Mental Health Navigator

Career Opportunity

Job Title: Mental Health Navigator

Classification: Community Health Worker

Department: ONHC

Reporting To: Manager, Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre

Type: Term 0.6 FTE (3 days/week) Maternity Leave Coverage (12months)

Compensation: $28.78/hr to 34.72/hr plus a comprehensive compensation package that includes time-off entitlements, health benefits, life insurance, and participation in the HOOPP pension plan.

Deadline to apply:    Until a suitable candidate is found.

Apply to:

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About us

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.

What The Program Entails

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.

What You'll Do

The Mental Health Navigator assists clients to navigate the healthcare and social service system and ensures that proper referrals are made within the community in order to meet the needs of clients. The incumbent works closely with other members of the interdisciplinary team to provide health education, advocacy, case management support and practical assistance while playing an intermediary role between clients and service providers. The ideal candidate will understand and support SWCHC's mission, possess excellent interpersonal skills, organizational capabilities, and reporting abilities. The individual is motivated and passionate about working with newcomers and enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and has experience providing crisis counseling and basic mental health interventions.

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What We're Looking For

❖   Life And Work Experience

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

 ❖ Your Education Path

• 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

❖ Required Language

• Fluency in English is
• Fluency in French, Arabic, Dari, Pashto highly desirable

What You Bring to the Table

• 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
• Ability to provide system navigation support, and resource
• 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
• 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.
• Proficient use of computers and various software applications and electronic medical records

management systems.

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Your Day-To-Day at a Glance

As a Mental Health Navigator your responsibilities are:

Client Support & Navigation

• Provide culturally sensitive system navigation for newcomers, refugees, and immigrants experiencing mental health challenges.
• Assess client needs and connect them to primary care, mental health, and community support services.
• Offer basic mental health education and support with referrals and service pathways.

Crisis Intervention

• Provide short-term crisis counseling and de-escalation support to clients as needed
• Identify and respond to mental health crises, arranging urgent referrals when needed for clients in distress.

Case Management

• Support clients with short-term case coordination, care planning, and goal setting, resource referrals, application supports
• Document all interactions accurately in the EMR and maintain confidentiality.

Advocacy & Resource Connection

• Advocate for clients facing barriers related to housing, income, legal needs, or other social determinants.
• Link clients to community resources 

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Work with ONHC clinicians, nurses, MHN staff, and settlement partners to coordinate care for shared clients
• Work in collaboration with external partners on shared clients  
• Participate in team huddles, case discussions, and joint planning.

Administration & Reporting

• Maintain clear documentation and follow PHIPA and privacy requirements.
• Track service activity and contribute to program reporting as needed.

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Ready to Apply?

Take your career to the next level Submit a cover letter and your resume to:  

This position will remain open until suitable candidate is found

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

We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in working with us. Due to high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.