Immediate Intervention Specialist Black Health and Social Services (BHSS)

Why join CMHA Peel Dufferin

Support your community. Advance your career. Fulfill your purpose.

Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin (CMHA Peel Dufferin) is partnering with LAMP Community Health Centre (LAMP CHC) and Roots Community Services Inc (RootsCS) to design develop and implement an integrated health and social services hub with and for the Black African and Caribbean (BAC) communities in Peel Region.

The hub will provide primary health mental health addictions and social services programs that will holistically address the physical mental social and cultural needs of BAC communities and seek to eliminate disparities and inequities.

To achieve our goals we are recruiting people who are passionate about delivering culturally relevant responsive and affirming care that will inspire individuals to improve their wellbeing.

Joiningthe Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin Branch means youll be part of something meaningful. For starters were honored to have received the Canadian Non-Profit Employer of Choice Award for our efforts to help people live better. Providing support and services to those who live with mental illness and addictions were committed to increasing awareness and addressing the stigma surrounding mental health. Thats why weve made it a priority to create a diverse organization that represents the communities we serve and the people we help.

What We Offer

As a community-based agency were dedicated to the mental physical and social health of everyone including our team members. Thats why were proud to offer a total rewards package that helps our team members balance their professional and home life. Youll also be empowered to keep learning new skills and reaching your goals from developing a career growth plan to participating in training sessions.

In addition to competitive benefits like Employee Family Assistance Plan and optional extended health and dental benefits we offer our team members some unique perks that really stand out:

• 4 weeks accrued vacation
• Up to 18 paid sick days accrued per year plus 2 flexible days each year
• HOOPP Pension Plan
• Ongoing professional development plus $250 annual funding for continuing education and certifications
• $350 annual allowance to invest in achieving your personal wellness goals
• Participation in organizational pay for performance incentive program

We are looking for an Immediate Intervention Specialist to join our team!

Reporting to Program Manager the Immediate Intervention Specialist is the first point of client contact at CMHA PD and will determine how to best serve clients using a stepped care approach**. The position will complete all necessary assessments to better understand need provide the appropriate immediate brief intervention and if required develop a plan for additional services.

**Stepped Care approach is a system of delivering and monitoring mental health and addictions treatment so that the most effective yet least resource intensive treatment is delivered first only stepping up to intensive/ specialist services as required and depending on the level of client distress or need.

We value the diverse experiences of Black African and Caribbean candidates. We also recognize the importance of allyship and the critical role allies play in affecting change; we encourage these candidates to also apply.

Status: Permanent full-time 37.5 hours per week evening hours and weekends may be required;
Salary: $61201.01 - $72001.19 annually. (Candidate qualifications will be considered when determining the starting salary)

Location: This position is based out of 601 -7700 Hurontario St Brampton. Although we operate within a hybrid workplace model staff are required to have on-site and/or community presence as per program and client needs.

Note this posting is for an active vacancy.

What You Will Do:

• Act as low barrier first response and front-line resource to the community; promptly respond to incoming phone calls in a call center like team environment respond to in person walk in inquiries email or other means of contact.
• Assess and provide crisis support; make connection to crisis services when appropriate
• Assess clients eligibility for relevant services while prioritizing treatment based on level of need using initial assessment and information obtained from client and collateral sources.
• Determine what intervention(s) clients would benefit from and ensure the appropriate mix and intensity of services to allow for a stepped care approach where appropriate.
• Provide short term task-based interventions for clients who need immediate supports to alleviate any distress (e.g. financial applications referrals to other community services establish crisis plans).
• Provide single session 1:1 in person or telephone support for clients who will benefit from supports to alleviate any immediate distress.
• Facilitate groups as part of CMHA PD groups calendar including the creation of new groups as needed and acting as a back-up facilitator.
• Contact with primary care at regular intervals to report clients service initiation and communicate interventions and care plans.
• Assist clients and families to identify their concerns increase their awareness access resources and appropriate education about mental health and addictions
• Work collaboratively with other Immediate Intervention Specialists to support organizational needs (e.g. volumes across all regions) covered by CMHA PD.
• Update all appropriate documentation within 24 hours of client contact as required by CMHA PD policy and procedure.
• Work effectively and collaboratively within an interprofessional multidisciplinary team and ensure a stepped care approach is achieved.
• Participate in agency and community committees and workgroups as requested by manager.

This posting description indicates the key responsibilities and core functions of the position. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities.

What You Need to Join Our Team:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in relevant discipline (e.g. BSW MSW OT RN). Being a registered and/or regulated health professional is an asset.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in the mental health and addictions sectors with a focus on assessment brief interventions and short term supports.
• Expertise in community mental health and/or community based human services.
• Minimum of 2 of the following training and willingness to train up in 6 months:
  • Single Session
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Crisis Intervention Skills
  • Interprofessional Multidisciplinary Teams
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to effectively work with Black African and Caribbean communities.
• Demonstrated experience working within a multidisciplinary team and evidence of an understanding of the importance of partnerships and collaboration.
• Strong understanding of the current and historical health inequities experienced by Black African and Caribbean communities.
• Demonstrated and practical understanding of anti-Black racism and intersectionality and various barriers which affect diverse identities
• Intersectional understanding of current social realities and barriers experienced by BAC communities from an anti-oppressive anti-racist feminist self-aware and trauma-informed approach to practice is mandatory.
• Knowledge of local cultural programs and services to refer individuals and families from Black African and Caribbean communities within the service catchment area.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to approach listen build trust and communicate across diverse cultures and intersectionality. Willingness to continually improve understanding around cultural competence.
• Openness to operate from an anti-racist anti-oppressive 2SLGBTQ affirming and intersectional framework.
• Willingness to learn and apply practical understanding of different elements of diversity such as gender identity/expression race/cultural background religion sexual orientation disability immigration and precarious status family status etc.
• Fluency in a second language including ASL (American Sign Language) is considered an asset.
• Valid Canadian drivers license and access to an insured automobile in good repair.
• A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening (Police Check) report

Deadline to Apply: October 12 2025 by 4:00PM

At the Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin Branch we provide a wide array of community services resources and care for people with mental your role youll not only assist people who are struggling youll help them return to good health and reintegrate into the everything we do we work together to make the world a better place one person at a time.

Apply Now and EMPOWER your career!

CMHA Peel Dufferin strives to be an equitable employer. We are committed to supporting inclusive recruitment and selection processes work environments and a qualified workforce reflective of the diverse populations we serve. We acknowledge that removing existing barriers and preventing new barriers is required to foster dignity and independence for people of all ages genders cultures and abilities. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized including but not limited to First Nations Métis Inuit and Urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) populations ethno-racial communities people with disabilities *2SLGBTQIA communities women and gender diverse people low-income communities and all equity-deserving groups.

*2SLGBTQIA (Two-Spirit Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans Queer Intersex Asexual and a range of gender and sexual diversity categories not listed).

Accessibility Statement

When contacted by CMHA Peel Dufferin for a career opportunity please advise the People and Culture Department of any accommodation needs that may make your experience through the recruitment process more comfortable. We are committed to working with you to meet these needs by providing reasonable accommodations ensuring you have access to a fair and equitable process. We are continuously working to improve our accessibility practices and welcome any feedback or suggestions on how we can better accommodate candidates with accessibility needs. Should you have feedback please email us at

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment

To streamline our recruitment process we utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage and organize applications. While the ATS aids in efficiency the essential review and evaluation of candidates is carried out by members of our People and Culture team. This approach ensures a personalized assessment that allows us to gain a comprehensive view of a candidates experience skills and potential. AI is not used to make any decisions in our recruitment process.

Next Steps

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. We retain all applications submitted for one (1) year after the closing date of the posting for consideration in future career opportunities.