Mental Health Worker - Indigenous Wellness and Outreach

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton; Rustenburg; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Ontario is seeking a Mental Health Worker to support Indigenous communities' mental wellness. The role involves relational engagement, assessment, and outreach in various settings. Candidates should have a degree in a health-related field and experience working with Indigenous populations. This position is temporary, full-time, and may include hybrid work environments.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years experience in a comparable role working with Indigenous communities.
• Experience in identifying and addressing Indigenous health equity barriers.
• Demonstrated ability to perform comprehensive mental health assessments.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to engagement, assessment, care planning, and follow-up.
• Support mental wellness through outreach in community settings.
• Build trust and increase access to mental health services for Indigenous clients.

Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Problem-solving

Crisis intervention

Conflict resolution

Cultural competency in Indigenous health

Education

Degree/Diploma in Nursing, Social Work, or Occupational Therapy

Current registration with relevant college

Tools

Microsoft Office suite

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Position Details

Posting #: 31767

Department: Concurrent Disorders - Outpatient Services

Employee Type: Temporary, Full Time

If Temporary, Number of Weeks: 156

Union: OPSEU

Openings Remaining: 1

Schedule

Work Days: Monday to Friday

Time of Day: Days

Shift: 7.5 hour

Shift Start: Hours are subject to change based on operational requirements.

This position may be scheduled at any of the following sites: Charlton Campus (Hamilton Downtown), West 5th Campus (Hamilton Mountain), Hybrid - On-site/Remote

Application Dates

Opening Date: 17/07/2025

Closing Date: 15/08/2025 Applications must be received online by 12:00 midnight on the Closing Date

Position Description

Position Summary

The primary responsibility of the Mental Health Worker will be to contribute to the achievement of the following core program functions: engagement and relationship-building; intake and screening; specialized assessment; care planning, clinical intervention and follow up; transition support, system navigation, advocacy and referral; consultation, education and support; program and system development; and service and program evaluation which are grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural safety, and trauma-informed practice.

The Mental Health Worker plays a key role in supporting the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. This position supports wholistic mental wellness through engagement, relationship building, and community-based outreach.

This is a mobile outreach role that meets Indigenous clients, particularly those experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges, in community settings, including homes, cultural spaces, and non-traditional environments. The worker supports individuals who may face systemic barriers to accessing mainstream mental health and addictions (MHA) services with compassion and works to build trust, increase access, and promote wellness through culturally grounded approaches.

Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Nursing (RN) or Degree in Social Work (BSW or MSW) or Occupational TherapyORcurrent registration in good standing with the College of Psychotherapists with a Degree in a health-related discipline
• Current registration with your college in good standing: College of Nurses (RN), Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario or College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Minimum 3-5 years experience in a comparable role working with the defined population required ( e.g. Indigenous communities)
• Practical and related experience working with Indigenous communities and providing support and care to individuals for assessment and coordination of services
• Lived experience of anti-Indigenous racism and impacts of colonization is required
• Preference will be given to candidates with lived experience of Indigeneity with an understanding of barriers faced by Indigenous populations in the Hamilton, Six Nations, and Mississauga of the Credit areas.
• Experience in identifying and addressing Indigenous patient health equity barriers.
• CPI-Crisis Prevention Training (or successful completion as part of clinical orientation) is required
• Demonstrated knowledge and practiced skills in working with mental health and addiction difficulties.
• Knowledge and experience with anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice.
• Knowledge of and experience with clinical interventions and approaches to promote mental wellness with Indigenous Peoples.
• Understands the principles of Indigenous Health and can design, develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of coordinated treatment recommendations addressing mental wellness from a wholistic trauma-informed lens.
• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities, navigating institutional resistance and leading health equity and anti-oppression work and/or demonstrated experience supporting positive change in Indigenous inclusion
• Proven ability to perform comprehensive mental health and addiction assessment and establish rapport with target population ( e.g. Indigenous communities)
• Ability to assess client and staff education needs, develop and deliver appropriate Indigenous Health education interventions and/or referral connections for further supports
• Ability to coach and support on matters of Indigenous Health, education, and motivational development
• Understanding of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action, MMIWG Calls for Justice, and other related community developed guidelines, recommendations, and frameworks for equitable healthcare for Indigenous Peoples
• Demonstrated ability in conflict resolution and crisis intervention
• Demonstrated successful experience in effecting change and transformation in a unionized environment
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with a transdisciplinary team and partner agencies/organizations both on the team and in the community
• Ability and willingness to travel (e.g. be mobile) and work in various settings/environments throughout the day (e.g. office, schools, community, home, etc.)
• Has strong verbal and written communication skills combined with the ability to work with minimal supervision and an ability to prioritize work demands.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving and systems thinking skills.
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office suite of tools (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and familiarity in the Microsoft Teams environment
• Demonstrates a solution-focused mindset with strong adaptability and flexibility, fostering resilience in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
• Demonstrates compassion, patience, and emotional intelligence when addressing misunderstandings or resistance, fostering growth through respectful dialogue and encouraging stronger, more inclusive relationships through education and constructive accountability development.
  
  

HOURS OF WORK

Monday-Friday; days with some extended hours as required.

Preference for this role will be given to qualified Indigenous candidates in accordance with Section 16(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Candidates are encouraged to self-identify their First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis ancestry.

The assessment of Indigenous Identity will be conducted by an Indigenous-led review process, grounded in principles of respect, inclusion, and reconciliation, with the intention to support meaningful representation rather than create barriers or marginalization.

St. Joe’s fosters an environment where we celebrate diversity, where teams reflect the diversity of the community in which we serve, enhancing the connection to patients, clients, community, and each other.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, and diversity in all our programs, practices, facilities, and people. We foster a culture of patient and staff safety where all positions comply and work in conjunction with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of SJHH.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. SJHH is committed to a barrier-free recruitment and selection process - please inform us should accommodation be required at any point in the recruitment process.