CMHA Calgary.
• Stay current with up-to-date knowledge of local mental health, addiction, and social support resources, and maintain a network of referral pathways and relationships with community organizations.
• Represent CMHA Calgary at wellness fairs, facilitate learning sessions, and host tours for clients and groups who are interested in learning more about program offerings.
• Maintain program data entry in a manner that is timely and meets established agency standards.
• Engage in short-term project development or other duties as required to support the success of the role and organization.

Qualifications And Skills

• Undergraduate degree in a human services field (e.g., psychology, social work, education, nursing, sociology).
• Minimum of three (3) years' professional experience in the mental health field.
• Certification in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and experience supporting individuals in crisis or with suicidal ideation.
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), CPR and First Aid training are considered assets.
• Thorough understanding of issues related to mental health, community services, and offering support for people with lived experience of mental health and/or addiction concerns.
• Strong collaborative and relationship-building skills with key stakeholders and community groups.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships with individuals from a variety of backgrounds,
• Cultural competency in working with diverse groups.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Zoom.
• Facilitation skills with a deep commitment to the recovery model, harm reduction philosophy, strengths-based empowerment approaches, and solid upstream prevention and promotion thinking.
• Demonstrated competence in verbal, written, and computer-based communication styles.
• Effective conflict resolution, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Approachable, accessible, and facilitates cooperation.
• Works effectively both independently and in a team environment.
• Excellent time management, with the ability to handle multiple priorities. A high level of initiative, self-motivation, and self-management.

Additional Requirements

• A valid driver’s license and/or access to reliable transportation, and a willingness to travel across Calgary and surrounding communities regularly for program delivery is required.
• Ability to work flexible hours including daytime, evenings, and weekends is required.
• This role requires a balance between client engagement, verbal communication, and computer-based work, and the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be a thorough list of all responsibilities, tasks, duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities required. As a member of our frontline team, you may be exposed to emotionally charged and high-stress situations. It is essential that you demonstrate resilience, sound judgment, emotional regulation, and the ability to maintain composure and professionalism under pressure. CMHA Calgary operates CCTV equipment on its premises for safety and security purposes. All employees may be subject to video monitoring while on site. CMHA Calgary is a smoke-free work environment, there may be occasional exposure to second-hand smoke from designated smoking areas nearby.