About Upstream Ottawa

Upstream Ottawa Mental Health Community Support provides community-based, person-centered mental health and substance use supports to youth, adults and families. Our work is grounded in recovery-oriented, strengths-based, culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice, with an emphasis on helping people build stability, strengthen natural and community supports, pursue personally meaningful goals and live self-directed lives.

Position Summary The Youth Mental Health Community Support Worker provides individualized, community-based case management and psychosocial support to youth experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges. Working in partnership with youth, families and natural supports where appropriate, the worker assists clients to identify goals, navigate health and social service systems, access appropriate resources, strengthen protective factors and increase independence and quality of life.

The position requires flexible and proactive engagement with youth in the environments in which they are most comfortable, including community and service settings. The worker collaborates with referral partners, health and social service providers, schools and other community resources to support coordinated transitions into, through and out of service.

Key Responsibilities

Engagement and Relationship Building

· Develop respectful, trusting and sustained helping relationships with youth using a youth-centred, strengths-based and recovery-oriented approach.

· Conduct proactive outreach to new referrals and provide the time and flexibility required to support meaningful engagement.

· Recognize the youth as the primary partner in service planning and decision-making.

· Engage family members, caregivers, chosen family, natural supports and other members of the youth’s support network when appropriate and with the youth’s consent.

· Provide practical support, information, encouragement, coaching and accompaniment to assist youth in working toward their goals.

· Establish, communicate and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Assessment, Service Planning and Case Management

· Participate in intake assessments, service planning, review, transition and discharge processes.

· Work collaboratively with youth to identify strengths, needs, priorities, risks, goals and preferred supports.

· Develop, monitor and regularly update individualized service plans in partnership with the youth and, where appropriate, their family or support network.

· Support youth to address needs related to mental health, substance use, housing, income, food security, physical health, education, employment, relationships and community participation.

· Provide supportive counselling, psychoeducation, problem-solving and crisis-prevention support within the scope of the position.

· Support education, employment and vocational goals as part of an individualized recovery plan and in accordance with the youth’s priorities and readiness.

Service Navigation, Coordination and Transitions

· Connect youth and families with appropriate health, mental health, substance use, social, educational, vocational, recreational, cultural and peer supports.

· Assist youth in understanding available service options and making informed choices about providers and supports.

· Develop and maintain effective working relationships with community agencies, schools, health-care providers and other service partners.

· Coordinate and participate in case conferences and collaborative service planning with the youth and relevant members of their support network.

· Work with referral and receiving agencies to support safe, coordinated and timely transitions into and out of services, including connections to aftercare and peer resources.

CULTURAL COMPETENCY & RESPONSIVE PRACTICE The Youth Mental Health Community Support Worker is expected to provide services in a manner that recognizes and responds to the cultural, racial, linguistic, social and lived experiences of the youth and families served by Upstream Ottawa. The worker will demonstrate cultural humility and an ongoing commitment to developing the knowledge,



self-awareness and practice skills required to provide equitable and culturally responsive mental health and substance use supports.

· The Youth Mental Health Community Support Worker will:

· recognize how culture, race, identity, intersectionality, family and community context may influence a young person’s understanding and experience of mental health, substance use, help-seeking, recovery and wellness;

· incorporate the youth’s cultural identity, values, strengths, family relationships and community supports into assessments and service planning where identified as important by the youth;

· demonstrate awareness of the effects that racism, discrimination, stigma, migration, socioeconomic inequity and other systemic barriers may have on mental health, access to services and engagement with formal systems;

· use culturally responsive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approaches when engaging youth and families;

· recognize and reflect on personal assumptions, biases and power dynamics that may affect the helping relationship and seek supervision or consultation when appropriate;

· respect different understandings and expressions of mental health, wellness, family, healing and recovery without imposing personal or dominant cultural perspectives;

· work collaboratively with culturally specific, community-based and other appropriate supports when desired by the youth and consistent with consent and privacy requirements; and

· participate in ongoing learning, supervision and professional development related to cultural humility, equity, diversity, inclusion and culturally responsive mental health practice.

Advocacy, Equity and Rights

· Support youth and families in navigating formal systems and advocating for services that respond to their identified needs and goals.

· Promote awareness of client rights, informed choice, consent, privacy and access to appropriate services.

· Provide services in a manner that is culturally responsive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed and respectful of diverse identities, experiences and family structures.

· Identify systemic barriers, service gaps and emerging community needs and bring these to the attention of the Director or designate.

· Support equitable access to services and advocate, within the scope of the role, for reasonable and appropriate service responses.

Documentation, Privacy and Program Accountability

· Maintain timely, accurate and professional client records, including assessments, OCAN documentation where applicable, service plans, progress notes, correspondence and discharge documentation.

· Use EMHware and other approved information systems in accordance with organizational requirements.

· Collect and record information required for program monitoring, evaluation, quality improvement and funder reporting.

· Protect personal health information and maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, professional standards and Upstream Ottawa policies.

· Participate in team meetings, case consultation, supervision, program evaluation and quality-improvement activities.

Safety and Professional Practice

· Provide services in a manner that promotes the safety and well-being of clients, families, colleagues and the worker.

· Identify and respond appropriately to changes in risk, crisis situations and safety concerns in accordance with organizational policies, applicable legislation and the scope of the role.

· Consider the social, cultural, emotional and environmental circumstances of each youth when planning and delivering services.

· Maintain knowledge and skills through supervision, training, professional development and reflective practice.

· Comply with applicable legislation, ethical and professional standards,



workplace health and safety requirements and organizational policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Education

Completed a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution, and is able to demonstrate registration with The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Experience and Knowledge

· Minimum three (3) years of relevant experience in community mental health, youth mental health, substance use services or a closely related field.

· Demonstrated experience engaging and supporting youth with complex mental health and/or substance use needs.

· Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with families, caregivers, natural supports and interdisciplinary service networks.

· Solid knowledge of community resources and health and social service systems in Ottawa.

· Knowledge of recovery-oriented practice, psychosocial rehabilitation, strengths-based practice, harm reduction, trauma-informed care and culturally responsive service delivery.

· Demonstrated ability to assess needs, identify appropriate interventions and services, develop individualized plans and monitor progress.

· Experience with electronic client records and standardized assessment or service-planning tools.

· Knowledge of privacy, consent, client rights and relevant legislation affecting community mental health practice.

Skills and Personal Suitability

· Strong interpersonal, engagement, communication, advocacy and relationship-building skills.

· Ability to work both independently in community settings and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

· Sound judgment, organization, adaptability and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with youth, families, service providers, colleagues and community partners.

· Demonstrated commitment to client-directed, equity-oriented and culturally responsive practice.

· Commitment to ongoing learning, supervision and professional development.

Language Requirements

Bilingualism in English and French is essential. The successful candidate must be able to provide services and communicate effectively with clients, families and service partners in both official languages.

Transportation Requirement

This is a community-based position requiring regular travel within Ottawa to meet clients and community partners. The successful candidate must have reliable access to transportation sufficient to perform the duties of the position.

Legal Requirements

Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or legally able to work in Canada

Working Conditions

· Work is performed in office, community and partner-service environments and includes active outreach in a variety of community settings.

· Some flexibility in scheduling is required to respond to client needs, service coordination requirements and program activities.

· The position involves work with individuals who may be experiencing significant psychosocial stress, mental health crises, substance use concerns, housing instability or other complex circumstances.

Organizational Expectations

All employees are expected to contribute to a respectful, inclusive and psychologically safe workplace; uphold Upstream Ottawa’s mission, values and policies; maintain confidentiality; participate in required training and supervision; and perform other reasonable duties related to the position as assigned.

Compensation

$61,500/annum, 2% indexation in years 2 and 3, plus $6,600 in vehicle and client allowance (paid biweekly via payroll). Total starting compensation package $68,100/annum.

Benefits

Defined RRSP contribution plan available, employer pays 4.5%. Individual or family health and dental plan available.

Leave

Employees accrue 4 weeks annual vacation leave & 18 days annual sick leave. Closed for 1 week over the December Holiday’s

Note

Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Pay: $61,500.00 per year

Benefits

- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care

Work Location: In person

📌 Youth Mental Health Community Support Worker – Registered Social Worker, Bilingual (Nepean)
🏢 Upstream Ottawa mental Health Community Support
📍 Nepean