Counsellor (MSW)

HealthCaringKW; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 Weeks Paid Vacation

Employer Paid Extended Health Benefits

Employer Paid Insurance Benefits

Paid Public Holidays & Sick Time

HOOPP Pension Plan

Job summary

Community Healthcaring KW in Kitchener-Waterloo invites a Counsellor (MSW) to join an interprofessional primary care team. The role provides short-term, solution-focused counselling to rostered clients and supports access to community and health services.

The successful candidate will have an MSW or related degree, be registered with Ontario social work bodies, at least three years of counselling experience with vulnerable populations, and strong confidentiality, English communication, and

Qualifications

• Masters of Social Work (MSW) or another relevant degree from a recognized university.
• Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Minimum of three years providing short-term counselling in a community setting (including primary care)
• Minimum of three years working experience with vulnerable or marginalized clients
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Maximize the function and independence of clients rostered at the Health Centre by providing short-term counselling to individuals and/or families.
• Deliver a wide range of counselling modalities as needed (e.g., CBT, DBT, talk therapy) and maintain records in EMR per policies.
• Provide integrated, solution-focused social work interventions to rostered clients.
• Ensure comprehensive treatment by sharing information with primary care colleagues and documenting in EMR.

Skills

Confidentiality

Trauma-informed care

English communication

Interprofessional collaboration

Independent work

Education

MSW or relevant degree

Registered with Ontario social work body

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) – PSS

Job description

Community Healthcaring KW provides a broad range of services aimed at improving the health of individuals and the wider community. Our services include medical and dental care, health promotion, illness prevention and outreach programming. Our expertise and resources are focused on working with those who experience health inequities and barriers to accessing health services. Collaborating as an interdisciplinary team, we provide services and supports that address the social determinants of health including factors and barriers such as poverty, inadequate housing, food insecurity, substance use, language and culture, as well as stigma and social exclusion.

Community Healthcaring KW works with the most complex client population served by primary health care professionals within Waterloo Region. Our highly skilled and diverse team works from a strength-based approach with individual clients as well as the broader community. We collaborate with many partner agencies and organizations within Waterloo Region. Our team consists of Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Dietitians, Chiropodists, Pharmacists, Psychiatrists, Health Promoters, Community Health Workers, Administrative Staff and Volunteers.

Job Title: Counsellor (MSW)

Pay: $64,441.02 - $75,000.59 per year

Permanent, Full-Time (FTE 1.0)

37.5 hours per week

Job Summary

The Counsellor provides solution-focused, short-term counselling (8 sessions per year) to rostered clients of Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo (the “Health Centre”). The Counsellor works within an interprofessional primary care team and sees clients of the Health Centre on Francis Street for both scheduled and urgent appointments.

Responsibilities

• Maximize the function and independence of clients rostered at the Health Centre by providing short-term counselling to individuals and/or families.
• Deliver a wide range of counselling modalities as needed (e.g., CBT, DBT, talk therapy etc.) and maintains client records, assessment notes and correspondence in keeping with regulatory requirements and the policies and procedures of the Health Centre.
• Provide integrated, solution-focused social work interventions as needed to rostered clients of the interprofessional primary care team.
• Ensure comprehensive treatment for rostered clients by sharing information with primary care colleagues on an ongoing basis, including through documentation in the EMR and participating in case conferences.
• Work with the rest of the Primary Care Department, including Client Service Navigators, to support clients’ access to additional community, health, social and recreational services.
• Provide consultation and /or education on psychosocial issues to primary care colleagues and other staff of the Health Centre at both locations.
• Support the Manager of Primary Care in liaising with broader mental health initiatives within the broader KW4 Ontario Health Team.
• Supervise social work and/or psychotherapy students in field placement practicums.
• Prepare referral and consultation letters, and other correspondence as required.
• Actively participates in team and staff meetings, chart reviews, case conferences, and other meetings and committee work as appropriate to support primary care service delivery and organizational goals.
• Works during both regular and extended hours (evenings/weekends) and in locations within Kitchener to be determined by CHCKW.
• Collects, analyzes and reports on data and relevant information and participates in research as determined by CHCKW.
• Contributes to the CHCKW practices of hiring, orientating and training of staff as needed.
• Works from a Social Determinants of Health perspective to improve health outcomes for individual clients and/or for the development of community health and well-being, and to reduce health inequities.
• Works individually and collaboratively in the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives and activities.
• Works in a manner that preserves privacy and confidentiality.
• Works in a manner that ensures client safety and minimizes risk to clients, volunteers and the CHCKW.
• Works in a manner consistent with the CHCKW Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles.
• Works in a manner that demonstrates self-reflection and personal accountability for work performance.
• Adheres to all CHCKW policies.

Accountability

This position is accountable to the Manager, Primary Care.

Qualifications

• Masters of Social Work (MSW) or another relevant degree from a recognized university
• Registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Minimum of three years providing short-term counselling in a community setting (including primary care)
• Minimum of three years working experience with vulnerable or marginalized clients
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Demonstrated knowledge of dual diagnosis and concurrent disorders
• Demonstrated proficiency in trauma-informed care, mental health and addictions assessment, and a wide variety of counselling approaches
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interprofessional healthcare team
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of a personal computer and software programs including Microsoft Office, email and internet. Experience with electronic medial records, preferably PSS.
• Proficiency in the use of a personal computer and software programs including Microsoft Office, email and internet.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbally. Second language is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.
• Experience working effectively with culturally and economically diverse populations.
• Ability to obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the Health Centre.
• 2-Factor Authentication for Microsoft is App based (Microsoft Authenticator Application) and used to ensure the security of our online accounts. 2-FA requires the use of a personal mobile device with a recent operating system.
• The Health Centre requires that all staff be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 at the time of hire and maintain vaccination ongoing as boosters become available. Official proof of Covid-19 vaccination status is a mandatory requirement unless an exemption document is provided.

Benefit package

• 3 Weeks Paid Vacation
• Employer Paid Extended Health Benefits
• Employer Paid Insurance Benefits
• Paid Public Holidays & Sick Time
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Application Deadline

August 21st, 2026

The Health Centre values the diversity of its staff and welcomes applications from people of all races, ethnicity, religions, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity and those with disabilities. Individuals with a disability requiring accommodation during the application and/or the interview process should advise the recruitment contact noted above so that suitable arrangements can be made.

Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of this recruitment process.

We appreciate all expressions of interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.