Mental Health Counsellor

Mental Health Counsellor

Tracking Code: req1555

Faculty/Department: Office of Student Life

Number of Positions: 1

Appointment Type: Full-Time Continuing

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: Level 10 - Starting Salary, Step 1 $89,358

Posting Date: April 21, 2025

Closing Date: May 2, 2025 (7:00 pm EST)

JOB SUMMARY:

The Mental Health Counsellor develops and implements programs and initiatives designed to promote positive health and well-being among students at Ontario Tech University. Reporting to the Manager, Student Mental Health Services, the Counsellor is accountable for providing support and intervention to students with emerging health concerns and supporting survivors who have experienced sexual violence, while at the same time promoting resilience and academic success among students, and developing community capacity to respond to students of concern.

The Mental Health Counsellor works in close collaboration with students, faculty and staff across the university to provide guidance and support in responding to student mental health concerns and students who have experienced sexual violence. The Counsellor is also responsible for liaising and building relationships with campus and community medical and social care agencies to promote timely, effective and seamless support for students.

The incumbent will work and carry out duties in a manner congruent with University policies, procedures and overarching principles while maintaining professional and ethical standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Student Support and Case Management:

• Provides support and case management assistance to students with emerging mental health con-cerns and/or who have experienced sexual violence; consistent with university policies, procedures, and relevant legislation by:
  • Supporting individual students struggling with mild/moderate addiction and mental health issues and coordinating referrals to appropriate campus and community resources by appointment or drop-in
  • Supporting individual students who have experienced sexual violence
  • Employ a variety of strategies and University resources to explore possible options and routes within the confines of academic regulations
  • Developing and implementing support groups and other venues to assist students with common issues and concerns
  • Monitoring and tracking individual cases and ensuring appropriate follow up
  • Assisting in responding to situations involving students who are experiencing mental health issues
  • Assess and respond to reported concerns where a student's behaviour could escalate to a threat in accordance to University protocols
  • Coordinating supports and follow through for students with ongoing mental health concerns, including arranging for assessments, liaising with treating professionals, requesting opinion letters and coordinating leaves of absence
  • Coordinating supports and follow through for students who have experienced sexual violence, including providing information on reporting options and processes, interpreting university policies and guidelines, arranging support and academic accommodations, liaising with the Office of Campus Safety; accompanying the discloser or Complainant to an appointment that they may need support to attend; referring to contacts for support, services and resources through external community partners, and follow up after a resolution is achieved to ensure it has been enacted and to ensure ongoing access to services where needed
  • Coordinating transitions to community mental health and specialized treatment programs as well as intervention, hospitalizations and discharge planning
  • Preparing reports and case records on student related issues that come forward in a manner consistent with professional and ethical standards

2. Healthy Students-Academic Success Programming:

• Leads in the ongoing development, implementation and coordination of the Healthy Students-Academic Success campaign for students to help students develop coping strategies, resilience and self-management skills. This includes:
  
  • Developing and implementing programming to increase capacity among students to constructively manage the multiple demands of student life, while decreasing their vulnerability to mental health issues
  • Working with colleagues in Student Life, Communications and Marketing and other campus partners to develop and update the Ontario Tech University Healthy Students website to become a centralized hub of knowledge and institution-specific information regarding student mental health and the promotion of healthy behaviours
  • Maintaining a directory of community resources available to students
  • Developing and producing in collaboration with Student Life staff multi-media presentations, online screening tools and learning activities, tutorials and videos to support positive mental health and student success
  • Coordinating and facilitating specialized peer-led programming on health and well-being informed by best practices and literature to meet the needs of specific student groups
  • Supervises work-study or placement student, provides direction and training as required

3. Mental Health Awareness:

• Facilitates the development, implementation and coordination for faculty, staff and student staff to raise awareness and develop community capacity to respond to early indications of student concern. This includes:
  • Developing and implementing special events and workshops to promote a common understanding of student mental health and its correlation with student success
  • Developing materials and information in print and online to ensure that faculty and service providers are informed of the procedures and strategies for supporting individuals experiencing mental health concerns
  • Participates and leads meetings and training exercises to ensure University members remain current on available university resources for students

4. Communication and Assessment:

• Facilitates communication and assessment of mental health programming to raise awareness, demonstrate effectiveness and promote continuous improvement of program quality. This includes:
  • Evaluating and reporting on initiatives to determine whether efforts are meeting the students' needs and generating the desired outcomes to make evidence-based decisions on future programming
  • Implementing an online support network that connects faculty, staff and mental health service providers to raise awareness and share information on mental health issues
  • Building and maintaining relationships with campus student service providers and with medical and community care agencies to expedite timely resolution of problems
  • Developing resources and programs to facilitate the early detection and intervention of students with emerging mental health concerns
  • Creating annual operational plans and producing summary reports with recommendations for the enhancement of the programs
  • Maintaining records and data to be used in program evaluation and to identify trends and gaps

Required Education:

• Completion of a Master's degree in psychology, social work, mental health and addictions, or counseling, or other applicable social sciences is required
• Training and/or experience in risk and threat assessment, non-violent crisis intervention, suicide intervention, trauma focused therapies, and mental health intervention required
• Experience in supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence preferred
• Member in good standing with respective regulatory body (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), College of Psychologists of Ontario); or other regulatory bodies governing psychotherapy in Ontario

* Verification of Academic credentials may be required

Required Experience:

• Minimum three years of mental health related experience in both service delivery and administrative functions is required, preferably in a post-secondary setting
• Experience with short-term, brief, and or solution focused interventions
• Experience supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) and 2SLGBTQ+ students

Required Skills and Knowledge:

• Excellent report and writing skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Integrity and the ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to interpret and navigate relevant legislation and University policies and procedures and work within these boundaries
• Excellent computer skills including case management database systems/
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment
• Intercultural competency
• Initiative, organizational and time management skills
• Strong judgment, flexibility and adaptability
• Proven ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships
• Knowledge of special needs- learning disabilities, mental health (identification, accommodations)
• Knowledge of local mental health service providers, mental health legislation and related procedures
• Ability to work virtually and/or in person at any campus location

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit in electronic format a covering letter and their resume. Applications will be accepted until May 2, 2025 or until a suitable candidate is found. We appreciate all applications received; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

This position falls within the bargaining unit represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the university and the OPSEU. To the extent that policies are not included in the collective agreement, employment will also be governed by the university's policies which may also be found on our website https://ontariotechu.ca and which may be amended from time-to-time.

OntarioTech University is actively committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, indigenizationand decolonization (EDIID), and welcomes applications from all qualifiedcandidates, while especially encouraging applications from First Nations,Metis, Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons,persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or2SLGBTQ+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply;however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and those eligible to work inCanada, will be given priority.

Ontario Tech University respects people's different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

If you require accommodation, please contact Julie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist. For more information about the universities policies for accommodating employees with disabilities please review the university's Accessibility Policy

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Expected Start Date: 5/5/2025