Remote Counsellor, Crisis Centre

Direct Service – (OPSEU)

Part-Time, Contract (up to 6 months)

London, Ontario (London Zone)

Final date to receive applications:
July 8, 2025

Crisis Center Staff will support individuals accessing services by providing a psychosocial response in order to promote crisis resolution and empowerment for the individual. The Crisis Center Staff will also work collaboratively with individuals to assess and identify their needs and link them to appropriate supports in the community.

Depending on the program, supports may be provided in-person, via telephone or virtually;
Crisis Services programs support individuals on a walk-in basis at the Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Centre; in the community, via mobile response; via phone, text and web chat, and through intensive, short-term stabilization supports.

Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) completed within the last six months. In order to avoid delays in beginning a position, interested applicants who are in need of a PVSC are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible.

Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team!

• What you’ll be doing – Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated):
  • Successful candidates who are registered with one of the designated professional colleges (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, COTO, CRPO, CPSO, or CPO) will receive the wage differential for regulation
  • Successful external applicants will start at Level 1, with grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated)
  • For internal applicants, grid level placement will occur as per the Collective Agreement
• When you’ll work – 14 hours bi-weekly; rotating shifts to include days, afternoons, evenings & weekends
• What your benefits will be – 9% in lieu of benefits
• Your pension plan – Immediately eligible for optional enrollment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

• Complete mental health and addiction assessments based on theory of crisis management including rapid response to identify:
  • the impact of psychiatric symptoms on functioning,
  • risk factors related to safety of client and others
  • opportunities for de-escalation and stabilization
• Establish a therapeutic relationship to maximize the benefits of engagement with the individual
• Provide short-term follow-up support to bridge the gap from referral to engagement with a longer-term support service as needed
• Coordinate and facilitate referrals to internal and external services and supports
• Advocate as necessary in order to facilitate access to services and supports with the objective of remediating immediate crisis situation
• Engage emergency services when it is determined that additional intervention is required
• Assess barriers to successful community living (e.g. treatment options, transportation, finances, etc.)
• Obtain information, as needed, from other relevant sources
• Interact and provide support and assessment in a nonjudgmental fashion and provide care that demonstrates sensitivity to individual diversity (e.g. culture, race, age, sexual orientation, gender, beliefs and values).
• Support the individual in developing skills for self-advocacy to learn new behaviours and develop coping skills fostering healthy interdependence through limit setting.
• Provide health teaching and information regarding coping techniques and strategies, e.g. grounding, breathing techniques, self-care, nutrition, sleep hygiene, techniques to enhance overall well-being.