Community Support Worker

Career Opportunity

Job Title: Community Support Worker (Social Worker)

Classification: Counsellor

Department: ONHC

Job Type: Term 1.0 FTE (35hs/week) for 6 months with possibility of extension.

Location: ONHC

Reporting to: Manager, Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre

Compensation: $29.15/hr to $35.16/hr plus 14 hrs of paid personal leave, 35hs of paid Sick Leave and optional participation in the HOOPP pension plan

Deadline to apply:    December 5th, 2025 by 5:00pm

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 experience vulnerability 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 provide 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

Reporting to the Manager of the Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre (ONHC), the Community Support Worker (CSW) provides a broad range of supports to clients experiencing complex challenges. These include crisis intervention, information and referral, practical assistance, advocacy, short-term emotional support, outreach, and case coordination.

The CSW delivers these services as part of the ONHC team through walk-ins, phone support, in-person meetings, and community-based settings. They also assist with counselling intake assessments for clients referred to counselling services within the ONHC program.

In addition, the CSW supports government-sponsored refugees (GSRs) and other newcomers who face multifaceted settlement, health, and social challenges. The CSW provides hands-on assistance to help clients navigate the healthcare system, social services, and income supports services like OW and ODSP programs.

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What We're Looking For

❖   Life And Work Experience

• 2–3 years' experience in community-based work with emphasis on crisis intervention, case management, assertive engagement, mental health, and substance use.
• Experience with diverse and marginalized populations (newcomers, refugees, LGBT2SQ+, older adults, etc.).
• Experience in interdisciplinary teamwork, outreach, advocacy, and group facilitation.
• Experience supporting individuals facing trauma and systemic barriers.

❖ Your Education Path

• Post-secondary degree in social worker, social service related field, health care related field, or an equivalent combination of formal training, professional, and lived experience.
• Suicide prevention, non-violent crisis intervention, and CPR/First Aid certification

❖ Required Language

• Bilingual (French/English) required.
• Other languages are considered a strong asset.

What You Bring to the Table

• Strong communication, de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and relational care skills.
• In-depth knowledge of social determinants of health, systems navigation, and acute mental health/substance use issues.
• Ability to assess safety risks, develop safety plans, and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Proficiency with electronic client record systems and basic computer applications.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to work collaboratively, and commitment to trauma-informed, harm reduction, and strength-based approaches.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.

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Your Day-To-Day at a Glance

Key Responsibilities

Crisis Intervention & Support

• Conduct risk assessments and provide crisis intervention (virtual, in-person, or in the community) as needed
• Provide emotional and practical support, service navigation, referrals, and advocacy to clients adjusting to life in Canada.
• Deliver clear, low-literacy-appropriate communication using visual aids, interpreters, and culturally sensitive approaches for clients
• Connect clients to emergency supports, medical care, and temporary assistance programs as needed.

Case Coordination & Advocacy

• Support clients in obtaining needed resources and services.
• Support clients with applications and renewals for Ontario Works (OW), ODSP, Child Tax Benefit, and other income supports, ensuring understanding at every step.
• Collaborate with community partners such as housing workers, settlement counsellors, and other community partners to coordinate wraparound supports to stabilize client situations.
• Act as a strong advocate on individual and systemic or linguistic barriers within government, health or social service systems.

Outreach & Community Engagement

• Provide outreach and group facilitation in community-based settings.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate orientation, life-skills, and psycho-social support groups designed for individuals with limited literacy (using interactive and visual-based methods)
• Support recruitment, planning, and delivery of psycho-social and life-skills groups.
• Promote programs and connect clients to mainstream and community resources

Support Services

• Conduct intake assessments for counselling services ensuring cultural and trauma-informed approaches.
• Use evidence-informed tools appropriate for low-literacy populations to assess readiness and service matching.
• Support client engagement between referral and first counselling appointment using simplified tools appropriate for low-literacy populations.
• Provide check-ins and reassurance to maintain continuity of care.

Administrative & Organizational Duties

• Maintain accurate and confidential client records.
• Prepare reports, documentation, and contribute to program evaluation plans as needed
• Actively participate in team meetings, case conferences, and organizational initiatives.
• Uphold occupational health and safety standards, cultural and psychological safety practices, and professional ethics and participate in required training.

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Ready to Apply?

Take your career to the next level Submit a cover letter and your resume by 5:00pm on December 5th, 2025
to:   

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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.