Addictions and Mental Health Outreach Counsellor

Position

Addictions and Mental Health Outreach Counsellor - HART of Simcoe County

Program or Team

Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Community Addictions Supports Team (CAST)

Location

Base Location: Barrie; Regional and In-Community Work Required

Supervisor

Director of Health Services

Supported by Team Lead CAST

Term

1.00 FTE Term March 31, 2027

Salary

$62,500 - $67,500 plus applicable benefits

**About the Organization**:
The Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle is a regional social planning and development organization. The BANAC service region now covers Simcoe County, Muskoka, and the northern York Region. BANAC works in cooperation with Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous organizations to address community-identified priorities through coordinated planning, implementation, and evaluation efforts. As an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-governed organization, BANAC has a mandate to support the continued promotion of Indigenous lifelong-learning, self-determination, and community participation.

BANAC offers many innovative programs and services including the Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team. Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin offers Traditional Healing and coordination, land-based programming, primary care, community addictions supports and treatment, counselling and wellness services, and community health promotion.

**About the Role**:
As a key member of the interdisciplinary team, the Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) Outreach Counsellor working with the HART of Simcoe, provides direct support to individuals who are experiencing homelessness or are precariously housed and navigating complex mental health and substance use needs. This role includes comprehensive assessment, collaborative treatment navigation, and ongoing service delivery in community-based and non-traditional settings, including shelters, community-locations, and transitional housing environments. Services are provided using a wholistic approach that supports the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing of each client as they work toward their substance use and wellness goals.

The Outreach Counsellor works in a mobile and community-based setting—including shelters, encampments, transitional housing sites, and other outreach locations
to meet individuals where they are at, in both location and in their readiness for change, by offering trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based support. They collaborate closely with care teams, primary care providers, and community partners to ensure timely access to addictions treatment, substance use resources, and coordinated follow-up care.

**What You Bring**:

- Relevant post-secondary education to mental health, or equivalent combination of education, training, and/or lived experience with mental health and addictions
- Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities and clients to provide wholistic culturally safe and trauma informed care
- Knowledge of community resources and experience navigating and connecting with mental health and add Experience in mental health and/or addictions (community-based setting preferred).
- Must have access to a vehicle, a valid Ontario driver’s license, and adequate automobile insurance with a cleared driving record.
- Knowledge of assessment, planning, and skill teaching strategies.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends with advance notice under a rotating schedule
- Excellent systems navigation and facilitation skills

**What We Offer**:
We provide a generous benefits package, including HOOPP, paid vacation, cultural leave, extended holidays, on-going training opportunities and the opportunity to work in a dynamic community-based environment.

**Information About Working at BANAC Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin**:

- Work is typically performed in clinic, office and community settings.
- Regular travel will be required - vehicle an asset
- Regular overtime work may be required from time to time, BANAC team members enjoy a flex schedule agreement
- Periodic exposure to smoke may occur from the burning of sacred medicines: Tobacco, sweet grass, sage or cedar.

Specific employment conditions are specified in an employment contract with BANAC and include the following:

- Worksite location
- Valid C.P.R. and A.E.D. Certificates required
- Valid Class G Ontario Driver’s License is required with clear check for vulnerable sector

Applications are encouraged from qualified applicants of First Nations, Métis, Inuit ancestry (in accordance with section 24.1a of the Ontario Human Rights Act, United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), UNDRIP Action Plan, Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action).

DISCLAIMER: This job posting indicates the general nature and level of work expected. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required by the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required