Job Description

Salary: $28.78/hr to 34.72/hr

Career Opportunity

Job Title: Mental Health Navigator

Classification: Community Health Worker

Department: ONHC

Reporting To: Manager, Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre

Type: Term 0.6 FTE (3 days/week) Maternity Leave Coverage (12months)

Compensation: $28.78/hr to 34.72/hr plus a comprehensive compensation package that includes time-off entitlements, health benefits, life insurance, and participation in the HOOPP pension plan.

Deadline to apply: Until a suitable candidate is found.

Apply to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/741

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About us

We are Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non-profit, community-governed organization that serves over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC provides a wide range of health care services such as primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health, and harm reduction. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve and committed to removing barriers to accessing services for people who are vulnerable because of their age, income, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity, and language or culture.

SWCHC strives to ensure that our team reflects the communities we serve. We work within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework that acknowledges the existence and impacts of systemic racism and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.

What The Program Entails

The Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre (ONHC) is a proud program of the Somerset West Community Health Centre that provides healthcare, offers timely, coordinated and culturally appropriate health and social services to newcomers. Our approach to care is through a health equity lens with a focus on addressing the social determinants of health to improve the lives and wellbeing of our clients.

What Youll Do

The Mental Health Navigator assists clients to navigate the healthcare and social service system and ensures that proper referrals are made within the community in order to meet the needs of clients. The incumbent works closely with other members of the interdisciplinary team to provide health education, advocacy, case management support and practical assistance while playing an intermediary role between clients and service providers. The ideal candidate will understand and support SWCHCs mission, possess excellent interpersonal skills, organizational capabilities, and reporting abilities. The individual is motivated and passionate about working with newcomers and enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and has experience providing crisis counseling and basic mental health interventions.

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What Were Looking For

Life And Work Experience

Minimum of 2 years experience in a community setting with emphasis on crisis intervention, practical assistance, and case coordination services, with specialization in mental health desired
Minimum 2-3 years experience working with marginalized and diverse client populations, specifically with refugees and immigrant

Your Education Path

Bachelor of Social Work or Social Service diploma or equivalent combination of training and experience in a related field
Member in good standing with regulatory college; highly recommended. Member of a recognized college

Required Language

Fluency in English is
Fluency in French, Arabic, Dari, Pashto highly desirable

What You Bring to the Table

Awareness of acts or legislation that governs practices: Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS), Child Protection Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Mental Health Act, Principles of routine practices (universal precautions)
Knowledge of social determinants of health, mental health promotion and prevention
Experience with crisis counseling, and crisis intervention strategies, supporting community members in accessing services they need for their wellness journey.
Ability and skills to recognize and manage the signs of a client in crisis
Quality case management experience working with clients towards their
Ability to provide system navigation support, and resource
In depth knowledge of local, regional and provincial community resources and services related to mental health, primary care, settlement services.
Good understanding and knowledge of culturally sensitive care and interventions
Experience working in community mental
Knowledge and comfort with a harm reduction approach
Commitment to strength-based philosophy and practice
Assessment and intervention skills; sound judgment skills
Ability to provide basic education to individuals and families
Ability to work in a collaborative interdisciplinary team environment
Excellent communication skills, able to bridge gap between clients and service providers and service agencies
Ability to coordinate case conferences of professionals from various disciplines and family/significant others
Ability to provide client advocacy
Respect the privacy of all clients and adhere to strict confidentiality protocols to protect client personal and sensitive health and social information.
Proficient use of computers and various software applications and electronic medical records

management systems.

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Your Day-To-Day at a Glance

As a Mental Health Navigator your responsibilities are:

Client Support & Navigation

Provide culturally sensitive system navigation for newcomers, refugees, and immigrants experiencing mental health challenges.
Assess client needs and connect them to primary care, mental health, and community support services.
Offer basic mental health education and support with referrals and service pathways.

Crisis Intervention

Provide short-term crisis counseling and de-escalation support to clients as needed
Identify and respond to mental health crises, arranging urgent referrals when needed for clients in distress.

Case Management

Support clients with short-term case coordination, care planning, and goal setting, resource referrals, application supports
Document all interactions accurately in the EMR and maintain confidentiality.

Advocacy & Resource Connection

Advocate for clients facing barriers related to housing, income, legal needs, or other social determinants.
Link clients to community resources

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Work with ONHC clinicians, nurses, MHN staff, and settlement partners to coordinate care for shared clients
Work in collaboration with external partners on shared clients
Participate in team huddles, case discussions, and joint planning.

Administration & Reporting

Maintain clear documentation and follow PHIPA and privacy requirements.
Track service activity and contribute to program reporting as needed.

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Ready to Apply?

Take your career to the next level! Submit a cover letter and your resume to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/741

This position will remain open until suitable candidate is found

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Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in working with us. Due to high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Somerset West Community Health Centre

Open Positions

Mental Health Navigator