Employment Support Worker

The Employment Support Worker in the At Work program provides individualized, intensive vocational supports and services to help clients with mental health concerns find and maintain competitive employment. Staff must demonstrate the professional ability to build working relationships with employers and other relevant community partners to develop an employment network, decrease mental health stigma and provide education regarding psychological health and safety in the workplace.

Services are delivered using the Individual Placement and Support Model, an evidence based best practice, client centered, strength-based approach. The Employment Support Worker must also provide: job development within the community, employment determination, career planning, mental health supports, employment preparation, service coordination as required, arrange unpaid placements, job crisis support, accommodation planning and implementation, education and supports to both employees and employers within the community, job retention and on-site coaching. The Employment Support Worker must possess the ability to efficiently and accurately collect and enter statistical and financial reporting to program funders.

Location: Peterborough 
Status: Full-Time Temporary (approximately 12 months)
Posting# ESW-FTT-02-26

Wage: $29.39 to $30.74 per hour
Application Deadline: 12:00 noon on February 25, 2026

Key Responsibilities

1.  Vocational Support to Clients and Employers

Provide support to clients using the eight principles of the Individual Placement and Support model

Assist individuals with mental health concerns to identify viable work options

Assess employment readiness

Plan courses of action as a result of assessments – functional capacity evaluations, consideration of clients’ physical tolerances, impact of mental health on employability and activities of daily living etc.

Recommend, develop and implement employment plans

Service coordination as required

Assist individuals to prepare for and find meaningful and competitive employment

Job development, including job carving 

Provide job coaching (onsite support to job train clients and/or assist them to maintain quality, accuracy and quality of work)

Provide intensive job retention support

Market the At Work program to prospective employers

Advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients, when necessary

Facilitate referrals to identified community resources

Develop accommodation plans

Provide job crisis support

Provide pre-employment services i.e. resume development, interview coaching

Negotiate job trials and subsidies with employers and other Employment Services agencies

Understand and provide Labour Market Information to job seekers to direct their employment search

2.  Documentation

Document and maintain electronic and paper client records (intake and assessment forms, progress notes, correspondences, database files, etc.)

Complete administrative tasks including: timesheets, expense reports, vacation requests

Complete other required documents in program and agency policies and procedures and standards

Report and maintain program-related statistical data

Enter employment details (including job type, job title, hours, wage, etc) in funder data base

3.  Other Activities

Liaise with Community Employment Resource Partnerships, E.S. service provider meeting group, Employment Networking Group, the local Ontario Disability Support Program, and Ontario Works offices and various other community partners

Participate in community outreach activities through the development of collaborative partnerships, on inter-agency committees and through presentations, education and visits to community agencies and services as appropriate

4.  Performance Management and Professional Development

Participate cooperatively in the agency performance management process/system

Stay current on relevant legislation and best practices, current research, policies and procedures 

Participate in ongoing professional development and mandatory training

Actively engage and participate in supervisory process

5.  Health and Safety – Worker Responsibilities

Work in compliance with the Occupational Health And Safety Act, applicable regulations and all organizational health and safety requirements and procedures to ensure the health and safety of clients, staff/colleagues, volunteers and students

6.  Client Safety

Adhere to C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. client safety programs including program policies as well as infection control and prevention procedures.  In partnership with clients, family members, and fellow staff, maintain open lines of communication to assist the organization in identifying and achieving quality outcomes for client safety.  Report client safety incidents and suggested improvements to manager or delegate.

7.  Other duties as assigned

Attend, participate in team/staff meetings, and all-staff meetings as required

Participate in agency quality improvement activities, e.g. accreditation projects, committee work, special events, etc.

Participate in funder driven audits 

Participate in quality improvement activities at the team/program level

Participate in external committees as required

Duties may change from time to time

Requirements of the Position:

A: Education and Training

Successful completion of a post-secondary diploma or degree in social services, human resources, employment counselling or a related field, is required.

We recognize that mandatory training before hire is an asset, however, successful completion of the training applicable to this role shall be requirements for continued employment in this position: 

Health and Safety Training (including but not limited to the following):

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (W.H.M.I.S.) 2015

Infection, Prevention & Control

Workplace Violence

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (A.S.I.S.T.)

Verbal Intervention Training

Ontario Common Assessment of Need (O.C.A.N)

Client Record Management System (C.R.M.S.)

First Aid/C.P.R.

Assets with regard to this position:

Formal Training or Education in: Labour Market Information, Job Development, Employment Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (C.B.T.) informed, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (D.B.T.)  informed, Solution focused Therapy informed, Trauma Informed, Motivational Interviewing, Concurrent Disorders

B:  Related and Relevant Experience

Mandatory experience

Minimum of three (3) years related experience in the mental health and/or employment field

Demonstrated experience or understanding of the impact of employment rehabilitation in mental health recovery

Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated ability to self-manage time and multiple tasks

Solid clinical and therapeutic assessment and intervention skills 

Excellent skills in communication, advocacy on behalf of clients, collaboration with inter-professional teams, consultation with professional colleagues and employers and the community

Excellent interpersonal skills, flexible, and works effectively at an individual, program and system level

Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation principles

Strong oral and written communication skills

Demonstrated knowledge of computer applications (Microsoft Outlook, Word, databases)

Preferred experience

Group facilitation skills

Knowledge of regional community resources

Intermediate to advanced minus proficiency in French language

C:  Competencies

Refer to C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R Competency Matrix

D:  Other

Valid G driver’s license

Automobile in good repair and insurance coverage as required by agency policy

Satisfactory police records search 

Satisfactory references

Intermediate to advanced minus proficiency in French

Lived expertise with a mental health concern or addiction, either personally or with a family member is an asset

Proof of receipt of full COVID-19 vaccine

Ability to work remotely, for example from home, as required.

Working Conditions:

Work in an office setting and in the community including other employment sites

Work directly with individuals living with mental health concerns and/or dual diagnosis and/or addictions, individuals who are experiencing emotional and/or mental health issues and are working towards recovery

Transport clients in personal vehicle

There are multiple competing demands which require time management skills, the ability to be flexible and to prioritize

Some evenings may be required, weekend shifts and public and statutory holidays

Work in a remote environment, such as personal home, as required

As part of our recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence tools to support or assist the review of applications.  These tools may help us identify candidates whose qualifications best match job requirements.