Relief Clinician, Crisis & Outreach Oxford

Relief Clinician, Crisis & Outreach Oxford
Direct Service - (OPSEU)
Woodstock, Ontario (Oxford Zone)

This posting is the result of an expansion of a relief pool .
- Application Deadline: July 13, 2026 -

We believe when individuals in our community experience an urgent mental health or addiction crisis, they deserve a response that is person-centred and supportive, while focusing on personal dignity and wellbeing.

Crisis Clinicians will support individuals accessing services by providing a psychosocial response in order to promote crisis resolution and empowerment for the individual. The Crisis Clinician will also work collaboratively with individuals to assess and identify their needs and link them to appropriate supports in the community. Crisis Clinicians work within a multi-disciplinary team framework throughout Oxford County.

We are currently seeking candidates with open availability for all shifts, including weekdays and weekends; including day, afternoon, evening shifts. Relief staff have flexibility to accept shifts that suit their schedules but will commit to accepting a minimum of three shifts per month. Relief staff have the ability to pick up shifts at their discretion up to a maximum of 44 hours per week. 

Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team!

WHAT WE'RE OFFERING:

• What you'll be making -  Starting rate for this role is $30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated
  • Successful external applicants will start at Level 1, with grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($37.26 per hour); for internal applicants, grid level placement will occur as per the Collective Agreement
  • Premiums of $2.00 per hour will be applied for eligible Evening/Night (8:00pm – 7:00am) and Weekend Shifts.
• When you'll work – Casual shifts to include days, afternoons, evenings and weekends
• Your pension plan –Immediately eligible for optional enrolment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

HOW YOU WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

Crisis Assessment and Counselling Supports:

• Establish a working and supportive relationship with the client
• Assess clients’ mental, physical and emotional functional abilities and needs
• Investigates client’s current resources through complete psycho-social history and domains collections, and collateral information
• Provide client assessment, intervention, and counselling via telephone and in person supports
• Provide mental health assessments to Emergency Departments (Woodstock Hospital, Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital and Alexandra Hospital) upon request.
• Support individuals as requested by Woodstock Police Service (WPS) and Oxford County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
• Provides counselling support to those attending at one of CMHA TVAMHS Oxford County based Talk-In Counselling Services
• Provide first contact functions and system navigation support for clients
• Provide short-term follow-up support to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as needed
• Coordinate and facilitate referrals to internal and external services and supports
• Advocate as necessary in order to facilitate access to services and supports with the objective of remediating immediate crisis situation

Crisis Intervention:

• Provide short-term, psychotherapeutic intervention to assist individuals in gaining insight and improving coping skills within the framework of the crisis model.
• Perform in a calm, competent and efficient manner in an emergency situation acknowledging the individual’s need for privacy and dignity.
• Teach, using a variety of approaches, life skills and adaptive techniques to help enable individuals to function more effectively on a day-to-day basis
• Utilize harm reduction principles to identify, reduce and remove risk factors.

Crisis Follow-up:

• Refer individuals for additional assessments as is determined to be necessary and/or appropriate
• Assist the individual to identify and connect with personal/natural supports
• Provide follow-up support and/or check ins to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as appropriate
• Provide client-centred care from a harm reduction approach
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of service providers and organizations
• Acquire and maintain a high level of current knowledge about opioid treatments and trends in the opioid/drug abusing population
• Seek out and engage individuals with opioid addiction, including people already receiving substitution therapy (methadone maintenance treatment, suboxone treatment, etc.) who require additional medical, social, and psychological supports to improve overall health
• Facilitate successful service navigation for clients through empowerment and/or advocacy
• Provide education, referrals and clinical support for people with opioid addiction and related problems in a coordinated, collaborative, interdisciplinary, integrated and holistic perspective
• Provide the above-mentioned clinical services in satellite offices and other locations as designated and needed.
• Manage indirect services and administrative duties.
• Assist with drug screening tests and clinic support

Reach Out/988 & Department Support Responsibilities:

• All Crisis Clinicians are to provide support to individuals through Reach Out.
• Provide crisis intervention services and supports on Reach Out via phone, text and web chat.
• Respond to voicemails from Reach Out.
• Establish a therapeutic relationship with individuals accessing Reach Out, and work with individuals to address their immediate concerns.

Police Specific Service Interactions and Dedicated Police Partnership:

• Work directly alongside police officers during regular work hours in a dedicated capacity with WPS and Oxford OPP and occupying office space at the reporting police headquarters
• Where requested by officers, to participate in death notifications and link individuals to victim services or other supports as required
• Act as a resource for officer wellness providing system navigation for their own mental health support based on training and orientation to the respective police service’s internal wellness resources
• Maintain and document accurate recording of all police incidents arising in the course of the work as well as any follow-up completed

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO APPLY:

Police Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements
Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) completed within the last six months. In order to avoid delays in beginning a position, interested applicants who are in need of a PVSC are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible.

We require the following qualifications:

• RPN, RN, Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Psychology or related field
• Currently registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (as an RSW, RSSW), the College of Nurses of Ontario, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, or the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• Valid Driver’s License: minimum G2 class required
• Access to a vehicle required for personal transportation
• Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Successful Clearance Process through OPP and WPS for MCRT focused position
• Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

We prefer the following qualifications:

• ASIST certificate
• Current First Aid & CPR certification
• Experience and detailed knowledge of serious mental illnesses usually gained by several years of working within the mental health field
• Experience in crisis intervention/management and crisis resolution
• Experience in working in a community-based setting with an extensive knowledge of social assistance programs and both generic and specialized local social support networks is essential
• Volunteer experience with a mental health component
• Experience working with individuals with an ABI or Development Disability
• Experience in the treatment of Addiction
• Knowledge of Psycho-social Rehabilitation
• Knowledge of services in Oxford County
• Bilingual in both official languages, preferred ; Une préférence sera accordée aux personnes possédant des compétences dans les deux languages officielles du Canada

INTERNAL APPLICANTS:  To be considered as an internal applicant, current staff members are reminded to apply using their @cmhatv.ca or @slwar.ca email address.

Get your application in by – July 13, 2025

Our recruitment process allows us to learn about your previous work experience, your qualifications and your commitment to fulfilling our vision. While we appreciate the interest of all applicants, only those individuals being considered for a position will be personally contacted by someone from the interview team. 

We welcome and encourage applications from all members of our community including persons of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and members of visible minorities. If you require accommodations related to a disability at any point during the recruitment process, please contact  View email address on cmhatv.applytojob.com

Legal Notifications:

• For legal purposes our full business name is: Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
• Artificial Intelligence is not currently employed in our recruitment processes