Home to seven regional programs and comprehensive health-care services, Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) is committed to meeting the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond.

WRHN is redefining the health-care experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered community-driven health care.

At WRHN, every patient is at the centre of everything we do as we strive to improve lives, inspire healing, and build healthier, stronger communities. By listening to patients and partners, we strive to connect communities to the right care, at the right place, and at the right time.

This role is advertised to fill an existing vacancy.

Position Vacancy: Mental Health & Addiction Program - Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services

Position: Temporary Full Time Social Worker (MSW) Until Approximately 4/7/2028

Posting Period: October 28 - November 4

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 0800 - 1600

Location: WRHN @ Midtown (formerly Grand River Hospital, KW Campus)

Position Summary :

At WRHN, we work with the communities we serve towards life-long health and well-being for all. We exist to provide exceptional care through inspired people, one patient at a time. Our Mental Health & Addictions Program strives to deliver exceptional patient experience, excellent patient access, and engaged staff. If you are a Social Worker, we would like you to become a part of our team.

Reporting to the Clinical Manager, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, you will work primarily in our inpatient interdisciplinary services. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Provides individual psychosocial and family system assessment, treatment recommendations, referral and discharge planning for children and adolescents in response to the unique and complex needs of this population;

- Actively involved in family education initiatives aimed at enhancing coping and reducing distress for patient and families;

- Works effectively with members of the multidisciplinary team in establishing and monitoring processes, improving continuity of care for patients, and enhancing collaborative relationships with other care providers;

- Provide clinical interventions through individual, group and family treatment modalities;

- Lead skill based groups;

- Participates in service committees and quality improvement initiatives as required;

- Engages in career development and continuing education;

- Assists with program development and evaluation as required; Participates in team building,



service development and improvement activities striving to contribute to a healthy workplace environment;

- Facilitates timely, clinically appropriate, and safe discharges through comprehensive psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, problem-solving, referral coordination, and transition planning. Identifies and addresses psychosocial barriers to discharge, maximizes family and community supports, and collaborates with inpatient teams and external service providers to promote continuity of care, including urgent discharges and tertiary care referrals when indicated.

- Assesses the complex psychosocial needs, strengths, and resources of children, adolescents, and their families, including family dynamics, housing and living arrangements, financial stressors, coping strategies, substance-use concerns, community supports, and other factors affecting mental health, treatment engagement, and discharge readiness. Develops and implements individualized psychosocial interventions and recommendations in response to identified needs.

- Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with community mental health and developmental services, schools, child protection agencies, and other relevant service providers. Advocates for patients and families to address systemic barriers, facilitate access to appropriate resources, and support continuity of care across hospital, home, school, and community settings.

Position Requirements:

- Master of Social Work degree with registration in good standing with OCSWSSW;

- Clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with mental health disorders, preferably within a hospital based service setting;

- Demonstrated knowledge of best practice guidelines pertaining to the assessment and treatment of child and adolescent disorders;

- Demonstrated advanced skill in mental health assessment and treatment interventions;

- Demonstrated advanced skill in crisis management and containment;

- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to Grand River Hospital Mental Health & Addiction Program comprehensive safety programs and practices including staff, patient and environmental safety;

- Proven ability to work effectively with other health care providers and community service and school board providers;





- Excellent organizational, prioritization and problem-solving abilities;

- Proven to have strong interpersonal skills and written and verbal communication skills; positive attitude;

- Good attendance record.

Application Instructions:

EMPLOYEES OF WRHN MIDTOWN & CHICOPEE ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION ELECTRONICALLY USING INFOR.

Attention Registered Nurses: Please provide a copy of your resume when applying to the position. Applications received without this information may not be considered.

Attention UNIFOR Members: Effective June 1, 2013, applications for postings outside a candidate’s home unit/department will not be considered if no résumé has been provided.

Where applicable, as per the collective agreement, the internal recruitment process will be completed prior to the consideration of external applications.

WRHN is committed to fair and equitable employment and in our recruitment and selection practices. We strongly believe in inclusion and diversity within our organization, and welcome all applicants including, but not limited to racialized communities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, Indigenous people, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of our Hospital community. We are committed to providing and fostering a respectful workplace for all employees, free from violence and harassment.

Accommodations are available during all stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code. WRHN is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to provide an inclusive, barrier free workplace. We will accommodate the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities to support participation in all aspects of the recruitment process. Should you require this accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

International Applicants

If you are seeking employment on a temporary work or study permit we recommend reviewing work permit restrictions as it applies to healthcare organizations in Canada. Individuals holding a work or study permit seeking employment in the healthcare sector may be required to complete additional steps in the process. This may also apply to current employees seeking renewal of their work permits. It is the accountability of the applicant and/or employee to ensure they are adhering to their specific work permit restrictions.

WRHN does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or make hiring decisions regarding applicants during our recruitment and selection process.

📌 MSW-Social Worker (Kitchener)
🏢 Grand River Hospital
📍 Kitchener