Employment Specialist – Part-time

Why work for CMHA York Region?
We deliver quality mental health and addictions services that promote recovery and
health, and end stigma.
Our Values:
 Responsive to the needs of our clients, their families, and our communities
 Respectful in how we meet the needs of our clients and staff in each interaction
 Committed to delivering the highest quality of care, every time
 Innovative in our approach to meeting our clients’ and communities’ needs
 Inclusive in how we work and serve our clients
Team Values:
 We create belonging
 We build better
 We deliver
We offer an inclusive, innovative, and high-performance work culture that helps us
deliver transformational impact. The organization cares about the growth, safety and
well-being of employees and offers:
 Competitive Total Compensation (including salary, benefits, pension)
o HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)
Learn more about us by visiting: https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/
We are looking for Employment Specialists to join our team!
Position: 1 Contract, part-time; 21 hours per week. Contract ending March 31, 2027 -
12 month extension very likely depending on program funding. Evening and weekend
availability may be required.
Closing Date: June 16, 2026.
Location: The Employment Specialist will be working primarily in our Aurora Office
located at 15150 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON L4G 1M2 and out within the community and
will be required to travel within York Region & South Simcoe.
Salary: $52,015-$63,018 per annum, *Candidate experience will be considered when
determining the starting salary.

Employment Specialist – Part-time Job Posting
Reason for Posting: An existing vacancy.
Job Profile:
The purpose of the Employment Support program is to support people with mental
illness to meet their employment goals, which may include paid employment,
volunteering, or education. Team members use bio-psychosocial, recovery, and
empowerment approaches, including natural support wherever possible to enable
clients to meet their goals.
The Employment Specialist works collaboratively with the client and their care team to
assess, plan, develop, coordinate, and provide support. The care team may include
employees of CMHA York Region, other community mental health agencies, natural
supports, and other health and social service providers. The Employment Specialist is
responsible for conducting employment assessments to determine the client’s
strengths, needs, and interests in a range of education and work-related areas,
providing individual and group support to facilitate the achievement of client goals, and
developing partnerships with employers for vocational opportunities.
The Employment Specialist adheres to all organizational policies and procedures,
relevant provincial laws, the regulatory requirements of her/his profession, and
Empowerment/Recovery principles. This necessarily involves the demonstration of
above-average interpersonal skills, problem-solving, anti-racist and anti-oppression
practice, confidence in decision-making, relationship building, conflict resolution, and
emotional regulation in their work with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and members of
the broader community.
Qualifications:
 University Degree or College Diploma in the social service sector
 Post-secondary education in Social Services/Mental Health sector, and/or Career
Development
 Registered Vocational Professional is preferred.
 Current registration with any regulatory body under the Regulated Health
Professions Act is an asset.
 Diploma or Degree plus experience in a community-based organization working
with adults with mental illness in the community.
 Experience working with employers, transitional employment services, and
employment readiness.

Employment Specialist – Part-time Job Posting
 Experience working in an adult mental health setting related to employment
rehabilitation.
 Familiarity with legislation related to employment, i.e., Employment Standards,
Occupational Health & Safety Act, Human Rights Code, WSIB.
 Familiarity with Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works
employment supports.
 Familiarity with the Ontario Mental Health Act and mental health reform
principles, the Substitute Decisions Act, and the Health Care Consent Act and
PHIPA requirements.
 Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment-oriented philosophies and
practices in work with clients.
 Functions in accordance with relevant Codes of Ethics and Standards of
Practice.
 Flexible schedule, including some evening and weekend and on-call rotation.
 Must possess a valid Canadian driver’s license and have a minimum
$1,000,000.00 (1 million) third-party liability insurance and proof of insurance
coverage of personal vehicle and ability to transport clients.
 A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening.
 A second language reflecting the local community is preferred.
Duties:
 Supports clients understand impact of their mental health challenges on their
abilities to successfully obtain and sustain employment.
 Collaborate with clients to develop a treatment plan to support them in
overcoming the identified barriers to employment.
 Familiar with the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients and is able to respond
appropriately in making referrals and providing short-term assistance to clients to
help them to manage these symptoms.
 Completes crisis support plans with all clients in the program to support client
safety.
 Collaboratively assesses clients’ readiness to pursue vocational goals.
 Develops partnerships with employers for placements, apprenticeships, and
volunteer opportunities, providing information and support to employers

Employment Specialist – Part-time Job Posting
regarding the skills of those involved in the program, and general information on
mental illness.
 Develops partnerships with other employment programs as appropriate.
 Work with clients across the spectrum of readiness for employment, including
supporting clients that are interested in employment but in early stages of
readiness.
 Arranges translation where required to overcome language barriers.
 Develop resources to be available to the client and provider communities e.g.
information regarding scholarship availability, grant programs, training resources,
benefit rules, etc.
 Facilitates groups and workshops on employment, mental health in the contact of
employment, and life skills
The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work
being performed by an individual assigned to the job. This information is not constructed
to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel in the
job.
This position reports to Manager, People & Teams,
Working Conditions: Office work, community settings, meetings in clients’ home and
travel with clients. Periodic / scheduled evening to accommodate client's needs.
Disclaimer: In keeping with mental health reform, best practices, funding and direction
this position may later require knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions not
noted here.
To request this posting in an alternate format or to request accommodation in the
application process, email AODA@cmha-yr.on.ca

Application Procedure:  If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit
https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/ and search for Employment Specialist Job Posting, Click
on the “Apply Now” button and proceed to upload your cover letter and resume.
Complete the application form and submit the following:
 Cover letter with 300 words or less and tell us why you would want this role and
why you should be considered for the position (PDF or Word)
 Resume (PDF or Word) (applications without resumes will not be considered)
CMHA-YRSS is dedicated to promoting employment equity and dismantling obstacles
to employment for marginalized communities. CMHA-YRSS supports the journey to

Employment Specialist – Part-time Job Posting
mental wellness, and we welcome applicants with lived experience of mental illness.  In
acknowledgment of the systemic underrepresentation faced by Black, Indigenous,
racialized peoples, and those living with disabilities, this opportunity has been
developed based on the special program provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
We therefore extend invitations for applications from the following groups:
 Racialized Persons
 Indigenous Persons
 Persons living with Disabilities
While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an
interview will be contacted.