Mental Health Navigator

**Job Title**: Mental Health Navigator

**Department**: Primary Health Care (PHC)

**Reporting To**: Manager, Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre

**Type**: Term 0.5 FTE (2.5 days/week) until Mar 31st, 2026

**Pay Scale**: $27.54 to 33.16 per hour

About SWCHC

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.

About ONHC

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.

Position Description

Position Requirements

Education

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

Professional Experience

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

**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 goals.
Ability to provide system navigation support, and resource connection.
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 health.
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.

Language Capability

Fluency in English is
Fluency in French, Arabic highly desirable

**It is the policy of SWCHC to require COVID-19 immunization for all employees, volunteers, and students, including those who work off-site with the following exceptions: Persons with a medical reason that prevents them from being vaccinated against COVID-19; Persons with other reasonable considerations pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code that restrict them from being vaccinated against Covid 19 vaccination.**

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