Housing First for Encampment & Street Homelessness (H-FRESH)

One (1) Bargaining Unit, Contract Full-Time Position, until September, 2027

Sunday - Thursday 11:00am-7:00pm

Existing Vacancy

Compensation: $35.07/hour – 39.07/hour

About Cota

Cota is an accredited not-for-profit organization that has been providing community-based support to people living with mental health and cognitive challenges for over 50 years. At present, our wide array of services delivers much needed support to over 4,000 people/year who live with mental health challenges, psychogeriatric mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, developmental disabilities, dual diagnoses and/or the experience of homelessness. These services include, but are not limited to, case management, supportive housing and adult day program services. A full listing of our services can be viewed on our website at https://cotainspires.ca/

Cota is presently seeking a dynamic and innovative individuals to join our amazing team in the capacity of the role outlined within this posting. Followed by our mission to support individuals with mental health and cognitive challenges to live well within their communities, we strive toward a vision of a supportive, inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. If you feel you have the skills and qualifications to perform the duties of this role while consistently exemplifying Cota’s values Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview

The Case Manager, Registered Nurse is responsible for providing Recovery Oriented services to COTA Health clients in a manner consistent with COTA Health’s Mission, Vision and Values.

The Case Manager, Registered Nurse provides case management support and care for the overall well-being of clients.

About the Team

The Case Manager, Registered Nurse is linked to Cota’s Assertive Housing First Team (AHFT), with a targeted focus on individuals residing in encampments in East Toronto. The Housing First for Encampment & Street Homelessness (H-FRESH) branch of AHFT, provides targeted, assertive outreach supports specifically to 40 individuals currently residing in encampments in East Toronto. H-FRESH is a City of Toronto funded research project, in collaboration with CAMH and LOFT.

The Assertive Housing First Team (AHFT) utilizes an interdisciplinary team model and a Housing First approach to support individuals who are homeless and living with mental health challenges. AHFT is an interdisciplinary team comprised of Case Managers who have expertise in Mental Health, Addictions and Nursing, Personal Support Service Worker, Peer Support Specialist and Access to team psychiatric hours.

The Case Manager, Registered Nurse will contribute to the development of comprehensive person-centered psychiatric and physical health assessments and treatment plans, and provide community-based case management supports to an assigned group of service users, including education, crisis intervention, and linking to community resources. This position also will provide social, educational, and addiction group activities.

Primary Responsibilities:

Responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to those below:

Assertive outreach to client coming out of Encampments

Conduct face-to-face assessments with clients at their locations including but not limited to encampments, streets, shelters and hospitals

Initiate services to clients at the point of intake to ensure that proper assessment and initial service response occurs

Develop coordinated care plans with/for clients and complete the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) and other assessments as required

Administering and Management of client’s medications in conjunction with team psychiatrist

Provide community-based case management supports, including education, crisis and harm reduction intervention

Making referrals to community services

Interact directly with referral sources, physicians, and other services involved in client’s care

Collaborate with other systems, organizations and individuals from courts, probation, safe beds, hospitals and community to ensure a well-coordinated service system

Linking to community services and agencies and/or providing support and resources

Provide housing support to ensure stabilization and eviction prevention





Assist with ID cards, OAS, OW/ODSP, Trillium, etc.

Support with medical and or mental health challenges.

Support with food security, including purchased of food items for clients

Accompany to appointments

Record client status/progress using the appropriate documentation system

Clinical Skills:

Review referral information of applicants to the program, assess eligibility for the program and confirm acceptance of clients into the program

Develop collaborative, supportive and therapeutic relationships

Complete comprehensive psychiatric and physical health assessment of the nature of each client's unique goals and needs through collaborative engagement with each client's, and their respective support networks

Provide guidance and assistance to each client in relation to the development of both a personalized Safety Plan and a Recovery/Goal Plan

Provide health education to client and team to promote health and well-being

Provide direct practical support, coaching and counsel to clients in their pursuit of identified goals and needs

Support administration of medication program in collaboration with AHFT psychiatrist, including administration and delivery of medications and administration of intramuscular injections

Assisting clients with emergency and/or crisis needs as required/appropriate

Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

Registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario

Experience:

Minimum 2 years’ experience in nursing, psychiatric nursing preferred community outreach experience preferred

Experience working with clients with a concurrent disorder and those living in unstable housing situations or homelessness

Experience working in a community agency an asset

Knowledge & Skills:

Demonstrated commitment to the Housing First model and philosophy

Familiarity with the Ontario Mental Health Act and Mental Health reform

Knowledge of PSR and Recovery as guiding principles for assessing and developing treatment plans for clients

Demonstrated skill and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with a responsible mental illness with respect for clients’ rights and preferences

Excellent mental health and addictions clinical mental health assessment/interview skills

Taking the lead role or participation in providing medication administration and medical services

Knowledge of psychotropic medications, especially the newer neuroleptics and their intended effects and possible side effects in order to develop, revise, maintain and supervise team pharmacologic and medical treatment and medication policies, including evaluating and charting psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects; and arranging for required blood work according to protocol

Ability to dispense and inject neuroleptics

Demonstrated ability to work independently, cooperatively and constructively within a multidisciplinary team environment

Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays

Other:

Conduct visits in encampments, clients’ homes, hostels, hospitals and other community settings working in sometimes difficult conditions, including hoarding and pest infestation.

Must have access to vehicle(Please note that access to a vehicle means owning, borrowing, or renting the vehicle. Alternatively, using ride services, such as Uber, cab, and taxis at no cost to Cota)

We are committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We recognize lived experience as a valuable form of knowledge and encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of experiences, identities, and perspectives - including those with lived experience of housing insecurity, mental health or substance use recovery, or engagement with community supports. Accommodations are available throughout the hiring process upon request.





Upon successful completion of a three-month period of employment, permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week will be eligible for employer-paid group insurance benefits. These employer-paid benefits will include:

Extended health care

Life insurance

Accidental death and dismemberment insurance

Dental care

Permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week are also required to enroll in employee-paid long-term disability coverage.

Additional Information:

Interview Process: Cota may choose to conduct parts/all of the hiring process virtually. Please note that as part of maintaining an agile workforce, all Cota staff may be required to be reasonably reassigned to support the operational needs of our essential services.

Screening Process: Please note that Cota uses AI to screen potential applicants for all roles.

Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation are key values of Cota. We are dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace, upholding dignity, and acknowledging each person's individual contributions and potential as an equal-opportunity employer. We uphold the Ontario Human Right Code and strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ people, and others who provide various viewpoints. Cota ensures an accessible hiring process in line with the AODA principles, providing accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For any accommodation requests, please contact hr [email protected]

About Cota Health
COTA Health (Cota) is an accredited, not-for-profit, community-based organization thathas been supporting adults with mental health and cognitive challenges to live wellwithin their communities for over 45 years. We provide person-centred supports thatassist individuals to find inspiration and hope in their inherent strengths and supportthem to pursue meaningful change in their lives, as they define it. Cota also workscollaboratively with our funders, our partners and other stakeholders, across theprovincial health and social service systems, to inspire positive change in the way thatservices are delivered to individuals living with mental health and cognitivechallenges.

Cota is collecting personal information from you as part of the recruitment and selection process. Cota recognizes the importance of privacy and is committed to ensuring the privacy of your personal information collected and/or received by us.

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Personal Details * Required field

First name *

Last name *

E-mail *

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Street *

Street Cont.

City, Town or Suburb *

Postcode or Zipcode *

Country *

State, Region or Province *

LinkedIn URL (Please click on your profile and copy the URL from your profile page.)

Questions
Are you legally eligible to work in Canada? *

Yes

No

Have you ever been convicted of criminal offence for which you have not been pardoned? *

Yes

No

Do you have access to a vehicle? (Please note that access to a vehicle means owning, borrowing, or renting a vehicle. Alternatively, it can include using ride services such as Uber, cabs, and taxis at no cost to Cota). *

Yes

No

Please note that the salary range for this position is $35.07 per hour –$39.07 per hour, based on the union wage grid. New hires typically start at Step 1 ($35.07 per hour), with progression in accordance with the Collective Agreement. Are you comfortable starting at $35.07 per hour (Step 1)? *

Yes

No

Are you registered Nurse, and member of the College of Nurses of Ontario in good standing? *

Yes

No

How many years of experience do you have with people with Mental Health Challenges living in the community? *

4 years and more

1 to 3 years

Less than 1 year

Please describe your experience working with homeless population and comfort level. *

Are you currently employed by Cota? *

Yes

No

Have you been previously employed by Cota? *

Yes

No

Do you have any immediate family members or relatives employed at Cota? *

Yes

No

If selected for this position, when are you available to start work? Please provide an estimated date if you must give notice to a current employer. *

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📌 Case Manager, Registered Nurse (Ontario)
🏢 COTA Health
📍 Ontario