Mental Health Housing Worker

Mental Health Housing Workers provide essential support for individuals facing mental health challenges and housing instability. Our approach is person-centered and multi-disciplinary, focusing on the unique needs of each client. Mental Health Housing Workers will deliver community-based mental health and housing supports to individuals living in independent units and congregate living environments; utilize supportive counseling best practices to improve clients’ mental health symptoms and daily functioning; help clients achieve and maintain housing stability; and serve clients across Haliburton, Peterborough, Northumberland, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. This role is vital in fostering positive mental health outcomes and stable housing for those clients connected to CMHA HKPR Housing.

Location: Peterborough
Status: Full-Time (2 positions)
Posting# MHHW-FT-07-26

Wage: $31.87 to $33.35 per hour, plus comprehensive Health & Dental Benefits and Pension Plan
Application Deadline: 12:00 noon on July 28, 2026

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Mental Health Worker/Case Management

• Complete a comprehensive assessment of client need
• Assess risk, develop strategies to mitigate risks and develop safety plan where needed
• Assist with the identification of support needs and work collaboratively to develop short-term goals
• Provide planned and crisis support
• Complete crisis plans and ensures communication of the plan with identified supports and community partners
• Monitor and evaluate progress of intervention plans
• Provide support with system navigation including health, housing, financial, legal, education, employment
• Advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients, when necessary
• Facilitate referrals to identified community resources
• Organize and participate in case coordination, liaison and service planning in collaboration with the client
• Use specialized interventions and counseling approaches, within a recovery philosophy, according to evidence based best practices established for C.B.T., M.I., D.B.T., brief narrative therapy, trauma informed care and concurrent disorders.
• Facilitate groups as assigned to clients in the program and other C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. programs, as required
• Provide mental health information/education to individuals, caregivers and other service providers
• Work with other C.M.H.A. staff/programs to support clients

2. Housing Stability and Residential Support - individual housing units (apartments) and congregate group living.
• Assist individuals in moving to alternate or initial housing as required
• Develop client housing stability plans and work on developing tenancy skills to promote independence
• Develop and facilitate psycho-educational and social recreational programming for tenants
• Conduct regular unit inspections and report maintenance issues for appropriate follow up
• Participate in referral and housing selection process including interviewing applicants and facilitating the move-in and move-out processes
• Provide individual coaching and life skills support
• Support occupants with day to day issues and concerns related to mental health and housing stability

3. Quality Improvement (Q.I.)
• Support the development of a quality improvement culture across the program and organization.
• Actively participate in Q.I. committees to support coordination and service delivery as required.
• Provide support to quality improvement projects in the program portfolio(s).
• Participate in the development, implementation, evaluation and revision of program policies and procedures for the program(s), as required.
• Actively participate in the development of a sustainability program to ensure ongoing application of all Accreditation standards, Required Organizational Practices, and Quality Improvement projects.

4. Continuing Competency
• Stay current with administrative requirements, including relevant legislation and all CMHA HKPR policies and procedures.
• Stay current with leading practices in relevant fields (e.g. attending training and/or conferences, reading current literature, etc.)

5. Documentation
• Ensure that all forms and reports are accurate and submitted within established timelines, consistent with organization policies and procedures.
• Utilize CMHA HKPR established client database documentation programs

6. Performance Management and Professional Development
• Participate cooperatively in the agency performance management process/system
• Stay current on relevant legislation and best practices, current research, policies and procedures
• Participate in ongoing professional development and mandatory training
• Actively engage and participate in supervisory process

7. Health and Safety – Worker Responsibilities
Work in compliance with the Occupational Health And Safety Act, applicable regulations and all organizational health and safety requirements and procedures to ensure the health and safety of clients, staff/colleagues, volunteers and students.

8. Client Safety
Adhere to CMHA HKPR client safety programs including program policies as well as infection control and prevention procedures. In partnership with clients, family members, and fellow staff, maintain open lines of communication to assist the organization in identifying and achieving quality outcomes for client safety. Report on client safety incidents and suggested improvements to manager
or delegate

9. Other Duties as Assigned
• Attend, participate in team/staff meetings, and all-staff meetings as required
• Participate in external committees as required
• Set up and take down of meeting rooms and spaces
• Duties may change from time to time

REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Required Items
Successful completion of Bachelor’s degree in the social/health science disciplines is preferred. A relevant post-secondary diploma combined with significant, demonstrated experience may be considered.

Other Relevant and Related Items
• Training in the following: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or other forms of emotional regulation support, Motivational Interviewing, Concurrent Disorders, Trauma-Informed Therapy
• Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Landlord Tenant Board regulations, and other housing legislation.
• Training in information systems, privacy and data management
• Successful completion of advanced training in Microsoft software and/or database software
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)
• Workplace Discrimination, Harassment & Violence Prevention
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA)
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
• Verbal Intervention Training
• Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN)
• Training in established Client Record Management System and Assessment Tools
• First Aid/C.P.R.

EXPERIENCE

Required Items
Three (3) years’ experience in the delivery of case management/community supports to clients, especially within the mental health services field.

Other Relevant and Related Items
• Demonstrated understanding of the crisis theory and recovery model, crisis intervention, mental illness, psychiatric medication and the Mental Health Act
• Demonstrated ability to apply a person centered, trauma and concurrent informed approach to care
• Demonstrated conflict resolution and crisis intervention abilities
• Proven assessment skills, sound judgment and decision-making skills.

COMPETENCIES
Work Related Competencies

Initiative and Self-Development
Consistently doing work in accordance with defined expectations, as well as actively working to solve problems when novel situations emerge. Being actively interested in personal development through reflection and active engagement

Sustainability
Respects that the organization has finite human and physical resources, while at the same time working to help achieve assigned tasks and goals.

Learning and Innovation
Valuing professional development, applying new skills and knowledge to work challenges.

Supports and Accountability
Works to provide appropriate and effective support to others; actively works to achieve individual and team goals and desired outcomes.

Focus on Quality and Strategic Priorities
Works to provide effective support to accomplish specific goals and tasks; manages time and work priorities effectively.

Communication and Professionalism
Is sensitive in interpersonal communications and works to understand and respond to others in an ethical and professional manner

Emotional and Social Competencies

Self-Perception
An individual’s feelings of inner strength, confidence, and the desire to pursue meaningful goals.
It also involves the person’s understanding of what, when, why, and how different emotions impact our thoughts and actions.

Interpersonal
Skills in developing and maintaining relationships based on trust, compassion, and empathy. The ability to articulate an understanding of another person’s perspective, and to show genuine
concern for others.

Optimism
Working to remain positive and hopeful despite setbacks and obstacles.

Stress Management & Coping
How well an individual copes with the emotions associated with change and unpredictable circumstances

Adaptability
The way a person uses emotional information by understanding the impact emotions have on problem-solving. It also involves the ability to resist or delay impulses and remain objective.

Self-Expression
This dimension includes the ability to openly and constructively express thoughts and feelings when it comes to important issues and concerns.

Direct Service Special Technical or Knowledge Skills

Factual Knowledge of Mental Health & Addiction
Including diagnoses and treatment, knowledge of social determinants of health, substance use, pharmacology, community and/or sector context, human development theory, recovery theory, and best practices with specialized populations.

Working with clients
Including engagement, therapeutic rapport skills, appropriate use of personal disclosure, boundaries, ethics, diversity, clarity of roles and responsibilities, knowledge of transference and countertransference, clinical detachment, ability to provide person/client-centred care, and modelling of harm reduction approaches.

Interviewing & Assessment Skills
Including biopsychosocial assessments, concurrent-disorder- informed assessments, active listening, interviewing and Socratic questioning skills, ability to provide appropriate risk, safety, and suicide assessments, “trauma-informed” lens, and use of collateral information and assessments.

Service & Support
Including treatment planning and provision of helpful supports (e.g. knowledge and ability to effectively use therapeutic interventions, outcome-focused, motivational interviewing skills),
working with clients on goals and recovery, ability to case conference where required, and working effectively with an interdisciplinary team.

Documentation
Including compliance with policies and procedures, guidelines, team operating procedures,
consents, service agreements, assessments, safety plans, safety reporting, case coverage notes, medication documentation, and providing statistics as required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Required Items

• Valid G level driver’s license
• Automobile in good repair and insurance coverage as required by agency policy
• Satisfactory police records search
• Satisfactory references
• Proof of receipt of full COVID-19 vaccine

Other Relevant and Related Items

• Intermediate to advanced minus proficiency in French
• Lived expertise with a mental health concern or addiction, either personally or with a family member is an asset.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work in an office setting, community and clients’ homes
• Work directly with individuals experiencing mental health concerns/crisis including serious mental illness and/or dual diagnosis and/or addictions
• Work directly with individuals living in poverty who may live with a serious mental illness and/or dual diagnosis and/or addictions
• Required to work flexible hours, with some evening work
• There are multiple competing demands which require time management skills, the ability to be flexible and to prioritize
• Work in a stressful environment where there are mental and emotional demands, there is a high volume of work as well as unpredictable work, life-threatening situations for others such as instances of suicide
• Transport clients in personal vehicle