Employment Specialist

Why work for CMHA York Region?

We are a team committed to our vision of mental health support for all. We offer an inclusive, innovative and high-performance work culture that helps us deliver transformational impact.

The organization cares about the growth, safety and well-being of employees and offers :

• HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)
• Competitive Total Compensation (including salary, benefits, pension)
• Robust Performance and Career Development program
• Learning & development opportunities

We are looking for Employment Specialist to join our team!

Part-time Contract, 21 hours per week. Evenings and Weekends may be required.

Closing Date : May 10, 2024

Location : The Employment Specialist will be working primarily in our Aurora Office (15150 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON L4G 1M2) & out within the community and will be required to travel within York Region & South Simcoe.

Salary : $27.75-$29.72 per hour *To commensurate with experience

Job Profile :

The purpose of the Employment Support Program is to support people with mental illness to meet their employment goals, which may include paid employment, volunteering, or education.

Team member’s use bio-psychosocial, Recovery, and empowerment approaches, including natural supports wherever possible to enable clients to meet their goals.

The Employment Specialist works collaboratively with the client and their care team to assess, plan, develop, coordinate, and provide support.

The care team may include employees of CMHA York Region, other community mental health agencies, natural supports, and other health and social service providers.

The Employment Specialist is responsible for conducting employment assessments to determine the client’s strengths, needs, and interests in a range of education and work-related areas, providing individual and group support to facilitate achievement of client goals, and developing partnerships with employers for vocational opportunities.

The Employment Specialist adheres to all organizational policies and procedures, relevant provincial laws, the regulatory requirements of her / his profession, and Empowerment / Recovery principles.

This necessarily involves demonstration of above average interpersonal skills, problem solving, anti-racist and anti-oppression practice, confidence in decision making, relationship building, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation in their work with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and members of the broader community.

Qualifications :

• University Degree or College Diploma in social service sector
• Post-secondary education in Social Services / Mental Health sector, and / or Career Development

Registered Vocational Professional is preferred.

• Diploma or Degree plus experience in a community-based organization working with adults with mental illness in the community.
• Experience working with employers, transitional employment services, employment readiness.
• Experience working in an adult mental health setting related to employment rehabilitation.
• Familiarity with legislation related to employment, i.e., Employment Standards, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Human Rights Code, WSIB.
• Familiarity with Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works employment supports.
• Familiarity with the Ontario Mental Health Act and mental health reform principles, the Substitute Decisions Act, and the Health Care Consent Act and PHIPA requirements.
• Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment oriented philosophies and practices in work with clients.
• Functions in accordance with relevant Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
• Flexible schedule, including some evening and weekend and on-call rotation.
• Must possess a valid Canadian driver’s license and have minimum $1,000,000.00 (1 million) third party liability insurance and proof of insurance coverage of personal vehicle and ability to transport clients.
• A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• A second language reflecting the local community is preferred.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an individual assigned to the job.

This information is not constructed to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel in the job.

This position reports to Manager, People & Teams, in the Employment Program.

Working Conditions : Office work, community settings, meetings in clients’ home and travel with clients. Periodic / scheduled evening to accommodate client's needs.

Disclaimer : In keeping with mental health reform, best practices, funding and direction this position may later require knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions not noted here.

If you are interested in this opportunity, follow the link below and click on the Apply Now button in the top right corner of the page to proceed to upload your cover letter and resume :

Complete the application form and submit the Resume (PDF or Word)

CMHA-YRSS supports the recovery of people with mental illness and promotes diversity in the workplace. We welcome all applicants including persons with lived experience, women, aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+, visible minority and immigrant communities to apply.

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.