Social Worker - Gender Affirming Health Clinic

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, pension)
• HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)

Learn more about us by visiting: https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/

We are hiring a Social Worker in our Gender Affirming Health Clinic! JOIN US at CMHA-YRSS; where innovation and community mental health care intersect!

Closing Date: November 26, 2025.

Salary Range: $63,345-$76,704 per annum. *Candidate experience will be considered when determining starting salary.

Position: Contract, Full-time, 35 Hours per Week, Evening Hours and Weekends will be required. Contract ending March 31, 2027.

Reason for Posting: An existing vacancy

Location: The Social Worker will have a combination of work locations: some days in the office, some days out in the community with clients, and some days working from home. The schedule will change based on client and program needs. It may include 1-2 days working from home each week, and 3-5 days in the office.

The Social Worker for the Gender Affirming Health Clinic will work in all active offices, including Aurora, located at 15150 Yonge Street; Alliston, located at 35 Victoria St E Unit 1; Markham, located at 3601 Hwy 7 Suite 710; and Vaughan, located at 8271 Keele St Unit 2. On the days of on-site work, the candidate will be required to travel within York Region & South Simcoe for client meetings and staff training or other meetings.

Job Profile:

The Gender Affirming Health Clinic is a service that aims to create a safe, confidential, and inclusive space. We provide culturally competent and gender-affirming care to trans, non-binary and gender diverse people. We work collaboratively with our community partners to ensure supportive and comprehensive care to clients and their families. Our team uses a holistic and compassionate approach when providing services and supports.

The Social Worker will be part of an interdisciplinary team and will support clients ages 16 years and older with gender identity, transition-related supports and other mental health needs. They will counsel individuals and family members regarding behavioral modifications, symptom management, rehabilitation, and social adjustment. They will also facilitate groups and support general clinic operations, including program groups as required. The Social Worker will collaborate with community partners to ensure holistic care for their clients and provides rehabilitation and support.

Using a recovery-based approach that is grounded in the social determinants of health, a harm reduction and anti-oppression framework, the Social Worker assists clients to develop and use interpersonal, social, and safe boundary skills that will optimize their strengths, improve their quality of life, and promote housing stability. The Social Worker collaborates with a range of formal and informal services to implement the client’s case plan and assist the client in meeting recovery goals. The Social Worker will also be involved in facilitating groups. From time to time, the Social Worker may be required to intervene in crisis situations.

In addition to compliance with all organizational policies and procedures, the incumbent is also expected to behave ethically, demonstrate competence in effective communication and team building, demonstrate effectiveness in working in a collaborative environment, and demonstrate confidence in decision-making and in building relationships.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain client caseload in accordance with program standards
• Case management responsibilities
• Identify signs and symptoms of trauma in clients and make referrals/provide short-term assistance
• Participate in ongoing assessment with clients
• Collaboratively develop an empowerment plan
• Provide up-to-date information on mental illness, treatment, medication, and community resources
• Link clients to services, supports, and resources in the community
• Provide counseling, support, information, and education to clients, family members, other agency personnel, and community members
• Collaboratively develop a plan for termination of services
• Follow program guidelines and the Client Safety Framework to promote client safety
• Provide appropriate support to clients who have reported actions contrary to the Health & Safety program
• Work with clients to identify safety issues and develop prevention and response strategies
• Ensure case notes are completed in a timely manner
• Document assessments, plans, summaries, interventions, and issues in a timely and accurate manner
• Maintain clear and concise client records based upon facts and observations
• Advocate to ensure services support and meet client needs
• Engage in professional activities that promote the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization
• Take part in regular supervision with the Manager, providing necessary information for review of client files and discussion of appropriate interventions

Requirements:

• M.S.W. with a minimum of 2 years' experience in a community-based organization working with adults with serious mental illness
• Current registration with the OCSWSSW *Cannot be in qualifying stages.
• Relevant professional or lived experience with 2SLGBTQ individuals and communities.
• A second language (Cantonese, Farsi, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Tamil, Urdu) reflecting the local community is an asset.
• Collaborate to develop individualized crisis plans and in the event of crisis situations, uses crisis intervention strategies.
• Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment-oriented philosophies and practices in work with consumers
• Ability to observe boundaries, engage in appropriate emotional regulation, refrain from dual relationships with clients, maintain confidentiality, and engage in reasonable self-care strategies designed to reduce stress by balancing work/life responsibilities
• Knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act, mental health reform principles, the Substitute Decisions Act, the Health Care Consent Act and PHIPA requirements
• Extensive knowledge and experience facilitating groups.
• Extensive knowledge of supports and services in York Region, including formal and informal resources
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to demonstrate computer skills, specifically Microsoft Office and Outlook
• A valid Canadian driver’s license, a minimum $1,000,000 third party liability insurance
• A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening

This position reports to and is supervised by the Manager, People and Teams.

Working Conditions: Office work, community settings, meetings in clients’ homes, and travel with clients. Expect scheduled evenings a minimum of 2 time per month, 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 Social Worker 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 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.